1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,413 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast 2 00:00:10,613 --> 00:00:11,693 Speaker 1: from News Talks AB. 3 00:00:13,213 --> 00:00:15,373 Speaker 2: Mike Hardley is our travel correspondent. 4 00:00:15,413 --> 00:00:18,773 Speaker 3: Hey Mike, good morning Jack. What's your scoreline for tonight? 5 00:00:19,213 --> 00:00:21,373 Speaker 2: I reckon AB's by fourteen. 6 00:00:22,693 --> 00:00:25,933 Speaker 3: Yeah, fourteen. Yeah, I've said thirty six fourteen, So yeah, 7 00:00:25,933 --> 00:00:27,013 Speaker 3: we're on a similar page. 8 00:00:27,173 --> 00:00:30,653 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, Yeah, it feels like, Yeah, I think I 9 00:00:30,693 --> 00:00:34,333 Speaker 2: feel cautiously optimistic that they're going to avenge last week. 10 00:00:34,333 --> 00:00:36,973 Speaker 2: It's funny, there hasn't really been you know, we haven't 11 00:00:37,213 --> 00:00:39,413 Speaker 2: kind of gnashing our teeth too much after that performance 12 00:00:39,453 --> 00:00:41,853 Speaker 2: last week. You wonder how different it might have been, 13 00:00:41,893 --> 00:00:45,173 Speaker 2: have we not just had the Olympics. You know, there 14 00:00:45,213 --> 00:00:47,893 Speaker 2: was a game to lose. From the all backs management perspective, 15 00:00:47,933 --> 00:00:48,893 Speaker 2: that was probably the one. 16 00:00:48,773 --> 00:00:50,893 Speaker 3: Right, that's the one, definitely. 17 00:00:51,053 --> 00:00:51,293 Speaker 1: Yeah. 18 00:00:51,333 --> 00:00:53,773 Speaker 3: I mean the Olympics were just extraordinary, weren't that? He 19 00:00:53,893 --> 00:00:55,973 Speaker 3: really would Yeah, the glow of it from a New 20 00:00:56,053 --> 00:00:57,933 Speaker 3: Zealand perspective, amazing. 21 00:00:57,613 --> 00:00:59,693 Speaker 2: Just not say it's amazing how it kind of affects 22 00:00:59,733 --> 00:01:00,973 Speaker 2: us all you you've always got a bit of a 23 00:01:00,973 --> 00:01:04,413 Speaker 2: spring in their step and stuff. Yeah, it is great. Yeah, anyway, 24 00:01:04,573 --> 00:01:06,693 Speaker 2: speaking of a bit of a spring in our step. 25 00:01:06,693 --> 00:01:09,213 Speaker 2: We are focusing on a beautiful part of the world 26 00:01:09,293 --> 00:01:12,013 Speaker 2: this morning, and I must admit when I think of Malta, 27 00:01:12,653 --> 00:01:15,493 Speaker 2: I think of one island, right, and I think most 28 00:01:15,573 --> 00:01:18,933 Speaker 2: people are probably in the same boat there. But this 29 00:01:19,053 --> 00:01:22,453 Speaker 2: morning you are focusing on Gozo and Comino, which are 30 00:01:22,493 --> 00:01:26,493 Speaker 2: Malta's little rock stars. So beyond Malta's grade main island, 31 00:01:26,653 --> 00:01:29,333 Speaker 2: how easy is it to get to those smaller siblings. 32 00:01:29,933 --> 00:01:32,773 Speaker 3: The good news is super easy, Jack, So from the 33 00:01:32,813 --> 00:01:36,213 Speaker 3: main island every day there is this daily flotilla of 34 00:01:36,293 --> 00:01:39,453 Speaker 3: fairies that zip across the water from Slima, which is 35 00:01:39,493 --> 00:01:42,893 Speaker 3: next to Valletta on the main island, and they link 36 00:01:42,973 --> 00:01:45,133 Speaker 3: up with Gozo and Camino. It's about a forty five 37 00:01:45,213 --> 00:01:48,413 Speaker 3: minute crossing. And the really cool thing is you see 38 00:01:48,413 --> 00:01:52,733 Speaker 3: some stirring history along the way, like Saint Paul's Bay. Now, 39 00:01:52,813 --> 00:01:56,533 Speaker 3: this bay is where Paul was shipwrecked after being arrested. 