When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford,
said Samuel Johnson in 1777.
I have been living in London for two years now and it is a remarkable city. The most international, cosmopolitan city in Europe with a myriad of cultural and intellectual offers every day. This August, it even got exciting enough for me for a few days thanks to the London riots.
The almost limitless range of possibilities that London offers is a trap into which many Londoners fall: They stay in London year after year because there is always something going on, a new museum to visit, a new show to watch, some new building or park to admire, a constant influx of new people of course, now the Olympics are next, and so on. Because of this constant array of attractions and events, many Londoners think this city is the centre of the world. Too often I have heard “I would never want to live anywhere else” from people who have actually never even been anywhere else.
But there is a big world out there, and it’s time to get travelling again. Because as Confucius said:
They must often change who want to be constant in happiness or wisdom.
In line with my life plan to move to a different country every two years at the latest, it’s now time for me to move again.
After two years in a metropolis with 8 million inhabitants on a rainy island in Northern Europe, I thought a good next stop would be a small, sunny, sparsely populated island in the Mediterranean: I will move to Malta in December 2011.
Malta is the smallest member state of the European Union, both in size (316 km²) and population (416,000).
It is located south of Sicily and is the sunniest and warmest European country. It is actually further south than Tunis, Algiers, Tangier, Aleppo or Mosul. It has the perfect climate to spend the upcoming winter months.
It will be perfect to relax, concentrate on my studies, but also to explore the history, the culture and the nature of this island. And thanks to its central location in the Mediterranean, it’s a good base for exploring Sicily and North Africa.
So, enjoy your winter! I’ll be sitting here, reading a book and smoking a cigar:
Why don’t you come for a visit?
The Happy Hermit 
That is awesome!!
The picture of Malta look so beautiful! I hope you enjoy your stay over there! Does your work involve traveling?
My work doesn’t involve travelling, but I study via distance education and I do freelance work (translations and legal freelance work and writing) where all I need is an internet connection. So I can do this from anywhere in the world. Once I realised this, I thought: Why stay in the most expensive city in Europe? It just doesn’t make sense.
i was brought up in London, most of my family and people i grew up with are still there but i moved away when i was 21, having lived all over England, i have yet to take the plunge and move abroad, i have visited just 10 other countries and i agree that there is a big world out there to explore. i have been to Malta twice it is a beautiful place the people are nice, just always know that wherever you are people are not much different , all working,looking after their families,striving for a comfortable home and stress free good life, its just climate,land and accents that are different not the person, most of us are very similar. anyway good luck in your travels im sure you will enjoy and appreciate Malta as i do. all the best and stay safe.
Wirklich zu beneiden, wenn man nicht Ortsgebunden ist uns seine Arbeit von überall machen kann. Ich träume schon lange von so was, aber irgendwie wüsste ich nicht, wie ich so etwas bewerkstelligen könnte. Und jetzt gleich muss ich schon wieder nach McDonalds und Burger für unsere hungrige Gesellschaft produzieren.
Das macht mich jetzt hungrig! Burger werden doch überall auf der Welt produziert, verkauft und gegessen. Ich finde, daß so “handwerkliche” Tätigkeiten oft besser für die Weltenbummelei geeignet sind als akademische Tätigkeiten. Mein deutscher Jura-Abschluß nützt mir z.B. außerhalb Deutschlands fast gar nichts.
