some Malta things to know...

- this is the 4th most densely populated country in the world as well as one of the smallest countries of the European Union

for some perspective:
Nebraska: 77,421 sq mi and 1,796,619 people --> that makes a density of 23 people/sq mi
Malta: 121 sq mi and 413,609 --> that makes a density of 3,391/sq mi

the country has built upwards...the houses are small terraced houses that line very narrow streets where small cars zoom unpredictably (admittedly i think i miss country roads for driving and am very glad not to be behind the wheel). roundabouts are very very frequent and streets curve in a way that would make me lose myself incredibly quickly. the separate villages are actually contiguous, and as a foreigner i find it absolutely impossible to see where one ends and one begins.

the houses, though packed together, have so far seemed very spacious inside. En and her family have a lovely home with two tangerine trees right outside the kitchen.

the country areas are very pretty, and apparently more green this time of year than normal. it's a very warm winter for them.

En laughingly showed me the scene below...a taste of home :) this was right across from the fort where we had our New Year's Eve party.






- location speaking, many seemed not to realize where Malta was at when i told them i would be spending a brief week there before my time in Norway. hence - convenient map

it's a really interesting location...right between Europe and Africa. the people here seem to be serious international travelers, though the country remains nearly solidly Maltese with a fraction of retired British and a some illegal immigrants. Gozo is a tiny island just near.

- En has been teaching me a bit of the history, and things here are very very old...some older than Stonehenge, and as her pappa was quick to point out, most everything is older than the ol' USA. architecture remains here from an entire series of conquerors and you can see it as you walk the streets. wikipedia, or wikipedija in Maltese, informs me that the country has been inhabited since 5200 B.C. beginning with peoples from the island of Sicily. the country became independant in 1964 and a republic in 1974.

the pictures are of Mdina, the original capital city and the "Silent City," which possibly dates back to 700 B.C.


the history is just fascinating, and En's family have enjoyed discussing the USA's history with me. luckily i have known enough not to sound completely ingnorant thus far (knock on wood...wait, i mean "touch wood" if following the Maltese expression.) they have been quite surprised at how little American history the American people they have encountered seem to know. the country is so much younger than many others, En said to me once, so wouldn't you think that everyone would know most of it?

interesting food for thought there.