Name: Claudette Buttigieg
Age: 44
Occupation: Broadcaster
My best ever trip…
We were escorted by a uniformed soldier with a gun to our hotel room in Moscow
I always put Australia at the top of my travel list but our recent trip to Scotland comes a very close second.
I felt most relaxed in…
Scotland. In all our travel plans (and dreams), a visit to Scotland was always on the agenda. Three years ago we had it all planned out but had to cancel because of medical reasons.
This summer we finally made it and our expectations were very high. Friends and family gave us advice on which places to visit. David and I had no problem spending days admiring the breathtaking scenery but we were concerned about our nine-year-old daughter.
We got in touch with other couples who visited or live in Scotland through Facebook and they offered some fabulous ideas. We saw Scotland through the eyes of a child ... castles, myths, legends and tales – but above all adventure.
Scotland has so much to offer children and their parents. We landed in Edinburgh and drove all the way up to Inverness where we stayed in a lovely bed-and-breakfast.
We went on a boat trip on Loch Ness and visited castle ruins. We went to the fantastic Landmark Adventure Park where we followed jungle and forest trails and climbed trees while hanging by a harness.
Our travels took us to Isle of Skye, Fort William, Calander, Sterling and ended in the Edinburgh area. In all the places we visited, our daughter could enjoy parks and places of interest which specifically cater for children.
I lost my cool in…
Moscow. I visited on my way to a song festival in Kazakhstan with composer Ray Agius and singer Lawrence Grey.
All flights and travel logistics were handled by the Department of Culture and we were given instructions, one of which was that our connecting flight was only one hour after our arrival in Moscow.
Since in previous years I had travelled on my own, I decided to check if such a connection was physically possible.
I called Karmen Azzopardi in Moscow (her husband, Chev. Paul Naudi, was our ambassador at the time) and she told me that it would be very difficult.
Upon our arrival, we were told that our flight was not one hour later but 25 hours later! And we did not have a visa to stay in Moscow.We were told we could buy the necessary visas (at an astronomical price) or stay at the airport hotel. We opted to pay for the hotel. When we checked in, the receptionist kept our passports and we were escorted by a uniformed soldier with a gun to our room.
Doors, including to the lift, were locked behind us and police officers surveyed our corridor – we were under house arrest! Since it was late, we decided to go to bed and handle matters in the morning.
The next day we tried to use the phone several times but were not allowed. The ordeal lasted for hours, until finally the policewoman on duty understood I worked in broadcasting and that I would be making this story public. She let me make one phone call to our embassyin Moscow.
At 3pm, Maltese diplomats accompanied us through the VIP area and we were taken to the ambassador’s private residence for a lovely meal prepared for us by Ms Azzopardi herself... ravioli never tasted so good!
I felt so welcome in…
Various destinations: Australia, Scotland, Italy (particularly Sicily), Spain, Sweden, Cyprus and Turkey, among many other places.
I couldn’t wait to leave…
Moscow!
I partied hardest in…
Sweden. I visited this beautiful country twice, in 1989 and for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2000. I must say, the Swedes really know how to party.
My first visit was for Christmas andI couldn’t get used to the fact that thesun went up at 11am and started to setat 3pm.
This left very little time to do much more than indoor partying. At temperatures ranging from -5˚C to -35˚C, we gathered around the cosy fires and enjoyed fantastic evenings.
In Australia I tasted crocodile meat. I must say it was really nice and tender white meat, which tastes somewhere between fish and rabbit
The Eurovision is known for massive party events. I made myself present for most of those but had to make sure not to overdo it – after all I was there to perform.
When it was all over, I partied big time.
I cringe when I think of…
Again, Moscow! But I learned a huge lesson: never let your passport out of your sight and always know the contact details of the Maltese Embassy closest to you.
I laughed so hard in…
Sicily and Paris, many years ago when I travelled with a group of friends and got into all sorts of fun and mischief.
The furthest I have travelled is…
Australia, although Kazakhstan was quite a distance away. I visited both countries twice to perform as a singer.
I wish I could live in…
I’m happy in Malta but Australia would be my second preference. I lived in Italy for a few years doing my postgraduate studies at the beautiful and prestigious University of Bologna.
Some years later I lived in Germany for a few months. I had plans to immigrate to Australia some 12 years ago but Malta will always be home for me. With all its pros and cons, I love our country very much.
I treasure the memory of…
Santorini in Greece, where my husband David and I went on our honeymoon. It’s a fantastic destination and I highly recommend it to all couples, as it’s very romantic.
We stayed in Oia, where the sun sets on the island. The food is fantastic – especially the seafood – and we particularly liked the thick Greek yogurt with honey and nuts.
The most delicious food I’ve tasted was…
In a fabulous restaurant in Brighton-le-Sands, Australia, in 2002. The restaurant – whose name escapes me – was set on a pier in an outstanding bay. The abundant seafood was a dream, a feast for the eyes and tastebuds.
Two years earlier, also in Australia, I tasted crocodile meat. I must say it was really nice and tender white meat (similar to chicken), which tastes somewhere between fish and rabbit.
The hardest part of travelling is…
Two things: packing before you leave and trying to ensure that you have enough stuff but not too much, as we love to travel light. And coming back home to work after a good trip.
Travel has taught me to…
Appreciate the beauty of our country. We complain and grumble so much about Malta that we forget what a beautiful gem it actually is. If that was not the case, why would so many tourists
visit each year? I have also learned to appreciate different cultures and traditions. On two different occasions, in Cyprus and in Turkey, I was shown around the country through the eyes of the locals.
I visited homes and shared foodwith hosts who could not speak my language.
In Turkey I visited an area close to Pamukkale, where old women cooked flat bread in a whole in the ground,and I sat down with them for anunforgettable experience.
In Cyprus I celebrated the Orthodox Easter first in the city and then in the mountains. Great memories!
I dream of one day visiting…
Peru. This has always been my dream destination. Back in my university days in Bologna, I met a couple of Peruvians who worked in the theatre and I fell in love with their culture, their pride and their colours.