Malta surprised me. I expected it to feel as if it were frozen in time, and in a lot of ways, it did. But in a lot of other ways, it felt like the complete opposite. A vibrant collision of old meets new, Malta is stunning contradiction.

The country's antiquity is realized through its baroque and bright limestone architecture, its narrow streets, and its old decrepit buildings. These things, among others, make it hard to forget the dense history of the country, which spans back to the 16th century. But amidst all of this, there's a sense of revival. Sneaking in between the decayed buildings are contemporary ones. Boutique hotels even.  It's also hip, like very hip, in the best most least pretentious way. People are friendly and jovial. There are juice bars, and art shows, and people in the streets singing The Mamas & the Papas. 

Through its mashup of culture and really-really-old-yet-kind-of-modern feel, Malta is an exceptionally beautiful place. What's more is that it's a beauty all its own.