Playing games in Malta

Popcorn or passports take you to Malta and a chance to escape with the Count of Monte Cristo or play a Game of Thrones.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/504829_661204b778ee45bdbf6ff80cfcb57097/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Hanging out in Malta

Malta looks great as itself—you can see that when a cruise ship lands there in the Death and other Details mystery series. Located about 50 miles from Sicily, in the Mediterranean, the archipelago of Malta features six islands. That means its isolated, old world features lend themselves to other places and times.  The harbor view overlooking Valetta steps in as early 1800s Marseilles for The Count of Monte Cristo…not once, not twice…even more than three times in an Alexandre Dumas actioner that shows up in more than 40 screen versions. Or how about that fictional Game of Thrones city Kings Landing? Season one used various Malta locations, including the granite walled streets of Mdina and sites off the island of Gozo. A surprising number of other projects filmed in Malta. Not the Maltese Falcon despite its title, but Popeye left its mark, its little town built for the film now turned into a theme park known as Sweethaven Village. Notwithstanding personal movie-loving habits, Malta hit my bucket list because of a painting by Caravaggio, considered his masterpiece. The painting’s size -12 by 17 feet—means it never travels so you have to visit Malta to see it. The mystery series Death and Other Details showcases the painting, plus you get a sense of Caravaggio’s dark themes in various episodes of Ripley.  From real life Caravaggio to a fictional stay for Monte Cristo’s count, Malta proves fascinating for set-jetters and all kinds of cultural enthusiasts.