Tag: travel reflections

Discovering Malta through the eyes of Philippe

 

I’ve spent the last six weeks in Europe, soaking in the sights, taking countless photos, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing my experiences through blog posts, not just to share with my readers but also to ensure I have a lasting record of what this journey has meant to me. You can find them here

I had the privilege of traveling in small groups in Spain and Italy with a guide, while in Sicily and Malta, I enjoyed private tours. When you spend up to 14 days with the same guide, for me, the experience becomes less about the sites (as impressive as they are) and more about the guides themselves—what drives them, their stories, and their passion for the places they call home.

After spending five days touring Malta with Philippe, a true local, I had the chance to see the country through his insightful and passionate lens. His journey into tourism reflects his love for languages and his desire to connect with people from different cultures.

Philippe’s story starts with a dream to work in tourism, but life had other plans. At 16, he was too young to start the tourist guide course, so he pursued marketing instead. After finishing his master’s degree in Ireland—a chance for him to live abroad and meet new people—he returned to Malta, only to find that marketing wasn’t where his heart lay. When the pandemic hit, he saw it as a chance to reignite his original passion, completing the tourist guide course in 2022. Since then, he has been guiding visitors through Malta, sharing his love for the country’s rich history and stunning architecture.

From guiding in English and Spanish to sharing stories of the medieval city of Mdina, Philippe’s knowledge and enthusiasm bring Malta’s history to life. His favourite place to guide? Mdina, where Malta’s history stretches from the Bronze Age to the 16th century.

Mdina is often called “The Silent City,” a stunningly preserved medieval town that offers a rare glimpse into the island’s layered history. With its winding streets, ancient fortifications, and grand palaces, Mdina stands as a testament to Malta’s past, showcasing influences from the Phoenicians, Romans, and Arabs, right up to the Knights of St. John. The history of Mdina stretches beyond the 16th century; during the 17th and 18th centuries, the Cathedral and parts of Mdina were rebuilt following the earthquake of 1693. The British also left a mark during the 19th and 20th centuries, adding to its historical richness. The city’s quiet charm and architectural integrity make it a favourite for those who appreciate history, like Philippe, as it captures Malta’s heritage in every stone.

Spending time with Philippe made me appreciate the depth of knowledge that locals like him bring to the table. Every tour, every anecdote was a window into the heart of Malta. His light-hearted banter and incredible knowledge made my time in Malta an unforgettable experience.

#EuropeanAdventure #MaltaMemories #GuidedTours #CulturalTravel #TravelWithLocals #MaltaHistory #TourGuideLife #ExploringEurope #MaltaExperience

 

Finding Meaning in Malta’s Statues of Family and Survival

Going through my photos from Malta, I keep coming back to two statues. They couldn’t be more different, yet both strike a chord deep within me.

One is Les Gavroches in Valletta, a haunting piece by Antonio Sciortino, capturing three street kids, barefoot and ragged, inspired by Hugo’s Les Misérables. These are children left to fend for themselves, lost in a world that barely sees them. They look as if they’re ready to take on whatever life throws at them, together, yet on their own.

Then there’s the fisherman in Marsaxlokk. He’s coming home with the day’s catch, his kids and even the family cat is there, waiting for him like a part of the ritual. Marsaxlokk, with its fishing boats and cat shelters, honours family and tradition.

This statue is rooted in that sense of place, showing us what it means to belong—to know that someone will always be waiting for you.

These two pieces of art are worlds apart, yet both resonate in ways I can’t quite explain. One is about survival and grit; the other, about connection and care. Maybe that’s what keeps pulling me back: the reminder that family can mean different things, but the need for belonging, for resilience, is universal.

#MaltaMoments #LesGavroches #MarsaxlokkMemories #FamilyConnections #ArtThatSpeaks

Meet Alex, the bicultural wanderer with a passion for people.

I interviewed  Alex (who was my guide during my Tauck tour in Spain) in two engaging sessions. With my passion for understanding people’s personal journeys, I delved into how Alex’s unique experiences shaped his views and career choices. Through these conversations, Alex shared not only the influences of his bicultural background but also his reflections on what the future holds.

Alex’s journey from Paris to Florida and back to Europe is one filled with passion, spontaneity, and a love for sharing stories, all while embracing the unknown. He’s the kind of guide who makes every stop memorable, with just enough humour and insight to leave a lasting impression.

When you first meet Alex, you sense there’s something special about him. It’s not just his warm smile or his laid-back demeanour—it’s the way he moves between worlds, effortlessly blending cultures, languages, and stories in a way that makes everyone feel at ease. His journey from Paris to Florida and back to Europe is a testament to his spontaneity, love for people, and hunger for new experiences. But beneath it all, Alex’s story is one of embracing the unknown and finding joy in every connection.

