An X marks the tiny islands of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea, just like a treasure map and also like their language which is peppered with x's. Bruce and Cathy floating Sky Villa is located in Ta' Xbiex - try pronounce that or our destination for today, the village of Xemxija!
Number 38:
'X' marks the spot, a day out in Malta.
The Heritage Trail at Xemxija, an X marks the spot on Malta, where people have lived in caves, lived off the land and sea, and carved out burial chambers in the limestone for more than 7 millennia!
Here Roman history feels recent, we stepped out on a Roman Road bending uphill away from the bay and made our way to Punic-Roman stone-built apiaries over 2000 years old. Even the name Malta, is a nod to honey, Melita, meaning the land of honey I need to go and find some delicious, local honey before we leave.
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A 2000 year old apiary!
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PS: found a delicious honey on our travels....
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| A 1000 year old Carob Tree |
The treasure map took us past the most famous Carob tree on the Malta, it shades the apiaries and hangs over the Roman Road - 1000 years old, what has this tree seen!
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| Pilgrim graffiti along the Heritage Trail. |
The crosses etched into the walls of these ancient pathways by pilgrims were so poignant.
We finished off our day with the final X marks the spot - one of the top swimming beaches on Malta, Golden Bay.
I noticed the 17th C Ghajn Tuffieha Tower, one of many that we saw on our drive, floating above a secluded beach. History dictated that people needed to communicate across the island using fires to alert a danger and here we are today, a lifesaver tower on the beach with beer, coffee and good pizza's on tap.
All this life and all this history all playing out on a speck of strategic land called Malta.
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| Golden Bay - a swim in the Med and people watching over lunch. |