Ach, ich bin eigentlich kein Burger-Experte. Ich mache das nur, weil ich urplötzlich arbeitslos geworden wäre, aber es nicht sein wollte. Vielleicht ist so ein Beruf geeignet für Weltenbummler, Weiß nicht. Ich habe das auch noch nicht ausprobiert. Aber ich bin ein Weltenbummer, was Berufe betrifft. McDonalds ist mein 18-tes Unternehmen ich habe von Produktionshelfer bis IT-Fachmann alles mögliche ausgeübt und eigentlich immer wieder dasselbe und dieselbe langweilige Routine gesehen. Und es ist schon paradox, aber der Job bei McDonalds macht mir irgendwie Spaß, weil er mir sowohl körperlich auch als geistig alles abverlangt. Man glaubt gar nicht, was die Leute da zu den unmöglichsten Zeiten leisten müssen. Ist schon ein eigenartiger und auch intensiver Lebensrhythmus, den man da lebt. Zur Zeit bin ich mit meinen 40 Jahren so in Form, dass ich mir vieles zutraue, was ich mir vorher nicht zugetraut haben und irgendwo sofort drauf gehe, wenn sich irgendwo eine Schwierigkeit oder ein Problem auftut. Nicht, dass ich vorher dumm gewesen bin, aber es ist schon wahr, dass ich in den paar Monaten McDonalds sehr viel gelernt habe und vielleicht alte Tugenden wieder ausgepackt habe, die ich schon längst habe versauern lassen, und noch mehr als das. Ich bin selber verwundert, wie diese paar Monate mich verändert haben. Aber gut, ich war schon immer der Meinung, dass Lebenserfahrungen einen reicher machen, als Dinge, die man vielleicht irgendwo in der Theorie nachgelesen hat. Und gerade die schweren Erfahrungen, wo man sich richtig durch beißen muss, haben einen unheimlich starken Effekt. Würde schon gerne eine Art Weltenbummler sein, aber dazu habe ich eigentlich wenig Erfahrung und es müsste auch einen Sinn geben. Habe mal daran gedacht für eine dänische Organisation Entwicklungshilfe in ärmeren Ländern zu leisen, aber das war dann irgendwie ein Programm, wo man auch selber das ganze finanziell unterstützen musste und damals war ich gerade total pleite und auch irgendwie privat am Ende. Und jetzt bin ich 40 und ich sage immer, dass die erste Halbzeit schon vorbei ist oder meine Batterie schon halb leer und ich mich dann doch schon daran gewöhnt habe, in einem immer wieder kehrendem Rhythmus dieselben Dinge zu tun, wie andere Leute auch. Und ich wüsste auch nicht, ob ich nochmal den Mut hätte, mir meinem Traum von ein wenig Weltenbummler zu sein, mir zu erfüllen. Aber vielleicht ergibt es sich irgendwann von ganz alleine.
That sounds like the perfect life plan! Malta looks beautiful– should be quite a change from the hustle and bustle of London.
Andreas:
Can one really learn how the culture of new country functions in 2 years, even if you already speak the language? (I have no idea what language they speak in Malta, and I’m too lazy to look it up in Wikipedia).
I’ve changed my country of residence three times in my life (I’m 65), and it takes me a lot more than 2 years to get to understand how both the explicit (easily learned) and implicit codes of a new culture operate.
Maybe you learn faster than I do. Maybe you’ll end up spending the rest of your life learning the ways of Malta. In any case, good luck on your move.
I
Hi, Maltese & English are the official languages of Malta, however most people speak a 3rd and 4th language, mainly one of these:- Italian, French, German, Spanish or Arabic.
Maltese is a semitic language, closely resembling Aramaic, it is also close to Arabic, although less guttural and softer.
Having been a British colony for over 200 years, until the last couple of decades (Independence in 1964, with the British force leaving permanently in 1979), there is a very strong affinity to Britian, although there is a healthy dose of Italian lifestyle in our culture, mainly the cuisine, and the laissez-faire attitude :)
T Brown:
Thanks. That’s very interesting.
Was Malta settled by Semitic people B.C.E.?
s. wallerstein, the first known settlers in Malta were from Sicily (5200 BCE).
s.wallerstein
Malta has a long history of occupancy. The Phoenicians left the strongest semitic influence on the islands, which were a port of call during their commerce travels. An interesteing fact, published in a National Geographic article a couple of years back, detailed how present day Lebanese (which is situated in former Phoenicia) share a fair amount of DNA to Maltese people.
After Phoenicians, came the Greeks, Normans, Byzantians, Genoese, Aragonese (not necessarily in that order :))
In the middle ages, Malta was occupied for a long time by the Arabs and the islands had become predominantly Islamic. That changed with the arrival of the Knights of St. John from Rhodes (1530 – 1799), after which the French spent 2 years occupying Malta.
