live like a local (2) - when the sun doesn't shine

So many people think Malta is just an island of sun, sea and fun with nothing much else going for it. This couldn't be any further from the truth. It is true that between May and October, Malta comes to life as an ideal summer destination with lots of sunshine, days on the beach and nights on the dancefloor. Due to the cooler temperatures, the winter months in Malta are a great time to explore the island. The crowds of tourists are absent and it is the perfect chance to experience Maltese life with the locals.

An attraction not be missed is Palazzo Falson where you can spend an afternoon in this beautifully restored palazzo in Mdina. Follow this by a coffee and a slice of cake at one of the many cafes in this charming city.

Valletta is full of hidden treasures and the Museum of Fine Arts is a great place to start, followed by some shopping along Republic Street. The capital city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best way to see what this historical city has to offer is on foot. Get lost in the narrow streets and alleys and get a first hand look at the original architecture of this great city.

Evenings are a time for socialising and many Maltese people frequent restaurants and wine bars for a chat in good company. You can choose to watch a dance or theatre production, or go to the cinema to watch the latest blockbuster on the big screen.

At inlingua we organise a wide variety of tours and activities for our students. Find out more on www.inlinguamalta.com. But if you prefer to fly solo, a comprehensive list of things to do can be found at http://www.whatson.com.mt/

So if you are thinking about visiting our little island and are not sure when to do it I recommend you make use of the low season discounts and come see for yourself!

50+ programme

This year inlingua Malta launched a brand new 50+ programme. This package combines general English tuition with a full and varied activity programme that combines historical and cultural visits with social activities in the evening.

When you book this package you will be with other students your own age who share similar interests and enjoy the same pace of life. This atmosohere is ideal for you to learn English while enjoying a fun and relaxing holiday.

For more information about this programme go to www.inlinguamalta.com

Winter Sale! Special offers

Unless you're living on another planet, you have definately heard the words "credit crunch" by now. While nothing positive can be said about the finacial crisis, at least you have learned a new catchphrase and can add that to your ever growing English vocabulary.

Retail outlets all over the world have gone on sale and are offering bargains for consumers everywhere. We want to do the same for you so we are offering you an excellent value package for the coming months.

From now until the 31st march 2009, when you book a 3 week course with inlingua Malta you will only pay for 2, and if you book a 4 week course you will only pay for 3. A whole week's tuition for FREE! Contact us on info@inlinguamalta.com for more information.

Now there's something to smile about.

Maria and Juliane

IMG_2404, originally uploaded by smile l dee dee.

Maria and Juliane are leaving us. They interned at inlingua for 3 months and today is their last day. I want to wish them both the very best of luck for everything they do in the future. It was a pleasure having them here.

This photo was taken last week when the inlingua staff went to Mdina. First we took a ride around the area by train - http://www.melitatrains.com/ and it was so much fun that we have now included this trip in the Mdina tour that we organise for our students. After our train ride we went out for pizza and this is where I took this photo. Its a great photo. We will always remember your smiles.

Girls, we are going to miss you! Come back and see us anytime. We will never forget you!

Good luck!

smiling, happy people

If you happen to have a copy of inlingua Malta's new 2009 brochure, you will see this photo on the front. I took it myself one sunny September morning. It was the day before the deadline and I still had no photo for the front cover. Everything else was ready but until we had a photo nothing else could be done. You must be thinking that leaving something like this to the last minute is not so smart..well I didn't leave it to the last minute. All Summer we took photos but for some reason none of them seemed right. This time had to be different. I had to get the perfect shot. Luck was on my side that day. Within minutes I had 8 students all wearing bright clothes and big smiles. We made our way to the sea which is literally seconds away from our school and the rest, as they say, is history. I love this shot. It's bright, its natural and it is real. No models, no sets, no professional photographers. Just my camera + happy students + lots of sunshine = one perfect photo :)

a feast for 5000

So imagine this; a HUGE pot. Really huge. So huge, it made it into the Guinness World Book of Records because it is so big. This pot was made in Italy and is being brought over to Malta in aid of charity. This pot was used in Italy to make the worlds largest risotto - so large that the cooks had to use wooden oars to stir it instead of wooden spoons!! And now, chefs from the Institute of Tourism Studies in Malta will also be cooking a risotto in this pot which will be sold to the public. The money made from this will be donated to the Dar tal-Providenza and the event will take place during the Birgu by Candlelight Festival on Friday the 17th of October.

You can read more about it here:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081008/local/record-breaking-pot-at-vittoriosa-by-candlelight/

let it rain

The weather forecast says a storm is coming. Now for most people that is usually bad news but not for us. A nice long rain shower is exactly what we need to wash away the summer heat and welcome in the cooler weather. Its been a long, hot, dry summer and I am happy to see the end of it for another year. I love the smell after rain. The smell of clean, damp earth. Malta is a country of two colours. In summer Malta is the cool blue of the Mediterranean Sea but in winter it turns green. It is so beautiful. And when the sun comes out after the rain we get rainbows!!The weather forecast says a storm is coming. The weather forecast has been wrong before...... fingers crossed.