40 00:01:56,573 --> 00:01:59,413 Speaker 3: He was en route to Rome to be executed by 41 00:01:59,453 --> 00:02:03,093 Speaker 3: the Imperial Court for converting people to Christianity, So you 42 00:02:03,213 --> 00:02:06,333 Speaker 3: see that site. So whether you are looking for an 43 00:02:06,453 --> 00:02:10,213 Speaker 3: action packed day excursion from the main island or you 44 00:02:10,253 --> 00:02:12,453 Speaker 3: want to have a longer stay on Gozo, and Camino. 45 00:02:12,813 --> 00:02:16,013 Speaker 3: It is a quick and easy hopscotch between those Maltese islands. 46 00:02:16,013 --> 00:02:18,733 Speaker 2: Oh nice, And what would be some of Gozo's big drawers. 47 00:02:19,773 --> 00:02:23,133 Speaker 3: I think it's the high watted coastal beauty of Gozo 48 00:02:23,253 --> 00:02:27,373 Speaker 3: that just staggers people when they arrive. My favorite spot, 49 00:02:27,413 --> 00:02:29,533 Speaker 3: which I would suggest people check out, is a place 50 00:02:29,613 --> 00:02:34,333 Speaker 3: called Glendy Bay. It is blindingly beautiful and I think 51 00:02:34,333 --> 00:02:37,853 Speaker 3: it's the location which makes it so incredible. It's sandwiched 52 00:02:37,933 --> 00:02:42,813 Speaker 3: between stunning, dramatic cliffs and Elcantra Valley, which is just 53 00:02:43,373 --> 00:02:47,093 Speaker 3: as green as you get. There's this gorgeous old watch 54 00:02:47,173 --> 00:02:51,133 Speaker 3: tower which was built after an early Ottoman attack completely 55 00:02:51,213 --> 00:02:55,173 Speaker 3: wiped out Gozo's population, so you can climb up to 56 00:02:55,253 --> 00:02:59,413 Speaker 3: it and you get the most epic view across Gozo. 57 00:03:00,173 --> 00:03:03,173 Speaker 3: And then a bit of an in the no sort 58 00:03:03,213 --> 00:03:08,093 Speaker 3: of secret there are these stone steps that descend down 59 00:03:08,733 --> 00:03:12,533 Speaker 3: into this little cove of course, Caroline's Cove, and this 60 00:03:12,693 --> 00:03:15,373 Speaker 3: was a secret stairway jack that was created back in 61 00:03:15,373 --> 00:03:19,613 Speaker 3: the day for the local Augustinian nuns so they could 62 00:03:19,693 --> 00:03:23,733 Speaker 3: have a little dip in the Mediterranean in complete solitude, 63 00:03:24,053 --> 00:03:26,173 Speaker 3: as you do when you're a nun. So that's a 64 00:03:26,213 --> 00:03:28,253 Speaker 3: stunning spot to check out as well. 65 00:03:28,333 --> 00:03:31,493 Speaker 2: Yeah right, So tell us about Guzo's main town, Victoria. 66 00:03:31,773 --> 00:03:35,253 Speaker 3: Yeah, like Valisa, she is stately with lots of butterscotch 67 00:03:35,293 --> 00:03:38,693 Speaker 3: limestone buildings that glow in the sunshine. But best of all, 68 00:03:38,813 --> 00:03:42,533 Speaker 3: the ancient citadel on the highest hilltop. It's like a 69 00:03:42,573 --> 00:03:47,373 Speaker 3: portal to the past seven thousand years of human settlement. 