Kyoko and I decided to go to the island of Malta because we heard it was a beautiful, historic place, with great scuba diving just off the coast. One of my favorite books, The Maltese Falcon, also made me curious to see it. To tell the truth, I did not even exactly know where Malta is before I visited there. I did not even know that it was its own country!
Malta is a collection of three small islands in the Mediterranean Sea, between Africa and Italy. It has warm weather for most of the year, making it popular with tourists. Interestingly, we saw many Japanese tourists there. They were not there for the famous beaches, however, but to see the World Heritage Sites.
Malta was the location of many important events in European history. Perhaps it is most famous for once being the main home for the Knights of St. Johns, a group of Christian soldiers in the 1500s.
We liked Malta for many reasons. I think we both agreed that it is like a small version of the entire continent of Europe. It has people who speak several languages, delicious food, well-preserved architecture, a warm Mediterranean climate, and a strong art culture. We recommend Malta very much.