Sometimes you just need to revisit a place. Whether it’s a place you loved, or a place you didn’t get the chance to love, going back for a redo just makes sense.

Before my trip back to the US in July, I told The Kid that I wanted to go someplace warm, someplace Mediterranean for our End of Summer/Back to School trip. He suggested “that place with the really clear water and cool caves” that I’d showed him photo’s of, and so it was decided: we would be returning to Malta.

So much was planned for my trip last summer, and those things I was unable to do are the things The Kid enjoys seeing. So, we spent time learning the history of this little archipelago near Sicily with a ferry ride to, and a bus ride around, the island of Gozo.

We visited the neolithic ruins of the ancient Sicilians that made Gozo their home. T climbed around on stony beaches, and we ate gelato under the heat of the Mediterranean sun.

I booked the same boat to cruise around the islands so T could see his caves. It made my heart so happy watching him take his first dip in the Mediterranean – to watch the grouchy teenager turn into the adventure-seeking kid again.

I think I will always go back to Malta if given the choice. It’s history and culture is rich with the influences of so many different nations. It’s people are kind and welcoming. And it’s sunshine is warm, healing, and wonderful.