Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland, May 2025

After my return from Caracas in April 2025, I had the joy of reconnecting with two places that are closest to my heart—Nowy Sącz, my hometown, and the historic city of Kraków. These quiet moments in southern Poland were a welcome interlude before continuing onward to new adventures. In between our travels to Malta and Uzbekistan, Mum and I spent a couple of lovely days in Kraków, which turned out to be especially memorable, as our visit coincided with 3rd May Constitution Day—a national holiday rich in symbolism and meaning for Poles everywhere.
 
Nowy Sącz – Where My Roots Are
 
As always, being back in Nowy Sącz brought a deep sense of grounding. The town’s location in the foothills of the Beskid Mountains and its layered cultural history make it a place where tradition and memory live side by side. Its Old Market Square, the family home, and the nearby hills are not just landmarks but emotional signposts that connect me to who I am and where I come from. This is a place where every street evokes stories—of childhood, family gatherings, friendships, and life’s turning points.
 
Kraków – A Pause with History and Celebration
 
Kraków, with all its splendour, greeted us with festive elegance. 3rd May is one of the most important holidays in Poland, commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of 3 May 1791—the first modern constitution in Europe and the second in the world, after the United States. It was a bold, visionary attempt to reform the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, strengthening democratic governance and civil rights at a time when absolutism still dominated much of Europe.
 
Although the constitution’s effects were short-lived due to the eventual partitions of Poland, its legacy has remained deeply symbolic. For generations, the 3rd of May has represented hope, reform, and a proud moment of Polish intellectual and political courage. During communist times, celebrating the holiday was forbidden, and yet it remained alive in people’s hearts. Today, it’s an official public holiday and a cherished occasion for national pride.
 
Being in Kraków on this day made it all the more special. The city was buzzing with a gentle kind of festivity—Polish flags fluttering from balconies, choirs and orchestras performing patriotic songs in the open air, families enjoying the spring sunshine in the streets and parks. It felt like a celebration not just of history, but of continuity and resilience.
 
We focused our time on Kraków’s city centre, exploring the heart of the Old Town, which is one of the most beautiful and historically preserved medieval city centres in Europe. We admired the majestic Wawel Castle, once home to Polish kings and still a powerful symbol of sovereignty and nationhood. From there, we wandered along the Royal Route, through the Rynek Główny, with its Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) and St. Mary’s Basilica, both icons of Kraków’s grandeur.
 
A particularly meaningful stop was the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364 and one of the oldest in the world. As we stood in the courtyard of the Collegium Maius, I reflected on how this very institution had nurtured the minds of thinkers, scientists, and leaders—including Copernicus—and how it continues to play a vital role in shaping the intellectual fabric of Poland.
 
A Meal to Remember
 
As the day warmed, Mum and I enjoyed a long and relaxing lunch at a Czech restaurant just off the main square. The food was comforting and generous—dumplings, hearty sauces, and cold drinks—and the setting gave us time to slow down, talk, and simply enjoy being in the moment. These shared meals in beautiful surroundings are often the memories that linger the longest. It was one of those small but perfect travel moments—unhurried, joyful, and full of connection.
 
A Perfect Pause
 
These days in Nowy Sącz and Kraków were not just a pause between travels—they were a return to the source, a reminder of what grounds me before continuing forward. Being back in familiar places, especially with Mum by my side, reminded me that home is not only where we come from, but where we feel known, rooted, and whole.
 
This visit also reminded me of the beauty and richness of Polish history, and how important it is to hold on to the moments of pride and resilience, just like the 3rd of May Constitution Day invites us to do.

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Fireworks over Valletta, Valletta, Malta, April 2025

In early May 2025, just a few weeks after my return from Venezuela, Mum and I embarked on a brief but beautiful escape—to the Mediterranean jewel of Malta. We boarded a direct flight from Kraków to Luqa International Airport, filled with excitement and curiosity. Although the trip lasted only three days, those days were filled to the brim—with exploration, sunlight, laughter, and meaningful time together.
 
This getaway was our opportunity to be fully present with one another after months apart. The chance to travel with Mum is always a privilege I deeply value. Whether in quiet conversations or shared silences while taking in a view, these moments together are never taken for granted. Malta, in all its golden beauty and cultural richness, offered the perfect setting for such moments.
 