The French were replaced by the British until Independence in 1964, and eventually left the island for good in 1979.
That is Maltese history in a nutshell :)
Maltese is the national language in Malta, However most people in Malta speak English.
George or everyone else:
5200 BCE is a long-time ago.
Who were those first-known settlers of Malta? Obviously, seafarers, since you can’t get from Sicily to Malta by bus.
s.wallerstein
There is sufficient proof that Malta was once connected to the European continent (Sicily) and was part of a ridge between Africa and Europe. Notiwthstanding, Mediterranean people were always seafarers and hence crossing over by boats was how the early settlers came over from Sicily
T. Brown:
Thanks for the interesting history lesson.
To be in the middle of the Mediterranean is, as the word implies, to be in the midst of things.
s. wallerstein, if you are interested look up Ghar Dalam. I made that claim, because there was evidence of Sicilian pottery and statues found at this site.
The land bridge theory talked about by T Brown stems from the remains of dwarf hippos and pigmy elephants found in that cave. I believe they are still up for display in the Ghar Dalam museum.
the language is Maltese ..we also speak English (blehh idiot)
I would love to come visit, especially to tour the World War 2 history of the island. Unfortunately, I will be fortunate indeed if I can just escape the economic exile I find myself in.
If you get settled in time, go find one of the ports, airfields, or anything else related to Malta’s role in WW2. Take a picture on the 22nd of December and send it to me. That will be a wonderful birthday present for me! :)
Good luck, and enjoy your relocation!
Probably interesting for you :)
I remember that episode, David. Thanks very much for thinking of me! :D
STRANGE
do you still miss 2nd Woldwar?
I don’t “miss” World War 2, as I was born 17 years after the end. As a student of history in general, and military history more specifically, I find World War 2 to have a great deal to do with the shape our entire world is in these days. Most of the political unrest these days can be traced back to decisions made during or immediately after World War 2. Plus, as an admirer of older technologies, I am fascinated by the technologies used during the war, and the rapid advance of technology that took place.
I hope that answers your question! :)
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Just a small correction:-) Malta is NOT sparsely populated, in fact it’s the most densely populated country in Europe…….. otherwise you are correct, it’s mostly warm, sunny and a nice place to take it easy or enjoy the rich history! Welcome to Malta….from a local.
And another small correction… Malta is not perfect for the upcoming winter months… it has already rained for most of Oct and Nov. The temp will drop to 12C degrees outside and with no central heating and a damp stone house it will be closer to 8C inside. Bring a fleece. Actually bring 3 of them. And be prepared to wear them until April. Enjoy! :)
The weather in Malta sounds like Chile. No central heating here either.
Not only bring at least 3 fleeces, but also wool socks, a wool cap and long underwear.
Eight degrees C? That’s what, almost 40 Fahrenheit? C’mon – live through a Chicago winter when the daytime HIGH temperature is -20 degrees Fahrenheit (not sure what that is without my conversion tables handy)! THEN you’ll know what cold is! :D (I kid, I kid.)
I’ve spent winters in New York, less cold than Chicago, but I get the idea.
However, what we’re referring to is the lack of central heating. That is, in Santiago (which is a bit colder than Malta), the temperature, say, 8 degrees C, is the same indoors and outdoors. Except for whatever time you spend sitting besides a space heater, you’re cold all day and all night long. The floor is cold, the toilet seat is cold, I wear fingerless gloves when I use the computer, etc.
The psychological effect of being cold almost 24 hours a day is very different than that of being very cold for an hour (while one is outside) and then warm the rest of the day when one is inside.
I always tell visitors from the U.S. to bring long underwear when they come to Santiago in winter. They laugh at me, because they can see in internet that Santiago is not as cold as where they live. However, after a few days, rainy and with a high temperature of around 10 C and a low temperature of around 2 C, they regret not having brought their long underwear and wool socks.
