Mack Prioleau on Traveling to Quebec and Malta for the Holidays
With Christmas just a few months away, a lot of you might already be planning that holiday getaway to spend some quality time with family and friends. I, for one, am looking forward to traveling for the holidays this year (if my schedule permits). This is Mack Prioleau, by the way. Today, I’d like to share with you two places that I hope to visit during the holidays. I’d have to plan my schedule well because the two destinations in my Christmas wish list are on opposite sides of the pole. I would also have to plan for my budget because as we all know, holiday travels can be quite expensive.
Quebec City
Quebec City is the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. And since I live in the United States, I figured that my first stop would be somewhere closer to home. I chose Quebec City because it provides me with the opportunity to experience a European Christmas without having to actually travel all the way to Europe.
The city is transformed into a Christmas village, complete with all the lights and ornaments that truly transport you to a magical place where the true spirit of Christmas is felt and experienced. Add to that the cobblestone streets and you’ll feel like you’re walking down one of old Europe’s historical places.
Oh, and since Quebec is mostly a French-speaking province, you will truly feel you’re in Europe when you hear the locals swapping stories or greeting one another on the streets! That’s one affordable European Christmas for me right there.
Malta
The main reason why I chose Malta is because I want to capture that spirit of the first Christmas that ever took place in the history of Christianity—the Nativity. In most parts of the world, the Nativity scene is the focal point of Christmas celebrations; the story of the night Joseph and Mary knocked on doors to find a place to stay, ending with the baby Jesus being born in a manger.
Malta is an island country situated in southern Europe. During the Christmas season, you will know you’re in Malta when you walk down its neighborhoods and see the splendid displays of the Nativity scene through the windows of the houses here. Locals are quite proud of their Nativity displays, and they readily open their curtains to reveal their magnificent displays. Others take the display to a whole new level by creating the scene on a much larger scale—one that fits the garage!
But the event that drew me to choose Malta is called the Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem. This is a live depiction of the Nativity scene, one in which some 150 actors participate every year. The Nativity village is set up on the island of Gozo, about a 5-minute walk from Mgarr Harbour.
The scene plays out on a 20,000-sqm field. When you step into the village, you will be transported back to the first Christmas some 2,000 years ago. Horses, mills, villages going about their business, shepherds tending to their sheep, and animals roaming the village roads are only some of the common sights you will see here.
So, there you have it, friends. These are two holiday destinations I wish to visit during the Christmas season. If I do get to go, I will tell you all about it right here.
Thank you for taking the time to read my latest post. Once again, this is Mack Prioleau.