ᐅ Summit nº17: Mount Ta'Dmejrek (Malta)

SUMMITS

SUMMIT Nº 17: TA'DMEJREK (MALTA)

MALTA

Ta'Dmejrek

19/04/2024

ALTITUDE

253 m

ÒSCAR SOLSONA AND ANDREU LÓPEZ

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

LOW

CHRONICLE

The hangover from Africa is still present since just 3 weeks ago we were trekking through the Cameroonian jungle and ascending to the roof of the country, Mount Cameroon (4,095 meters). In my case I have paid a fairly high bill in the form of severe stomach pains as a result of a bacteria that was living in my body and refused to leave me.
Once again I return to the El Prat airport, which has become a second home for me and this time we will make a short getaway to a Mediterranean island that is not particularly well-known, Malta.

Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an archipelago formed by the main islands of Malta and Gozo that is located in the south of Sicily (Italy), from which it is separated by the Strait of Malta. Malta has a population of around 500,000 inhabitants and its capital is Valletta. It has a very small area of 316 km2 (smaller than Andorra) and presents as a curiosity that until 1964, the year it achieved its independence, it was part of the British Commonwealth. So, although it is a country with a long and interesting history (with occupations by the Phoenicians, Romans among others), the most recent influence is British… so among other inheritances, one of them would be the driving on the left side of the road. Driving around the island, along its narrow roads and endless roundabouts, along with uncivil drivers and countless cameras and speed radars, make driving on the island a true adventure.

Our trip to Malta will present a mix between culture and trekking. Regarding the cultural field, it is obviously necessary to dedicate a day to visit the capital, Valletta, as well as a visit to its 3 neighborhoods Birgu, Senglea and Il Kalkara. To see more of the capital, it is advisable to take a train ride and also a gondola ride, as well as stroll through the gigantic natural port. In our walk through the capital, the influence of Christianity is also very present and the island gave shelter during the 11th century to the Hospitaller Order of Saint John (later called the Order of Malta). Other recommended visits are to the old capital Medina, which although it has walls and an Arab name, was built stone by stone by the knights of the Order. As a curiosity, in Medina, more than a hundred films have been recorded such as Troy, Gladiator among others. We will also spend time in Rabat, a neighbor of Medina, which is characterized by its multiple archaeological sites (catacombs among others). Marsaxlokk is another one that cannot be missing from the list. Former fishing port is a good place to enjoy Maltese cuisine.

As in everything, it is necessary to find balance and apart from enjoying good local cuisine, we also find the time on our trip to do physical activity. We would highlight the excursion from Golden Bay to Popeye Village, which is the comic book town that director Robert Altman had built as a set for his film “Popeye” in 1980. There are about 10 km of total route along trails that at all times allows you to enjoy beautiful views of the Mediterranean. And finally, in this “express” getaway, you cannot miss the roof of the country that is located in the area of the Dingli cliffs. It is advisable to go at the end of the day and coinciding with the sunset when the combination of soil, clouds, water and cliffs leaves a beautiful memory in your memory. The ascent to the top as such, to our surprise, is non-existent. Mount Ta’Dmejrek (253 meters) is a plateau that as such does not present any roof markings of the country. So after a quiet walk through the area with Óscar, we will identify an accumulation of sand, belonging to a quarry, which we baptize as the highest elevation in the country.
And this is our adventure through Malta, brief but well complete and well spent.