A MALTESE ODYSSEY

The Sleeping Goddess of Malta ca. 3500 BC

Preface by Jack. The Sleeping Goddess carved by the ancient megalithic people of Malta close to six thousand years ago has an entrancingly soothing beauty, symbolic of Malta itself.  Richard Bangs has been a dear friend of mine for over 40 years. In addition to being the world’s foremost river explorer, he is a gifted composer of poetic prose.  Richard will be co-leading with Rebel and me our Magic of Malta exploration this coming November. This is possibly the most beautiful concise description of Malta ever written.

There are places that murmur with the ghosts of time. There are places that sing with the laughter of the present. And then, there is Malta—a sun-dappled jewel adrift in the Mediterranean, a stage where the drama of civilization has played out for over 7,000 years.

Malta doesn’t simply invite you; it summons you. It’s a clarion call to the curious, the seekers, the wanderers who wish to touch the pulse of history and the poetry of place.

Malta is not merely a speck on the map. It is a living palimpsest, a manuscript written and rewritten by the hands of empires and dreamers.

Long before the pyramids of Giza pierced the sky, before Stonehenge stood sentinel on the Salisbury Plain, the ancient Maltese were carving sanctuaries from stone with nothing but antlers and audacity. Step into the ancient temples of Ggantija and Ħaġar Qim — older than any other free-standing structures on Earth—and you feel the hum of eternity. Here, the stones remember.

Ggantija

Malta is the island that seduced myth itself. Homer, that old spinner of tales, cast Odysseus upon these shores, held captive by the enchantress Calypso for seven languid years. And who could blame him for lingering? Malta is more than a waypoint; it is a spell, a place that holds you fast.

Calypso and Odysseus

When St. Paul shipwrecked here in the first century AD, he sowed seeds of faith that still blossom in every chapel and festa. Malta became a lighthouse of Christianity, standing firm through centuries of siege and storm, even repelling the Islamic invaders after centuries of struggle.

St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta

Malta’s brightest hour came in 1565, when the Ottoman Empire unleashed its might upon these tiny islands. Outnumbered, outgunned, but never outwitted, the Knights of Malta—led by the indomitable Jean de Valette—turned back the tide in the Great Siege. It was a stand that changed the course of history, earning Malta the mantle of “Savior of Christianity.” Today, Valletta, the capital, rises in golden stone—a living monument to courage and conviction.

Malta sits at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, where the compass spins to all points, and the world’s great civilizations have left their fingerprints. Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and British—all have danced upon this stage, leaving behind not ruins, but rhythms. Yet through it all, the Maltese people have forged a singular identity—devout, proud, and endlessly welcoming.

English is spoken everywhere, a gift from nearly 150 years of British rule, smoothing the path for travelers. But it’s the warmth of the people that makes Malta unforgettable. Step into any village and you may find yourself swept into a festa—an eruption of music, fireworks, and feasting that blurs the line between guest and family.

This November, Jack, Rebel, and I invite you to join us to experience “The Magic of Malta”—an expedition through consonant meridians and the tides of time. We’ll rest in style: a spa-laced resort in storied Valletta, a palatial sanctuary in Mdina—the silent, walled city where shadows of so many stories move with reverence—and a boutique retreat with sweeping views of the archipelago’s rugged beauty.

The Kempinski Resort and Spa, Gozo

Malta’s cuisine is a revelation: Mediterranean flavors kissed by sun and sea, paired with a crisp glass of Cisk beer or a bottle of Marsovin Grand Maître—a vintage worthy of the Knights. It’s no wonder Hollywood has fallen under Malta’s spell, filming epics like Gladiator and Troy among these ancient stones.

And for a touch of whimsy? Robert Altman’s “Popeye” movie set still clings to the coast—a playful reminder that Malta, for all its gravitas, knows how to laugh.

But Malta is not a solo act. The archipelago beckons with further mysteries. Gozo, the verdant sister island, is a realm of citadels, cathedrals, and wildflower-strewn hills. Comino, with its crystalline Blue Lagoon, is a siren’s call to swimmers and dreamers alike.

And always, the sea—a deep cobalt mirror reflecting limestone cliffs and antique battlements, carrying the secrets of every ship that ever passed.

So, let us walk where giants once trod. Let us toast with vintners and break bread with knights. Let us dive into the chronicle of the world, told in passion, carved in stone, and wrapped in Malta’s golden light. This is not just a destination—it is an awakening.

Join us, and together, let us uncover the world’s most interesting island.

Richard Bangs is the world’s foremost river explorer, pioneering first descents of major whitewater rivers in Africa, Asia, and the Americas since 1973.  He is the author of over 20 books on adventure travel – here on Amazon. Jack and Richard first met as guests on the Merv Griffin Show in 1979.