Valletta – A Capital of Stone and Soul
 
We stayed in Valletta, Malta’s small but majestic capital. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in history, elegance, and atmosphere. Built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century after the Great Siege, Valletta is a city of limestone ramparts, sun-drenched balconies, and narrow streets that echo with centuries of stories.
 
Everywhere we turned, there was something to marvel at—St. John’s Co-Cathedral, whose unassuming façade gives way to an explosion of Baroque splendour; the Grandmaster’s Palace, a reminder of Malta’s chivalric past; and the Upper Barrakka Gardens, where we paused to gaze over the Grand Harbour, feeling the warm breeze and watching ferries glide below. Valletta felt like a city suspended in time—its past ever-present, but not weighed down by it.
 
Even the everyday corners of the city—the quiet piazzas, the tucked-away cafés, the ornate door knockers on every street—told a story of a people rooted in tradition yet welcoming of the world. Malta’s dual identity as both European and uniquely Maltese is felt most strongly in Valletta. The Maltese language, with its Arabic, Italian, and English influences, echoes the island’s complex past, and yet everything feels easy to navigate and warm in spirit.
 
The South and East – Fishing Villages and Sea Caves
 
On our second day, we ventured beyond the capital to explore the southern and eastern parts of the island. Our first stop was the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, famous for its colourful luzzu boats bobbing in the bay. The boats—painted in rich shades of red, yellow, green, and blue—are not just beautiful but symbolic, each adorned with the Eye of Osiris to ward off bad luck at sea.
 
The promenade was alive with life—open-air cafés, locals selling honey and lace, children playing along the shore. We had a delicious seafood lunch and watched as the market bustled with both locals and curious visitors. Mum and I found ourselves chatting for hours, watching the ebb and flow of life around us, enjoying the simplicity of being far away from routine.
 
Later that day, we visited the Blue Grotto, a series of natural sea caves on the southwestern coast. The water, reflecting the sunlight against the white limestone, glowed in shades of cobalt and turquoise. We took a short boat ride beneath the cliffs, and the moment felt almost surreal—nature at its most artful. It reminded us how much beauty can exist in quiet, hidden corners of the world.
 
Gozo and the Blue Lagoon – Malta’s Natural Gems
 
On our final day, we joined a small group tour to Gozo and Comino, two of Malta’s smaller islands, and a world apart from the capital’s buzz. Gozo immediately enchanted us with its peaceful landscapes, terraced fields, and slower pace of life. We visited the Citadel in Victoria, a fortified city with panoramic views of the island, and wandered through quaint villages with churches that seemed far grander than their surroundings would suggest.
 
In Gozo, time seemed to move more gently. People greeted one another in the streets. The scent of citrus and wild herbs lingered in the air. Mum and I both felt it—a kind of quiet magic that comes with simplicity and space to breathe.
 
From Gozo, we continued on to Comino’s Blue Lagoon—a place that almost defies description. The water was so clear and so blue that it felt like we had stepped into a painting. We swam and relaxed on the rocks, letting the sun warm our faces. Surrounded by shimmering sea and pale cliffs, it was the perfect way to conclude our visit.
 
Malta – A Place of Many Layers
 
What makes Malta truly fascinating is not only its beauty, but its depth. Despite being one of Europe’s smallest countries, it has layer upon layer of history and influence: from prehistoric temples older than the pyramids to the legacies of Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and the British. The Knights of St. John left an indelible mark—not only in architecture but also in the ethos of service and resilience that seems to characterise the Maltese people. The country’s dual linguistic identity—Maltese and English—adds to its accessibility, while its Mediterranean heart gives it warmth in every interaction.
 
Even in such a short time, Malta left a lasting impression on both of us. It was a place where the ancient and modern coexist gracefully, where every stone holds a story, and where every meal, sunset, and conversation felt a little more vivid.
 
More than anything, it was the time with Mum that made the trip truly special. Exploring a new country side by side, learning together, talking without hurry—it was a reminder of how travel deepens connection not only with the world, but with the people we share it with.
 
This May weekend in Malta was a brief chapter in our journey, but one we will remember for years. It marked the beginning of my holiday season in 2025, and it couldn’t have begun on a better note: with sunshine, discovery, and the quiet joy of being together.

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