Blue Grotto
We started our journey on foot from the small town of Hal-Safi and made our way towards the town of Zurrieq. We could have taken a local bus but decided to walk the 3-kilometer distance to our destination, which was Blue Grotto.
Passing a bakery on our way, the delicious smell of freshly baked bread was too much to resist and we got some of the local hobz (bread in Maltese). The traditional loaf is crusty on the outside and very soft on the inside, just perfect any time of the day.
As we made our way through the town of Zurrieq, we passed the beautiful church of St. Catherine in the centre of town. The rays of the morning sun gave the limestone buildings a beautiful golden color, while the local cats occupied whatever shade they could find.
A mobile fish seller, the preferred way for locals to buy their fish, was parked in his truck on the side of the road. As is custom, he was busy shouting at the top of his voice "Lampuki!!!". This was the way he let the local customers know that their fresh fish, caught just a couple of hours ago, was right outside their house. The Lampuki is a very common fish in Malta and it is also known as Dorado. It migrates through the Maltese waters between late August and late December and is one of the most popular dished in the Maltese cuisine.
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Heading out of Zurrieq and towards Blue Grotto, we took the Triq Il Wied which is a long and scenic road heading towards the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea. We had a few friendly locals stop to offer us a lift, but we decided to keep on walking.
As we got to our destination, we made our way down the steps towards the water. Nestled between the rocks were many fishing boats. The traditional Maltese fishing boats, known as "luzzu", are decorated with the eye of Osiris. This is a tradition spanning back many centuries, rooted in the belief that it gives you protection from the evil eye.
After a refreshing swim in the water, we started making our way back to Hal-Safi, but not before having some lunch. At the top of the stairs leading to the water, there was a small restaurant which we decided to visit. To our amusement they seemed to have run out of ingredients when we came there and all they could offer us were spaghetti with cheese. Not being picky, we ate our lunch while enjoying incredible scenery.
If you are visiting Malta, I would definitely recommend visiting Blue Grotto, a truly beautiful place.