Trust me, S., I know whereof you speak. Our “central heat” is a hand-fed wood furnace – when we don’t run it, the floors and walls of our 110-year-old house get MIGHTY cold! And I spent one VERY memorable weekend sleeping out in zero-degree (Fahrenheit) temperatures in nothing more than a light wool uniform, a wool trenchcoat, and one thin blanket shared between myself and a fellow re-enactor. My canteen was frozen solid the next morning! So perennial cold and I are old friends, with occasional wild outings in my former city-of-residence during the winter. (Though the title “Windy City” came from a turn-of-the-20th-century report on a political convention, it aptly describes winter days in downtown Chicago.)
And socks. Lotsa socks. As the old World War 2 US Army chant goes, “Hands, feet, neck, balls, extra socks warm them all”. ;)
I agree with Kenneth and Dan…I’ve been living in Malta for 6 years now and, though coming from MUCH COLDER country, my first winter here was pure hell…I thought I was going to die of cold :o) The problem is very high humidity and therefore 10 degrees here in Malta feels “worse” than minus 5 in “dry cold”. Plus no insulation of buildings, no heating (well you can get a heater of course but it’s pretty tricky to have whole your house warm and cosy). Get MANY blankets…electric are the best :o) Also, Malta is VERY populated (plus many many tourists all year along). The nature is VERY limited so all those beautiful places on your pictures (which are indeed beautiful) are crammed with people – unless it’s raining heavily. In fact, you can’t find a quiet, deserted place. But historically and culturally… thumbs up :o)
Jan
You summed it up just right. We have spent winters in Alaska, and not felt as cold as we do in the winter months in Malta. Best cure for it is a dehumidifier, and a gas-heater, as well as fleece (better than wool). Old houses also offer better insulation than newly built apartments.
quite interesting, I used to be dreaming about traveling and moving all the time but I end up staying in my country ( Iran) for my education, now I am 28 and I guess still have time to make my dreams come true, I usually check ur blog, it helps to remind my older dreams. now I see u have got a free job and free education, a free soul! good luck in your new place, wish you all the best
Don’t want to spoil your plans but it’s 15 degrees and raining at the moment :) No worries summer was hot though and great weather from April to late October.
Hope you’ll like this small island, has its own disadvantages of course but it’s a nice place to live. completely not London or any other European big city.
I don’t know what people here are talking about! 15 degrees!! Its been hovering between 19 and 22 all October and November, but avaraging in the 20’s. If you call that cold then I don’t know what to say. People are still going out mostly wearing just shirts or light tops in the mornings and maybe a sweather or a light jacket for the evenings. You can also see tourists walking about in shorts, short sleeves or women in tank tops. It has not rained much neither – maybe for a couple of days since October – come on – compare that to London! Re your comment in The Times Of Malta about mugging etc, well, its not an island of angels unfortunately, I mean criminality exists everywhere – but still, compared to most places, it is a very safe place to live in. You will realise when you are here.
Thank you for your comment, Joseph!
I have also been wondering why people have been trying to portray Malta as a second Greenland. After all, I’ll be moving from London (!), so I will be very happy if I see the sun for a few hours at all per day.
You have reassured me and I am still looking forward to my move.
It will be worst in January and February. Till December it will go as low maybe as 18 celcius mostly. It might fall to 15 celcius in January and February yes – but not that often (at night it might be 8 – but we are talking night time). And I must admit that here the humidity is really high which does make 15 feel like maybe 10. But it’s still warmer than most of England at the time of year and it never snows here – it sometimes hails though. In February expect lots of wind. Then in March you can expect mostly sunny days again and it will become warmer and warmer, with usually July and August being the warmest with temperatures reaching 33 on average – sometimes higher. I bet its summer which would make you say “what have I done” and maybe you would want to go back go England :) Re central heating – it does not exist here – but Air conditioners do exist. Many households have them. Some even have dehumidifiers to counter the humidity. You won’t need to wear loads of clothes indoors if you have an Air conditioner – you can stay naked if you want to depending on the temperature you set it to! You will realise that central heating is not practical here since it would only be used a couple of days a year. I live in a ground floor apartment which is quite humid (mouldy walls etc due to bad workmanship) and I still hardly ever use the gas heater I have – its only used for a couple of days in January and February and not more! Hope the info was of help.
