With a day and half to spend in Malta before continuing their journey towards Greece, Animalcouriers set about exploring the island. Couriers M and J both have connections to Malta — courier M was born there and left as a baby, and courier J went there on holiday as a child.
One must-see sight on Malta is Mdina, a wonderfully preserved hilltop fortified town that was once the capital. It boasts a fine cathedral, a nunnery and dramatic battlements — and some great places to eat.
Before leaving Malta we caught up with a friend of ours, Trevor, who’s spent several months as part of a team renovating an oil rig that will be used by an Italian company in the Libyan oil fields.
Trevor and his wife Ann are great animal-lovers and have created a haven in Ireland for cats and dogs, many of whom are blind or have other disabilities. Trevor has been doing his bit for animal welfare in Malta, feeding groups of feral cats living at the docks. At one of his feeding stations he came across a ginger tabby who was more interested in lavishing attention on Trevor than in eating. Inevitably, such a strong bond developed between Trevor and this intelligent cat (soon named Milo), that Trevor couldn’t leave him behind.
So he found a safe foster home for Milo, organised a pet passport for him, and asked us if we could arrange his transport from Malta. The timing worked out perfectly and Milo is leaving with us today. He’s such a poised and civilised cat it’s hard to believe he ever lived rough!
St Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina
Entrance to the town over a moat
Many street corners are adorned with effigies of saints or of the Madonna
Maltese falcon
Maltese cross
Maltese knights
These flights of steps have shallow risers, supposedly to make it easier for knights in full armour to run up them. Presumably enemy knights could run up them equally easily!
We took a boat trip around Malta’s famous Valetta harbour, flanked by castles built by the Knights Templars in the 1500s
Knowing we would pass Trevor’s oil rig on the tour, we arranged to call him so he could give us the royal wave
A former Templar hospital dating from the 1500s
More amazing Templar architecture along the water’s edge
Trevor tells us a certain Mr and Mrs Beckham once hired this floating gin palace
Trevor trying out Milo’s new scratching board
Milo the Maltese Moggy all tucked up for the journey
Aww milo looks very comfy all snuggled up! His scratchy pad is pawesome! Malta looks beautiful! I hope Milo enjoys Ireland!
Malta is wonderful. Milo is most certainly going to love his home in Ireland!
Those feral kitties can be surprising in how civilized they can be right off the bat, despite how they have been surviving previously. Milo is one smart cat!
Doubly smart considering how wonderful Ann & Trevor are!
Awww, Milo is so cute! 🙂 xx
He sure is and in for a super new life 😀
What beautiful sites. So happy for milo
It’s a wonderful place and Milo is a lucky chap.
What a stunning harbour view Malta has. Sadly a part of Europe that I never got to visit. Well done to Milo for knowing exactly the right person to adopt 😀
It is very special. Milo had been waiting for Trevor 😀
Wow, Trevor sounds as lovely as Malta is stunning! Beautiful pictures, and what a lucky little tyke Milo is! I hope he is so happy in his new home!
Hugs, Carrie & Pups x
He is! Milo has landed well and truly on his paws there.
Malta seems as though it was well worth a tour.
Most certainly worth a tour, preferably with the sun shining on its usually clear blue sea.
Awesome pics and story of milo and Trevor!
Milo and Trevor – a match made in heaven 🙂
Malta surely is a treasure to see with so many ancient buildings that are still standing. Milo is for sure a very sweet and smart cat. I can see why he chose Trevor as his human that would be giving him a better life. He looks to be a very handsome fella. May Trevor and Ann have continued success with their special refuge.
Oh and the dogs in the header look so handsome and alert. A very nice photo.
Malta is steeped in history and it’s great to see so many of the great buildings still standing. Milo made a very smart choice.
I’ve never been to Malta. Looks like I should put it on my list. Thanks for the tour, AC. –Curt
Oh, Malta is very worth your while visiting – just a shame we couldn’t show its usual clear blue sea.
What a beautiful places. I like the small streets on the isle (not been there yet, but just saw it on your picture 😉 The pictures are great to give an impression of Malta. Milo looks very comfy..I think Trevor approved the scratching board, I see no nails on his paws anymore 😀 Pawkisses for a Happy Wedenesday 🙂 <3
It is a very beautiful part of the world. Endless lanes to follow and get lost in 😉 Yes, Trevor’s nails look to be coming up well with that scratching board!
What beautiful scenery and as for Trevor and his wife..my kinda folks 🙂 all this Malta stuff..i suddenly have a craving for MALTESERS…and good luck Milo ..I think you did real well with your choice of peeps 🙂 safe travels all Fozziemum xxx
It is a beautiful place. Milo is a genius cat 😀
That he is!! 🙂 🙂
Milo is a lucky kitty. Love the scratch board, so cute!
Lovely photos, thank you for sharing.
Milo is lucky but clever with it 😉
Looks like Sam.
I gotta go to Malta some day.
He does but doesn’t have quite so many toes. You should visit, you never know Sam might feature it in one of his teasers…
In the United States, architecture has to have been around a mere 100 years to be considered historic and old. I would love to visit some real history!
Malta is absolutely steeped in it! Our house is 185 years old and we think it’s quite young 😉
Malta looks fascinating! Milo looks very cosy in his travelling quarters.
Malta is amazing. Milo looks like he is a travelling pro already.
Methinks this Milo is going to be spoiled rotten & rightly so
Got it in a oner!