48 Hours in Malta: Serendipity while Traveling

Words and photos by Maddie Firmin who is studying abroad in Florence during Spring semester 2022.

In less than 48 hours, the country of Malta captured my heart.

Serendipity, finding something valuable or delightful when you’re not looking for it, describes my time spent in Malta. I knew very little about this small island in the middle of the Mediterranean beforehand. The pictures online simply looked beautiful and warm, and the flight tickets were cheap.

At the main island, everything is mostly within 20-30 minutes of everything else, so it is easy to visit the various towns and coastal wonders. We stayed in St. Julien’s which is the central area for young tourists and backpackers. Our hostel, the Boho Hostel, had a warm, cozy feel and was the perfect location to meet other travelers.

Immediately, we noticed the warmth of the people from this country. From our taxi drivers to the hostel owner and everyone we met in town, everyone was so welcoming and eager to share their beautiful country with us and hear about our stories in return.

Unknowingly, we had arrived in Malta on one of the most important days in years. The day before was their huge election for the Prime Minister, and the day we arrived was the day that they found out the landslide results and had a huge celebration.

The celebrations were unlike anything you could imagine for an election. People were waving flags, wearing their country’s colors, cheering, playing music, and connecting and celebrating with others. The country was alive with a contagious energy. There were colorful boats lining the port with views of cathedrals and sand-colored buildings with vibrant blue shutters. People were driving by, waving flags out their window. At night, fireworks filled the sky as music played throughout the streets.

Locals told us repeatedly how lucky we were to be there at that time, and that this was a once in a lifetime event to witness. As locals, they had waited their whole lives to be able to vote and experience something like this.

The next day, we embarked upon a boat tour to the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Gozo Island to view the Xlendi Cliffs. The water was an incredible teal blue color that looked like it could not possibly be real. Cliffs towered above the water and caves were carved into them.

Traveling is so beautiful in this sense; you come upon moments in time that are so unexpected. We knew Malta would hold blue waters, dramatic cliffs, and warm sunlight, but what we didn’t expect was the strangers that would share their stories with us. We didn’t expect to witness the country uniting for a special event that only happens once every five years.

When my friend and I went to go to sleep at the hostel, we couldn’t fall asleep; we kept playing the past day over and over in our head. It all felt like a dream. The best moments of traveling are often ones that you can never recreate again. It’s bittersweet in that way. You share a sliver of time with people in a specific place that even if you came back to visit, it wouldn’t be the same. You wish you could experience the moments over and over again, but what makes them so special is the fact that you can’t. They are frozen in time. You likely won’t see many of the people you meet while traveling, but it’s even more beautiful that lives can cross paths in unique, coincidental ways at just the right time.

I feel lucky to have accumulated many of these “once in a lifetime” moments throughout my time studying abroad. Traveling has taught me to embrace unexpected discoveries. Strip down your pre-conceived expectations and leave room for spontaneity. If things don’t go according to plan, or you take the wrong train, embrace it. Turn it into a good story. For it’s often the things that we are not looking for that end up being the most remarkable.

Thanks Maddie!