However, my first destination wasn’t Hungary, but Malta. One of my brothers moved there with his family this summer, and we went to spend a few days there with them before Christmas (my sister, my parents and I).

Malta doesn’t know winter. It can get a bit chilly in the night, and the wind is as expected on a small island in the middle of the sea, but it’s still just sweater weather. You ever swam in the sea in the middle of winter without having to fear freezing to death? Well, neither have I (walking in knee-deep was enough for me).

The local Maltese language is interesting too. First impression is that it’s Arabic written with the Latin alphabet, with some words of Italian and English mixed in. Not to mention everyone, everyone (even the old baker lady in the shabby hut) speaks English, and fairly well too. Funny in comparison to Japan, where local English teachers would lose to the aforementioned baker lady.

We did some sightseeing in Valletta after my plane landed and we waited for my parents’ to do the same. The tiny streets reminded me of Tokyo, but then again it somehow felt much more healthy than the abomination that the capital of Japan is. We also went around the island of Gozo (where my brother lives).

It also marked my second time (I think) to play bowling, and (of course) I performed terribly once again. Not too fond of it to be honest. I got to drive around the island in a rented car, as someone used to driving on the left side of the road.

For some reason water was cut off after the first day in the apartment we stayed in, but we managed. It was fun three days spent in summer during winter. I uploaded plenty of pictures to Facebook too.