I agree with you Joseph Micallef, all these negative comments would put anyone off coming to Malta.
Don’t listen to them Andreas. I can assure you, you are safer and more relaxed in Malta than many other bigger cities.
If you don’t like it after a couple of years you can always move on. Take care. Katherine
Katherine & Joseph Micallef, you are both right….but humidity can be a shock to people used to cold but dry winters, although Andreas is coming from London, where it is also quite humid. I have never felt need to have central heating, heater & dehumidifier always do the trick :)
…and by the way – you don’t really need to learn the language – all speak English, though most would be impressed and pleased if you dropped a word or two in Maltese while communicating with them :) The British High Commisoner stationed here has learned the language and I must say he speaks it better than us Maltese as we tend to pepper our speeches with English and Italian words. If you go to a place called Sliema (or locally referred to as Tas-Sliema) you will notice that most people there speak a hotchpotch of Maltese and English – sort of – from 10 words they utter 6 in Maltese and 4 in English! They are considered snobbs by the rest of the islanders in fact though not all are. Its a way to define class sort of. People there are usually very affluent – its a posh town – very touristic and commercial.
Hi Andreas, found your blog through your comment in The Times – Seems you’re arriving here, to Malta, for the Christmas Season which I assure you is celebrated in big style by most Maltese families :) As many before me told you almost everyone here speaks English as well as Maltese so you’ll feel like home very quickly. Something that was not mentioned is that Maltese, and Gozitans from our sister island, are very friendly and I’m sure you’ll make a huge number of friends during your ‘2 years’ here – unless you decide to stay longer :) So Welcome to Malta Andreas – may you find everything you wish for here on our little island.
hello mate, you will find malta a small heaven. got some working collegues comin from the uk and france and beleive me they don’t wanna go!…….u will find everything over here that london can offer but in a smaller scale and esp much more cheaper……..including a pint of lager!!
welcome to malta and merhba!
hey i came across your blog through the times of malta too. Forget about all the moaners about the cold winter…we have mild winters but most of all warm hearts! If you plan on living in an older space, invest in a dehumidifier and you will be warm and dry just as if you had central heating. Today, the 23rd of november is a beautiful sunny day and i’m going around in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, how great is that!! Also, Malta is very safe, don’t worry about the occasional news article about mugging..it really is very rare and anyone can feel safe out at night alone. We are overcrowded, that’s true and at the moment there’s some major road works going on in the southern part of the island so traffic in the morning is a nightmare..so avoid if possible :) You will make loads of friends and i’m quite sure that you will want to stay here for more than 2 years.
p.s hope you like Churches..cos there’s one practically on every corner :D
Oh as someone said before me Malta is densely populated but you could consider a weekend or two on Gozo for more tranquility. Or you could even go for a couple of days to Comino (Malta’s smallest inhabitat island) in the colder months were one could live like a hermit :) Check out this link about Comino and its 4 inhabitants –
And I join Maria in saying that today it was a fantastic, really sunny day, with tourists even venturing to a swim in some beaches.
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Just yesterday i went for a leisurely walk at noon wearing just a shirt and came back home sweating! As for the rest, Malta is a country with an Italian temprament but with a tradition of interpreting rules as everyone deems fit in his or her way. We are a funny bunch of loud people but ultimately kind and helpful. Just avoid driving. Gozo is a must for you!
Yes Gozo. In fact if you’re looking for an even quieter life than it is in Malta go and live in Gozo. I did just that 3 years ago and I’ve never looked back. Look us up when you get here and we’ll show you the sites. I’m a volunteer of this NGO – http://www.wirtghawdex.org and we open our sites free of charge as we believe that such treasures should be enjoyed by the public without the restriction of a price. The Maltese islands are small in size but big in history, generosity, friendliness and some breath taking scenery. Enjoy your stay with us.
Btw, politics is a HOT topic in Malta and you will land right in the middle of a run up where the country embraces itself for an election during the next year or so. You will have a good laugh.
Something good came out of the times website, I’ve come across your blog:)
As we say here, Merħba Bik!
This looks much better than London indeed.
