When we were in Malta 11 years ago, we tried to get tickets to the hypogeum. One of Jordan’s professors had highly suggested it. They looked at us like we were crazy and said those have to be booked a month in advance. So this time, we were more prepared, and as soon as I nailed down the Malta dates I tried to get tickets. This was two months in advance but the only thing available was 1 ticket for 3 days after we left Malta. Jim tried reaching out to several places and the best info we could get was to be a the fort at 8 am the day you want to go and you may get tickets. As soon as we checked in at the Phoenicia he asked. They said to check with the concierge in the morning. Next morning I wake up and Jim is standing there all dressed and he says I think we got tickets! He said he had to go get cash but he gave the guy $150 euros and we were pretty likely to get tickets for Sunday or Monday at noon or 4. I asked him who he paid the cash to - and he tells me some guy on the street in front of the hotel. My eyes get wide and then he tells me no - it was the concierge (I breathed a sigh of relief). The hotel hires a guy to go to the fort at 4 am and wait be first in line for the tickets. The next morning it as confirmed- we got 2 tickets!
Some of my friends back home had said to try the pastizzi. I asked a woman about them at the Malta celebration dinner, but I referred to them as a dessert. She declared “oh no - this is not a dessert”! So I look into what they really are. They could be filled with chickpeas and spinach (yum), rabbit (not so much), or ricotta cheese (yum). So yesterday at breakfast when they came by with an offering of an out of the oven pastizzi with ricotta cheese, I jumped at the chance. It was delicious; warm and flaky.
And Jim loved the porridge so much he ordered double - and that’s what he got 2 orders.
But now it’s time to go to the hypogeum. There is no way Jim is missing this so we leave an extra 45 minutes early.
The hypogeum is a 4000 year old burial site found in the early 1900’s. Initially they let people come in without any precautions and immediately the site began to deteriorate. So they closed it up and built walkways and humidifiers and they limit the number of visitors to 10 an hour. The tour is 1 hour long, and they make you put all your belongings and specifically your phones in a locker before you enter. Thus I have no pictures. But I will “borrow” one from the Smithsonian website to give you an idea.
It was a little underwhelming after seeing some of the Egyptian caves or the terracotta warriors- but we were so appreciative to be able to go. A 4000 year old preserved cave is pretty impressive.
Now back to the hotel to meet up with Mike and Elena to head up to Mdina. This hilltop walled city was very impressive. We wandered around, Mike had made lunch reservations at a hilltop restaurant overlooking the valley.
And now we head back to Valetta for a night walk and…gelato
Now I’m craving gelato!