Travel tips: Malta, Mellieha, Mdina, Rabat, Popeye Village

Mellieha is the less commercial part of the island in the north east. A few shops or commercial streets but mostly huge seafront hotels with spas and if you come from cold winter in Europe this is a good place, as Malta is 17kms in width and I think 25 in length so everything is still easily accessible. A perfect combination of sea, delicate sun 18 degrees, nature and cultural heritage sights galore to visit. It is also close to Popeye village. 

The flora and fauna is similar to SA and Mediterranean countries. Massive cacti with prickly pears everywhere, tall and short palm trees, very green surprisingly, plenty of wild colourful flowers and a few new plants I haven’t seen before. I did not see one cow, but two or three cats, a dog at airport customs and no goats or sheep. The island is rocky, mountainous, hilly and well developed with much ongoing development as well. No trains (too small and hilly) but busses run everywhere. In fact, as it’s so small, although there are in between bus stops, busses literally run from city/village to village. It is Valletta though that is the hub. Here more boats and yachts than cars. But back to the countryside. Below Popeye village coast view pics and the road to region Mellieha. 

              Bugibba 

Popeye village comes from the 1991 filmset of the film with Robbie Williams and it became a museum. It’s a gorgeous little fishing and kids museum built in wood into a rocky cliff in a beautiful bay. I walked there in 20 mins but there are also busses. Definitely worth a few hour trip. 15 euro for entry or just walk along the cliff to view it from afar. But inside you can tour the museum and watch parts of the movie with free popcorn and animation for the kids along the village streets. 

Take  from Popeye village looking across the bay  you walk all the wooden bridges and look over onto the bay and Popeyes’ boats :) 

One of the countless little museum scenes, reminiscent of the wonderful toy museum in Basel, Switzerland

The walk back ….a few forts on hills 

Mdina the oldest city, south west of Valetta, has a history that traces back more than 4000 years. According to tradition it was here that in 60 A.D. that the Apostle St. Paul is said to have lived after being shipwrecked on the Islands. It is a fortified city also called The Silent City due to many inhabitants once moving to other cities. Its medieval wall and gate hosts baroque architecture. 

             Rabat city Gate close by 

Mdina from afar which is seen from almost everywhere in the area and below a village street 

Just outside the Mdina gate is Rabat. The St Dominic's priory is one of the most remarkable Game of Thrones filming locations in Malta. Assassins creed was also filmed here. 

Driving en route to Mdina you pass another Magnificant cathedral in Mosta. 

Driving north from Mdina to the coast, about 5 kms is beautiful Golden Bay where sunsets are glorious. 

A little doll some kids made in the sand :) 

Malta is lovely!! Sea everywhere and cultural UNESCO HERITAGE SITES. Don’t miss it.