No you have not chosen to move at a bad time. Today we had one of the wettest days on record and it was bad but not like a tornado or anything! I have lived here for just over 5 years after moving from UK. I love it here. It is safe, warm and friendly. Not perfect as nowhere is and at times it will drive you crazy, but if you do not expect it to be like England then you will be OK. It is beautiful with some (mostly man made) ugly bits. The climate is great and the winters, though not cold, do feel cold as others have said. The cost of living is still low compared to a lot of the rest of western Europe and entertainment is also cheap. Cars, furniture and household furniture can be pricey. It is VERY hard to learn Maltese (even if you are a good linguist) but you can learn enough to make yourself understood in Maltese if you need to and to understand a simple conversation. Almost everyone speaks English though. Christmas is great and closer to what it is really about. You won’t regret moving here. Bet you never want to leave!
Hi Andrea, Malta is one of those places that you will either like or dislike. I was in the same situation back in 2005. I lived in London after I had the chance to be here for 6 months and I had the opportunity to work for BBC. I chose to come back to Malta :) if you are a big fan of nice beaches, laid back lifestyle and the sun then it’s the place to be! Being here for many years, I still come across places I’ve never been to even though it’s a small country. You will meet a lot of friendly people here, make sure you make Maltese friends and also try to live in a local style town. The further you are from tourist areas, the more you will mingle with locals and you will also get better value for money in everything you do including shopping for your daily groceries.
It can get claustrophobic a little bit over here, so you will have to take advantage of cheap flights to the various available destinations for a break!
This year is exceptionally warm :) it’s December already but the average temperature is 19! All your friends in London will envy you because you will be living in the sunny Island and if you are popular amongst your friends/family, your house will never be guest free just like mine!
Most people visit Malta but only tour the urban parts (Sliema, St. Julians, Bugibba and Valletta). For a proper feel of rural Malta.. check out the north-west coast of the island (Dingli, Siggiewi, Mtahleb, Bahrija, Mgarr etc etc) In case you like trekking/rambling.. contact me, there is a LOT to watch in here :)
Cross out “sparsely populated” right away or you’ll be in for a shock when you get here :)
It’s one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
Once in Malta hope you will come and enjoy the Mtarfa Christmas Market – Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mtarfa-Christmas-Market/164075070333597?sk=app_167969729896883
You are going to be more than fine Malta and Gozo are great you like congestion go to congested places you want quite you can find that too you want high end stores restaurants anything or lower end anything you find it all for a little bitty island there is nothing there that any other big country does not have enjoy it and get out there get to know the locals and soon everyone will know you by your first name .Hope you like beer they make the best.
Hello Andreas,
I so sorry but mi English is horrible and I cannot say everything that I want through this leanguage.. Last week I saw yours Malta`s photos and it was good for me! but today I have most time and I am reading you text “Leaving London, Moving to Malta”. Now I will write in Spanish (I am sure you will understand this text some day)
Yo he pasado toda mi vida con mis ideas, mis libros y mis sueños en una maleta.. he cambiado de país y de ciudad muchas veces.. y he aprendido y sigo aprendiendo de la sabiduría y la cultura de cada pueblo que visito.. Pero a veces dudo de la elección – siempre antes de llegar al sitio escogido – e intento buscar mediante el testimonio de otros la seguridad en mis planes..
He visto a Malta a través de tus ojos y he pensado “creo que este será mi lugar en el mundo”.. Thanks for share your Philosofy of life and encourage others with your thoughts..
Hi, are you already in Malta?I live here,if you need anything, informations, suggestion..or learning Italian and teaching me English conversational….yes here I am !.I’m from Sicily and can suggest you many places to visit of my country.Happy Christmas !
Hi Lily!! Thanks very much!! I arrived yesterday to Malta and I am share flat with a boy from Sicily too!! I would like meet with you..
