TRAVEL MEMOIRS

The Malta Experience

Meeting with an unforgettable woman

It all began at the airport of Valletta.

It was early December, and the airport wasn’t bustling with activity.

After landing, I noticed pamphlets for tourists placed on a stand next to the arrival hall. Without examining them, I took one from each without much consideration.

Upon reaching our hotel, I went through the pamphlets, discarding the outdated ones and leaving only one program guide.

The Malta Experience.

At first glance, it didn’t seem too exciting as it was a tourist attraction. It promised a short guided tour combined with a film screening at the Holy Infirmary of the Knights of St John.

Since my wife and I planned to spend a day exploring Valletta, the capital of Malta, I remembered the pamphlet, so we decided to take part.

After buying the tickets, we had to approach the entrance through a somewhat peculiar pedestrian tunnel. Passing through the souvenir shop, we waited in front of the screening room for the next session. There weren’t many people. I thought it might not be the peak season or that the program itself wasn’t very promising. I couldn’t decide.

The screening was a well-compiled 45-minute film about Malta’s diverse history, from ancient times to the present day. After the screening, we left the theater to join the guided tour of the medieval hospital.

I returned the 3D glasses to a senior gentleman responsible for the first part of the attraction, then I noticed an older woman in the corner collecting the entrance ticket, which ensured participation in the guided tour. At that moment, I didn’t pay much attention to her as I was focused on placing the small sticker she provided and following her instructions. She told us to go upstairs and wait for the guided tour to begin.

My wife followed in the queue. Since she didn’t speak English well, I felt a bit guilty for not being more attentive as I moved forward. So, I couldn’t assist her in communication. From the top of the stairs, I observed the situation, ready to help if needed.

My wife handed the lady the entrance ticket and received the small sticker indicating her participation in the guided tour. At that point, I still thought the lady was a ticket collector.

The last visitor joined our waiting group, and the lady also started slowly climbing the stairs. It was then that I saw she had some mobility issues. I realized I had underestimated her age, and she could be around 70. Her expressionless, but kind face didn’t reveal much.

She opened an iron door and asked everyone to continue up the stairs and wait in front of a large door. Then, when everyone complied, she closed the iron door and joined us. It was then that I could better observe her sun-kissed face and simple yet elegant attire.

We all entered Europe’s longest hospital ward built in the 16th century. She stepped into the middle of our group and began the guided tour. It became clear that the senior staff member was not only the ticket collector, but also the tour guide.

Her perfect, easily understandable, and articulated English caught my ear from the first sentences. Her words flowed effortlessly and with a pleasant dynamic that immediately engaged the audience. Her well-structured tour and the conveyed information indicated that she had done this short tour many times before. But beyond the words, there was something else. More precisely, someone.

I wondered if she could have been a famous actress or public figure twenty or thirty years ago

Her assertive statements and interactive questions showed how conveniently she could influence her temporary audience.

It was captivating to watch her every facial expression, hand gesture, and concise message.

Leaving the ward for wealthy and paying patients, she led us to the Republic Hall, a huge auditorium. She proudly mentioned that in 1989, the Malta Summit took place here, when US President George HW Bush and Soviet Secretary General Mikhail Gorbachev met on December 2–3, just a few weeks after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

From her words, I felt as if she had been there too. Her eyes sparkled. Dignity emanated from her gaze. She was humble yet proud of her city, her nation.

Then she asked us to follow the stairs down to the lower-level ward, where the Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem cared for the poor.

Her irregular and cumbersome gait was evident, but despite that, she faced no difficulty in storytelling whenever we stopped.

Her speech was pleasant, melodic, and affectionate. Everything she talked about and the way she spoke touched every visitor in one way or another.

With concentrated attention, I tried to decipher who this wonderful person might be. Yes, it was wonderful to me how quickly she could have such a significant impact on a mixed group who had already seen and heard everything about Malta after a 45-minute 3D film projection. At least, everything that modern information transfer can provide!

She presented the ward reserved for the treatment of patients unable to pay, in detail.

It was a vast and long corridor hidden behind a heavy red curtain. Because the tour guide wanted us to see this magnificent architectural masterpiece in all its glory, she went behind the curtain and asked the staff there for permission for us to glance behind it. It was like a spiritual experience when the curtain was drawn, and one could marvel at the reality in all its splendor. The room where the organizers were preparing for a gala dinner was grandiose.

We returned to the tour’s starting point through another staircase, where she thanked us for participating in the tour.

Since she was the last to leave, she had the opportunity to bid farewell to each member of the group as they left the last room. Visitors, without exception, acknowledged the professional guidance with gratitude. My wife and I, of course, joined in this expression of gratitude.

As we were leaving I saw our tour guide one more time.

We locked eyes, and exchanged smiles, and she nodded her head, saying, “Thank you!”

I’ll never forget her!

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

If you enjoyed it and are interested in my Maltese adventures, I recommend reading the following travelogue.

Hello, I’m Jozsef. I’m writing about leadership, project management and traveling. Click here if you would like to be notified when I publish.