Malta has been invaded a few times over the centuries, the Ottomans making an attempt in the 16th century. They were thwarted by the Knights of St John, a Christian military order that had been given the islands by Charles V of Spain. In 1565 the island was held under siege by the Ottomans outnumbering the knights by thousands, BUT after four months a relief force from Spain forced the Ottomans to withdraw, halting the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. The victory led to the founding of the...

The Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo have been on my Bucket List for some time, mainly because of their history. I finally made the decision to go when I found a historical tour via Mercury Holidays, which proved to be most interesting. Having been to the cradle of civilisation in Africa I was fascinated by the archaeological remains of the Neolithic period that can be discovered on both islands. There are several temples dating back to before the pyramids, but built nearer the time...

Serendipity is one of my favourite words and my discovery of Tropical World was certainly serendipitous. Maintenance was being carried out on my electrical supply one Thursday and, not wanting to stay at home without the ability to make a cup of tea or cook a meal, I decided to go away for the day. But where should I go? A quick look on the internet revealed a place I’d never heard of even though it is only an hour away on the bus: Tropical World just outside the town of Letterkenny in...