Malta Welcome (Valletta)

I’ve just returned from 5 full days in Malta (not including travel days before and after). There are so many experiences and photos to share that I’ll post multiple days in case you can go, too!

A Pilgrimage is a faith-based journey. I joined a group of Pilgrims from Stuttgart (Germany), the UK, the US, and France. We were based in Sliema, which is an easy bus ride or ferry ride from Valletta. If you travel to Malta and don’t have a specific reason for being based in Sliema, I’d suggest that you stay in or near Valletta.

Our first full day, we took bus 21 from Sliema to the end of the line at the bus terminal in Valletta (2 Euros per person*). From there, it was a short walk into Valletta, where we strolled around the pedestrian area, and then on to “The Malta Experience”. We watched a movie about Malta and had a tour of the “Knights Hospitallers” building, which was an amazing glimpse into an historic site which provided medical care hundreds of years ago.

Small ferry boats brought 5 passengers each to 3 cities, just across the water. Our captain made the boat with his own hands! What a lovely piece of craftsmanship and tradition. We took a mini train (open sided metal carriages pulled by a small truck) through the streets of 3 cities, which would be especially fun if you have children in your group.

We were grateful for the elevator which brought us back up to the main level of Valletta! We took the ferry back from Valletta to Sliema, which was a nice breeze and terrific views. Daytime fare is 1.50 Euros per one way, or 1.75 in the evening.

* a multi-trip pass is available if you plan to ride the bus more than once per day during your stay

Maulbronn Monastery UNESCO World Heritage Site

If you are anywhere near Heidelberg or Frankfurt, please take the time to visit this amazing historical site.  I expected a series of austere rooms with not much to see, and I was wrong.

You will be thrilled if you are curious about how people in the middle ages built large structures from stone. There is a museum room showing construction tools and techniques.

Your neck will be tipped upwards nearly all the time if you are interested in architectural ceilings in churches and romanesque/gothic hallways.

We didn’t have a meal or snack inside the property, but there are several choices for both if you are hungry. There are gift shops, a small bookstore, an herb store, and a pharmacy. The bathrooms were modern! I feel like the photos speak for themselves.

Stuttgart Botanical Gardens and Zoo

Someone recently recommended the Stuttgart Zoo’s botanical gardens to me, and a visit from a friend finally brought me there. I’ve felt increasingly concerned about viewing animals living in small cages, to the point where I just don’t want to observe their misery anymore. Some zoos provide large living areas for animals, and the Stuttgart zoo even has some large birds roaming feely, so I was able to enjoy the time while avoiding a few sections.

The botanical gardens begin immediately at the gate, with a series of connected buildings yielding cacti behind glass, flowers, and a large koi fish pond. The grounds on the property are filled with beautiful plants and blossoms, and there is another large greenhouse up the hill.

My favorite giraffes were a mixed bunch: one was munching on the shrubbery, while another seemed less happy, perhaps trying to go back inside? The meercats were adorable, though difficult to photograph (I could have shown you a blur!).

There were plenty of families enjoying a picnic lunch on plentiful benches and grassy areas, while a restaurant at the back of the zoo provided standard cooked fare (schnitzel, fries), along with a substantial salad bar.

The sea lions performed for fish, and the large pelicans swam placidly along a pool, while egrets flew overhead. We didn't make it inside the aquarium this time- I'll report back once I do.

You can also see bison, ostriches, camels, and many more animals. The zoo and botanical gardens are easily accessible by the Stuttgart train system, “Wilhelma” stop. I would return with family and friends.