Born to an American mother and a French father, Alex grew up straddling two worlds. “My mom’s American, and my dad’s French,” he says with a grin, effortlessly switching between his French upbringing and American flair. “They met in New York, but my dad convinced her to move to Paris. I’m the oldest of three boys, so we grew up in Paris, but we’d go back to the States every summer. That’s why I eventually chose to go to university in the US—to have my own American experience.”

Alex’s choice to attend Flagler College in Florida was as practical as it was strategic. “It was close to my grandparents and cheaper than most American universities,” he laughs. “But also, I wanted to embrace this American identity everyone in Paris seemed to label me with, despite never having lived there.” But when Alex arrived in Florida, life had other plans. “I was the French guy in Florida,” he says with a chuckle.

While studying business and psychology, Alex stumbled upon his true passion—something that would forever change his life trajectory. “I started working in a French restaurant and saw how food and culture connected people. I got hooked on that feeling,” he recalls. His dreams of becoming the next big Wall Street guy? “Totally scrapped,” he admits, shaking his head. “I saw people in the kitchen working 10-12 hours a day out of pure passion, and I thought, ‘This is crazy,’ but then I fell in love with it. The hardships, the passion—it made sense to me.”

After college, Alex returned to Paris. Unsure of what came next, he found himself brainstorming one day. “I thought, why not give tour guiding a try? I love people, I love Paris, so I started guiding tours. And, well, here I am,” he says with a smile.

For Alex, tour guiding wasn’t just a job—it was an extension of his love for human connection and storytelling. Whether leading a group of study-abroad students through Europe or explaining the deeper meaning behind a Da Vinci painting in the Louvre, Alex quickly realized the power of his work. “At the end of one tour, a group of students came up to me and said I was the best history teacher they’d ever had. That was one of those moments where I thought, ‘This is why I do this.’”

Another memorable experiences as a guide, he told me, also took place in the Louvre. “There’s this Da Vinci painting—one of those pieces that, if you really look at it, it’s powerful beyond words. I was guiding a grandmother, her daughter, and granddaughter. They started crying as I explained it. The cycle of life, generations—everything hit home for them, and I found myself tearing up with them. That’s the magic of art and history. It connects people in ways that nothing else can.”

But Alex’s journey didn’t stop in Paris. Two years ago, he attended a wedding near Madrid, where fate had another surprise in store. “That’s where I met my partner,” Alex says, smiling. “It was a high school friend’, of my now partner’s, wedding. We started a long-distance relationship, and a year later, I moved to Madrid.”

Now based in Madrid with his partner, who works as a consultant, Alex balances life between guiding and embracing new adventures. “In 15 years? Who knows,” he shrugs. “I just want to keep enjoying what I do. If I’m not happy, I’ll find something else.” But one thing is certain: Alex’s love for guiding hasn’t faded. Despite leading similar tours for over 15 years, he keeps each one fresh and exciting. “The off-season is my reset button,” he explains. “I spend that time reading, investigating, and finding new ways to present the same places. There’s always a new angle, a fresh way to tell the story.”

What sets Alex apart is his respect for local culture. Whenever his group arrives in a new city, he hands the reins over to a local guide. “They know their town better than I do, and it’s their story to tell. I trust them to guide my group while I give them the context to work with.” It’s this humility and openness that make Alex’s tours so unique.

When it comes to hidden gems, Alex is all about the food. “For me, it always comes down to the local spots—places where you can get authentic food without the tourist traps,” he says. “In Paris, there’s a small restaurant where the food is fantastic, the wine is plentiful, and you get that gritty, authentic experience. That’s the real Paris for me—the layer beneath the fancy image.”

As we talk about his love for different cultures, Alex offers a fascinating comparison between France and Spain. “The French can be quite serious and proud, very aware of the relationship between the individual and society. In Spain, people are more carefree. There’s this nonchalance, this happiness that makes life flow a little differently.”

He recalls how in France, people are mindful of personal space, moving out of the way as they walk down the street. But in Spain? “People walk right at you!” he laughs. “At first, it frustrated me, but then I realised it’s just a different way of being. You adapt, and it becomes part of the charm.”

Growing up in both French and American cultures has given Alex a unique perspective on identity. “I’ve always felt like a satellite,” he reflects. “I’m always ‘the other.’ In America, I’m French. In France, I’m American. Even in Spain, I’m not quite one of them. But it gives me a certain freedom to roam and see the world from multiple perspectives.”