70 00:03:47,893 --> 00:03:50,893 Speaker 3: And the first fortifications were built there about three and 71 00:03:50,933 --> 00:03:53,453 Speaker 3: a half thousand years ago, and then they were just 72 00:03:53,533 --> 00:03:57,853 Speaker 3: steadily added to. But as you walk around the lanes 73 00:03:57,893 --> 00:04:01,613 Speaker 3: and explore the buildings, it just feels like the ultimate 74 00:04:01,693 --> 00:04:05,733 Speaker 3: and time travel. And Malta has spent a truckload and 75 00:04:06,053 --> 00:04:10,373 Speaker 3: restorre boring the entire citadel, so you do feel like 76 00:04:10,493 --> 00:04:13,893 Speaker 3: you're walking in a movie set on a gigantic scale. 77 00:04:13,973 --> 00:04:17,053 Speaker 2: Yeah right, okay, nice, Any memorable eats there. 78 00:04:18,053 --> 00:04:20,813 Speaker 3: Well. Back in the central Victoria, Independence Square is the 79 00:04:20,813 --> 00:04:24,733 Speaker 3: beating heart of town. It buzzes with Alfresco cafes. But 80 00:04:25,053 --> 00:04:28,773 Speaker 3: one of the best mouthfuls of Malta head to the 81 00:04:28,813 --> 00:04:34,453 Speaker 3: hole in the wall street vendors who sell pastisi Pastisi. Now, 82 00:04:34,493 --> 00:04:38,653 Speaker 3: these traditional savory feilo puff pastries are stuffed with ricotta 83 00:04:39,173 --> 00:04:42,653 Speaker 3: or curried mushy peas. Oh, which is a bit of 84 00:04:42,653 --> 00:04:46,653 Speaker 3: a British hangover that has decided to stuff there pastisi 85 00:04:46,733 --> 00:04:50,533 Speaker 3: with the mushy peas. But whatever they pack into their pastizi, 86 00:04:50,973 --> 00:04:53,133 Speaker 3: you know it's going to be good. They're about fifty 87 00:04:53,173 --> 00:04:55,933 Speaker 3: cents a pop. They'll keep you going all day. Yeah. 88 00:04:56,053 --> 00:04:59,373 Speaker 2: Nice and so. Right next to Gozo is the even 89 00:04:59,453 --> 00:05:01,333 Speaker 2: smaller island of Comino. 90 00:05:02,213 --> 00:05:04,973 Speaker 3: Yes, and once again what are taxis and fairies? They'll 91 00:05:05,053 --> 00:05:07,693 Speaker 3: zip you across the vivid blue waters from Gozo to 92 00:05:08,133 --> 00:05:12,213 Speaker 3: pine sized Camino. It's about ten minutes. Once again, it's 93 00:05:12,253 --> 00:05:16,013 Speaker 3: that boundless scenic splendor that is just so mind blowing. 94 00:05:16,053 --> 00:05:19,813 Speaker 3: In fact, it is so beautiful in Camino, so eye 95 00:05:19,853 --> 00:05:23,053 Speaker 3: popping you will quietly wonder if you need to be 96 00:05:23,133 --> 00:05:28,573 Speaker 3: drug tested. Did someone spike your pastisi? It is so trippy. 97 00:05:29,133 --> 00:05:29,493 Speaker 2: Yeah. 98 00:05:29,613 --> 00:05:32,733 Speaker 3: The big headliner Jack is a place called the Blue Lagoon. 99 00:05:33,253 --> 00:05:36,213 Speaker 3: The snorkeling there is incredible, whether you just want to 100 00:05:36,213 --> 00:05:40,453 Speaker 3: ever swim or just sunbathe, it is insanely picturesque. It's 101 00:05:40,453 --> 00:05:45,693 Speaker 3: this ethereal setting of shallow, close water backed by lava 102 00:05:45,893 --> 00:05:49,693 Speaker 3: terraces that just cascade down to the water and if 103 00:05:49,693 --> 00:05:52,613 Speaker 3: you've seen the movie Troy or The Count of Monte Cristo, 104 00:05:53,013 --> 00:05:55,533 Speaker 3: you will recognize it because it featured very heavily. It 105 00:05:55,573 --> 00:06:00,413 Speaker 3: is just one of those pinch yourself locations that will 106 00:06:00,493 --> 00:06:01,933 Speaker 3: sear itself into your memories. 