A Love Affair with Marsaxlokk!
Read our experience of the beautiful small village of Marsaxlokk on the island of Malta....
Malta. A small island nation off the coast of Sicily which boasts adventure, history and an overwhelming sense of community. If you travel to this beautiful island, you may be tempted by the beauty of popular Valletta, a breath-taking cultural heritage site. Or, perhaps the fascinating history of Mdina, the ancient ex-capital known as The Silent City. Yes, these places are glorious and well worth a visit. But we often find that the most magical places are the ‘sleepy towns’ bustling with locals still dedicated to their ancestor’s trade. These places truly offer the traditional feel of a country. Marsaxlokk, a small fishing village on the south coast of the island, is one such place.
As we departed the public bus, a burst of vibrancy hit us. The harbour was packed with traditional fishing boats, adorned with an array of colours which had been lightened by the scorching sun. We sat quietly to admire the beauty of these traditional fishing vessels as fishermen peacefully sailed out of the harbour and towards the clear horizon. On the seafront, we found local people selling their goods in tightly packed stalls. Walking down this adventurous market, we observed the varieties of kannoli, fresh olives and Maltese sundried tomatoes… our bellies rumbled! Further down, fishmongers were flogging all varieties of seafood to eager customers. This market takes place every Sunday and gave us the exciting opportunity to sample some of the freshest octopus and prawns we have ever tasted!
Slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the market, we sat down at a small local restaurant. With the sun colouring our skin, the Maltese waiter kindly talked us through the seafood menu. we made our choice and was served a decadent red snapper which was caught that morning, alongside fresh mussels in a salty tomato broth. The freshness of the fish from Marsaxlokk is something that can rarely be experienced back in our home country of the United Kingdom.
Even with the liveliness of the market and popularity of the restaurants, this fishing village felt incredibly relaxed and offered a lovely sense of calm and tranquillity. After tasting delicious seafood, we took a serene stroll along the beach and paddled in the blue, calm waters. It was a perfect moment for us to appreciate the beauty of this country and recognise how lucky we are to return to our travelling lifestyle, after two years of uncertainty and solitude. This island may be small, but Malta truly reignited our passion for exploration and reawakened our desire to meet new people, learn different cultures and live a new way of life – the life of a traveller.