This bicultural background has fuelled his passion for connecting with others. “Most people don’t think too deeply about their identity. But when you’re constantly navigating between two cultures, it’s something you live with every day. For me, it’s an endless quest, but that’s the beauty of it.”

For Alex, the people he meets on his tours make it all worthwhile. “When I meet fun, good people, it’s like all my efforts are paid back a thousand times. This group we have now? Just amazing. We have such diversity—fascinating backgrounds—and we come together as this little collective. It’s special.”

And that’s what makes Alex’s tours stand out—the stories, the fun facts, but more than anything, the connections. As he says, “If you’re not enjoying it, people notice. That’s the last thing I want—to be the Debbie Downer on my own tour.”

As our conversation winds down, Alex reflects on his future. “I think one day I’d love to be a teacher,” he says thoughtfully. “Teaching is the most important profession in the world. You get to shape young minds, and that’s something I’d love to do.”

He’s not sure when or where that might happen, but for now, he’s happy guiding tours, exploring new places, and embracing the unpredictability of life. “In 15 years? Maybe I’ll still be guiding, maybe I’ll be teaching. Who knows? I just want to keep enjoying what I do.”

As he prepares to leave for lunch, Alex leaves us with a final thought that sums up his philosophy: “It’s all about the people. The places are amazing, but it’s the people that make it all worthwhile.”

#CultureAndConnection #TravelReflections #GuidedByLocals #ExploringEurope #FindingPerspective #JourneyToLearn #WorldOfStories

 

Finding My Way Back After a Journey Abroad

 

After a year of anticipation, planning, and countless daydreams, my holiday has finally come and gone. Twelve months of looking forward to new places, new faces, and a break from the everyday rhythm. And now that I’m back, everything feels a little… untethered. I’ve returned with memories, photos, and stories, but also with a sense of restlessness. There’s a question that keeps surfacing in the quieter moments: What do I do next?

Travelling isn’t just about ticking landmarks off a list. It’s about immersing yourself in the histories and cultures you’ve only read about, meeting people from all walks of life, and realising there are so many ways to experience the world. This trip took me through places I’d never seen and opened doors to perspectives I hadn’t yet considered. Every conversation, every shared meal, every twist of history, offered a piece of wisdom or a reminder of life’s simple joys.

One of the most meaningful parts of my journey was the time I spent with two remarkable guides who shared their countries with me in ways I could never have experienced on my own. In Spain, there was Alex, and in Malta, Philippe. Each brought their passion, knowledge, and unique perspective to my travels, making each country feel alive and deeply understood.

Alex’s story was unexpected. He isn’t native to Spain—he moved there to be with his Spanish partner—but you’d never know it. His knowledge of the country’s history, its nuances, and his way of navigating Spanish culture made it feel like he’d lived there all his life. With Alex, every site was a story, every conversation a deeper dive into Spain’s layered past and present. He showed me Spain in a way that only someone who’s taken the time to truly embrace it can.

Alex brings a lively energy to every corner of the journey, effortlessly blending laughter with local knowledge, as if he’s lived in Spain all his life. He has an extraordinary talent for making history feel like it’s happening in the moment, adding layers of fun to every story.

In Malta, Philippe’s enthusiasm was infectious. With a genuine love for his home, he turned every corner into a story, every ruin into a piece of living history. His tales of ancient temples, Malta’s wartime resilience, and its modern-day evolution were a reminder of the strength that comes from preserving heritage. Philippe showed me the pride of small places, the beauty of tradition mixed with progress, and made me appreciate that even the smallest corner of the world holds its own richness, waiting to be explored.

Philippe, exudes a quiet passion that’s rooted deeply in both his work and his family. Living with his father and close to his brother and sister, he finds purpose in sharing Malta’s history with others. His depth and dedication as a guide leave you feeling that his love for Malta is as much a part of him as his own family.

Now that I’m home, I’m reflecting on the lessons these journeys and people have given me. I went on holiday to learn about other places, but somehow, I’ve returned with questions about my own. How can I use what I’ve learned to make a difference here? How can I bring that same curiosity, that same respect for history and culture, to my own backyard? And how do I hold onto the sense of purpose and discovery I felt while I was away?

Over the coming weeks and months, I’ll be sharing stories from my travels, introducing you to the people I met, and reflecting on what this journey has meant to me. Starting with Alex and Philippe, the guides who opened my eyes to so much more than I expected. This isn’t just a recap of a holiday; it’s an exploration of what travel teaches us and how it changes us. So here’s to looking back, and to figuring out what comes next.

#PostTravelReflections #TravelLessons #FindingMyWayBack #WanderlustReflection #ComingHome #PersonalGrowth #MindfulTravel #CulturalConnections #RediscoveringSelf