107 00:06:01,973 --> 00:06:03,693 Speaker 2: So I could. I looked it up as soon as 108 00:06:03,693 --> 00:06:05,893 Speaker 2: I saw you'd been there. It's got what's called a 109 00:06:06,013 --> 00:06:09,533 Speaker 2: car landscape, so it's very flat. It's all kind of 110 00:06:09,893 --> 00:06:14,253 Speaker 2: like limestoney, like flat limestone across the entire little island. 111 00:06:14,253 --> 00:06:16,053 Speaker 2: I think it must be super small, right, you could 112 00:06:16,053 --> 00:06:17,613 Speaker 2: comfortably walk from one side to the other. 113 00:06:17,813 --> 00:06:19,573 Speaker 3: I think easy. Yeah, yeah, very much. 114 00:06:19,613 --> 00:06:21,813 Speaker 2: Oh looks amazing. So what about the crystal caves. 115 00:06:22,453 --> 00:06:24,613 Speaker 3: Yeah, just around the other side from the blue lagoon. 116 00:06:24,733 --> 00:06:28,893 Speaker 3: The Crystal Caves Colloon once again is just going to 117 00:06:29,293 --> 00:06:33,253 Speaker 3: be visual overload. So it's the sequence of four big 118 00:06:33,293 --> 00:06:37,173 Speaker 3: sea caves, all once again washed with that vivid blue water. 119 00:06:38,253 --> 00:06:40,453 Speaker 3: And the first cave is the best of all because 120 00:06:41,093 --> 00:06:45,053 Speaker 3: thankfully a bit of erosion collapsed the roof, which formed 121 00:06:45,053 --> 00:06:48,693 Speaker 3: a very wide opening and a rock arch, so you 122 00:06:48,733 --> 00:06:51,013 Speaker 3: can walk into the cave. You've got this rock arch 123 00:06:51,533 --> 00:06:55,133 Speaker 3: peering out into the Mediterranean. It is just picture perfect. 124 00:06:56,013 --> 00:06:58,853 Speaker 3: So yeah, if you are sizing up a swing through Malta, Jack, 125 00:06:59,253 --> 00:07:02,093 Speaker 3: which I reckon you should be. In fact, I'm amazed, 126 00:07:02,133 --> 00:07:04,173 Speaker 3: I said to Francesco a couple of weeks ago, I'm 127 00:07:04,253 --> 00:07:08,453 Speaker 3: amazed Malta doesn't flesh brighter on our radar, you know, 128 00:07:08,493 --> 00:07:11,293 Speaker 3: when it comes to European destinations. But if you are 129 00:07:11,333 --> 00:07:15,733 Speaker 3: heading to Malta, definitely add Gozo and Camino to your 130 00:07:15,813 --> 00:07:18,053 Speaker 3: checklist to complete the whole tour. 131 00:07:18,253 --> 00:07:22,053 Speaker 2: So when you compare it with Sicily and you know, 132 00:07:22,093 --> 00:07:26,213 Speaker 2: some of those other relatively nearby destinations, obviously Tennessie would 133 00:07:26,213 --> 00:07:30,613 Speaker 2: be amazing as well. But what would the tourist crowds 134 00:07:31,053 --> 00:07:33,213 Speaker 2: be like in Malta compared to say, Sicily. 135 00:07:34,493 --> 00:07:38,013 Speaker 3: It is very very busy with Europeans in July August, right, 136 00:07:38,693 --> 00:07:40,573 Speaker 3: But I mean I stayed in Slima, which is the 137 00:07:40,613 --> 00:07:44,413 Speaker 3: main tourist strip on the main island, and it never 138 00:07:44,773 --> 00:07:47,893 Speaker 3: and this was when was Ida June, so that it 139 00:07:47,933 --> 00:07:51,533 Speaker 3: was very warm. Weather was magnificent, but it didn't feel overcrowded. 