This is my e-mail, write me please, miraro8@gmail.com
FRor sure you will love our beautiful island :) if you want to meetup you can email me and i will forward you my contact numbers :) would be nice to show you around!
vassalloian@yahoo.com
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Well, this is such nice post that people’s actually wants to see. The Malta pictures are just incredible!! Thanks so much Samuel!! Anyway enjoy your stay there and thanks so much for sharing this wonderful post here & looking forward to read more of your stuff!!!
oh, every 2 years, that sounds brilliant and quite much money behind.
have you found anywhere make you feel you do belong to and that’s the place you would put your root into? ;)
There is actually no money behind at all. I am as poor as a pauper, but I work wherever I live and pick countries that are cheap to live in.
No, I feel the world is too big, too beautiful, too interesting to remain in one place.
this might sound strange, but i just believe you’ll find the place which make you feel your roots are there, some day.
but anyway, enjoy all the exploring now!
cheers, mate :)
Hi Andreas, came across your blog today, so it must be for quite a while now since you left London. As you wrote London kind of trapped my with a good job and all these endless things going on. It will be 8 years soon, but I know sooner or later I will run away. Please update us how does it feel to be in tiny Malta now? Thanks and all the best!
Anastassia
Malta was very nice and relaxing, but it is a bit tiny, you are right. I stayed there for 5 months.
Then I moved to Lithuania: https://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/moving-to-lithuania/
I see, still at work, and no time for blog searching. Lithuanians are interesting people, their language is the closest to sanscrit, make them quite spiritual. But there are similarities with Germany, I would go for something more exotic)) Good luck!
I’ll move again in a year, and it may well become more exotic then. No hints from me, though.
I actually then asked myslef, where would I move.. Slovenia is a very special country, looks like everyone like Thailand although I’ve never been there, and generally sea and sun gives you so much energy and happiness. Yet the main journey is inside you, would recommend to listed to Deuter to get a feeling for this)).
Mr. Moser don’t be disheartened. This year the weather in Malta has been exceptionally colder than usual – same as in the rest of europe. We usually have sunnier winters with much less rain and warmer temperatures. You just happened to be here when all of europe is suffering one of its worst winters in a long time. You must acknowledge though that here the temperatures are nowhere near those experienced in the rest of europe and nowhere is frozen and covered in snow! Next month should be much better though.
I am full of hope and anticipation for March.
Dear Andreas, I stumbled upon your blog quite by accident, but share most of the comments. I lived and worked with Incoming tourism in Malta for 7 years, came from Canada to do that, but am originally a danish/belgian brought up in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, where I lived for many years. So Malta was quite an eye opener! I am still in love with Malta, in spite of having seen both the best and the worst of local people’s behaviours……..so it’s like anywhere else in the whole wide world….something good , something bad, nothing is perfect, anywhere!! If you are intelligent, you will discover Malta in your own way, and come out that much “richer” for this unequal experience. Malta in a way, is quite unique! not always perfect….but very lovable! I will never stop loving Malta, and neither will you if you know what to look for and weed out the “bad stuff” , with a heart full of love for this little rock in the middle of the vast Mediterranean Sea……..an experience that will ENRICH your life a thousand fold…..Read the History of Malta, and you will understand why the place kind of gets “under your skin” forever !!
Enjoy living there and let us “supporters” know how you are faring, I shall keep my eye on your blog! kind regards from a small island in the West/Pacific area of Canada…………
Lis
hope it is going well, i would love to move to malta and am hoping someday i can, if i could just find work in the country. good luck
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I think you need to come visit me. You’ll get breath-taking fall foliage, beautiful rolling hills, a truly challenging foreign language (“redneck-ese”), and a political system that completely defies explanation or comprehension! Plus, whether you prefer to drive on the left or the right of the road, you can find people coming at you – especially when dodging Amish horse-drawn buggies. Throw in the occasional power outage that plunges you into the 18th century, and the electromagnetic black hole that surrounds us and renders cell phones useless, and you have the ultimate get away! :D
And where is that John? Sounds like Romania))
Romania is much more high-tech, actually: https://andreasmoser.blog/2015/09/26/low-hi-tech/ – but still romantic and beautiful.
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I’ve done the same thing; though I moved from Brighton to Malta :)
Enjoy Malta!
It’s a cute island, although I missed trees after half a year and moved to Eastern Europe then.