How to Enjoy the Summer in Malta

But this summer has been a lovely, in between one so far. Anyone visiting these past two weeks in July has been very fortunate. The temperature has been in the mid 80s with a nice sea breeze. But since this is now August, there's bound to be a heat wave coming.

Despite the heat, Malta receives her most tourists in the summer. Here's how you can enjoy Malta in the summer:

1. Be prepared for temperatures as high as 100 degrees F. during July, August and sometimes September. During these days, you'll want and need to stay out of the midday sun from 10 AM to 4 PM. If you want to do outdoor activities, plan on doing them before 10 AM and after 4 PM. A pair of sunglasses, sunblock and a hat make vital companions this time of day in Malta.

2. Don' t take a hotel room or flat with a sea view. All sea views face the south and the heat is strongest from this direction. You'll only be able to enjoy the view at night after the sun has gone down. During the day, the heat coming from the south can be intolerable, making sitting on a terrace or roof garden impossible.

3. Malta is most crowded in July and August. Not only are there regular tourists from all all over the world, but the island is crawling with loud and often wild language students coming to learn English and to party. So if you come to Malta for a nice and quiet Mediterranean getaway during these months, you'll be very disappointed. Perhaps choose a more quiet time of year--May and June or October and November.

4. In June and July, Malta also heats up with its festas--colorful, joyful celebrations honoring numerous local saints. The parades and bands are fun. And there are fireworks. But there's one aspect that is not fun for most people--the setting off of petards--these rockets that blast through the island as each festa begins and ends. Most people, including the locals, complain about the intrusion of the petards into their lives, but they will never cease to be a part of the Maltese summer.

5. If you come in September to Malta, be prepared for a major increase in mosquitoes. That's because it starts to rain again after four months of nearly no precipitation. With the increase of moisture, the mosquitoes rejuvenate. It's advisable to wear insect repellent during dusk and dawn and to purchase mosquito machines that you plug into the wall to stop mosquitoes from bothering you at night.

6. Shops close from 1 to 4 PM, as in other places in the Mediterranean. So prepare to shop before or after these times. Shops often stay open after from after to 4 PM to 7:30 PM.

7. Many holiday flats do not have central air conditioning. There are air conditioners in the bedrooms. If you want to remain cool and comfortable, plan to buy one or two fans that will help you take the heat not only in the kitchen but in the living and dining rooms, as well.

8. At the same time, many indoor public places lower their temperatures dramatically in the summer, so you might end up freezing in department stores, the cinema, some restaurants and language schools. Therefore, bring along a sweater or shawl when visiting these places in the summer.

The best time of the summer in Malta are the balmy evenings when you can go out in nothing but sleeveless dresses, tees and shorts. But do be aware, as sizzling as the summer gets in Malta, topless bathing is prohibited.

Ilene Springer lives in Malta and is author of An-American-in-Malta.com.