140 00:07:52,013 --> 00:07:55,133 Speaker 3: So as long as you avoid July August, the shoulder seats, 141 00:07:56,133 --> 00:07:58,853 Speaker 3: yeah very much. The weather all year round is very 142 00:07:58,973 --> 00:08:02,893 Speaker 3: very good. Yeah, as you said, because its location to Genesia. 143 00:08:02,973 --> 00:08:06,013 Speaker 3: It is so far south. Yeah, it is very warm. 144 00:08:06,453 --> 00:08:08,333 Speaker 2: Yeah, I can imagine it would be. I mean one 145 00:08:08,333 --> 00:08:11,253 Speaker 2: thing too, I know that. I mean, we are both nerds, 146 00:08:11,253 --> 00:08:13,773 Speaker 2: so we can unite over this stuff. But I went 147 00:08:13,813 --> 00:08:15,813 Speaker 2: into a bit of a hole this week looking at 148 00:08:15,933 --> 00:08:20,253 Speaker 2: the water management system on Malta because there are no rivers, right, 149 00:08:20,333 --> 00:08:23,053 Speaker 2: there are no there are no rivers or streams or anything. 150 00:08:23,093 --> 00:08:25,053 Speaker 2: They're no like big you know. So it's just like, 151 00:08:25,093 --> 00:08:26,773 Speaker 2: what do they do with water? It must have just 152 00:08:26,853 --> 00:08:29,253 Speaker 2: like flood into the ocean. Yeah, yeah, and it does. 153 00:08:29,453 --> 00:08:31,613 Speaker 2: So it turns out there they're really kind of ahead 154 00:08:31,613 --> 00:08:33,333 Speaker 2: of the game in terms of water management, but they 155 00:08:33,373 --> 00:08:36,013 Speaker 2: have to do heaps of declination and causes all sorts 156 00:08:36,013 --> 00:08:37,933 Speaker 2: of problems. The things you take for granted today, like 157 00:08:37,973 --> 00:08:40,093 Speaker 2: it's nice, very nice to be in the middle of 158 00:08:40,133 --> 00:08:43,013 Speaker 2: the Mediterranean and enjoy all of the benefits of that, 159 00:08:43,093 --> 00:08:45,133 Speaker 2: but there are the occasional downside as well. 160 00:08:45,653 --> 00:08:48,053 Speaker 3: Yeah. I think when the British rocked into town after 161 00:08:48,053 --> 00:08:50,493 Speaker 3: they knocked out the French, they were like a little 162 00:08:50,493 --> 00:08:52,733 Speaker 3: bit concerned as to okay, so what do we drink? 163 00:08:52,853 --> 00:08:58,293 Speaker 2: Yeah but three days and yeah, yeah, oh very good. 164 00:08:58,333 --> 00:08:59,973 Speaker 2: Now it looks like a fascinating part of the world, and, 165 00:09:00,013 --> 00:09:02,453 Speaker 2: like you say, one that is perhaps a little underappreciated. 166 00:09:02,493 --> 00:09:05,133 Speaker 2: I would love to go there. Thank you so much. 167 00:09:05,253 --> 00:09:08,733 Speaker 2: We'll put all of Mike's ten for exploring Gozo and 168 00:09:08,933 --> 00:09:12,293 Speaker 2: Camino in Malta up on the News Talk ZEDB website. 169 00:09:12,733 --> 00:09:15,813 Speaker 1: For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame. Listen live 170 00:09:15,893 --> 00:09:19,093 Speaker 1: to News Talks EDB from nine am Saturday, or follow 171 00:09:19,133 --> 00:09:20,653 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.