march-2012

FEATURES | MALTA
ZURRIEQ AND BLUE GROTTO
Light years from the hustle and
bustle that prevails across much
of the island, the Blue Grotto and
nearby Zurrieq Valley promise
escape from it all. The valley is
a fi ne example of the Maltese
countryside, an oft-overlooked
aspect of life here. It’s a prime
spot for discovering all sorts of
local fauna and fl ora, so be sure to
pack your walking boots.
The Blue Grotto is a sight
to savour too. Sparkling blue
waters twinkle in and around the
natural caverns here, while other
vibrant hues pop from the sea,
thanks to the array of life that
goes about its business beneath
the surface. A good way to see
it all is to hop abroad one of the
waiting luzzus – traditional,
brightly painted fi shing boats –
which will take you on a tour of
the whole coast. Don’t forget to
snap a shot of uninhabited Filfl a,
a mystical island just off the
coast. Finally, swing by the aweinspiring
megalithic Ggantija
Temples on Gozo – long-standing
proof of the eclectic uniqueness of
these islands.
HE WEARS Above, top, Martin Margiela at Selfridges, £265; trousers, Burton, £35; shoes, McQ by Alexander McQueen, £225 sunglasses, Ray-Ban, model’s own.
Opposite page, shirt, Rajesh Pratap Singh at Browns, £230; trousers, H&M, £29.99; belt, Fendi, price on request; shoes, Paul Smith, £235
SHE WEARS Shirt, Tommy Hilfi ger, £80; skirt, Dries Van Noten at Selfridges, £530; scarf (worn around waist), Paul Smith, £95; shoes, Wallis, £28;
bag, Antonello at Anthropologie, £298
82 | TRAVELLER
Above, A fi sherman’s
boatyard close to the Blue
Grotto; left; the nearby
fi shing village of
Marsaxlokk; right, on the
Blue Grotto’s rocks