If you want to learn in detail the facts about Malta and Maltese radio amateurs, I recommend that you read OK1XU's post on the website of the Czech Radio Club. It is from 2001, but many things are still valid today.
Therefore, I do not want to carry water into the sea, but to share my experiences in trying to meet at least one Maltese amateur. I already made preparations for it at home. I looked through the tickets for those starting with 9H and randomly searched QRZ.com for amateurs who might be near my location. QRZ.com also provides a map of the amateur headquarters. With many Maltese amateurs, I saw on the screen that they are based in the Vatican. I don't know what it is, maybe someone who is in the "image" will explain it to me. In addition to the Maltese cards, I prepared a few of my own and also a few photos.
After arriving in Malta, I quickly discovered that I couldn't find any amateurs around Mellieha Bay, so I tried to contact the 9H1MRL team. For those who know Malta - a trifle, for those who don't - a detective story with signs of a conspiracy. Maltese amateurs from Malta and also from the island of Gozo have a link to their organization in the yellow pages along with phone numbers. Of course those numbers are wrong. Here we were helped by the receptionist from the hotel, who found the information correctly. For Malta it is +35621423608.
Maltese amateurs have club days on Sundays from 10am to 12pm and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm. We arranged a visit on Sunday by phone. The trick in negotiating was that my "English", which is the second official language in Malta after Maltese, is enough for a simple phone QSO, but it cannot be used for a more complicated conversation. Here, the wife, who speaks English well, but amateur matters and details are not her strong point, prevailed. Phone calls were further complicated by the planes landing at the international airport and the axis of the runway runs right over the radio club. However, the interview took place on three attempts. We agreed on Sunday.
However, there was a problem where the Attard actually is and where in the Attard we can find the radio club. We planned it so that we will go to Mosta by bus (something will be mentioned about that too), which is close to Attard, and we can take a taxi to Attard. Traveling by bus in Malta is convenient. In the bus, the driver will sell the passenger an all-day ticket for 2.60 for all lines. We got off at the parking lot in Most, where there was a reserved place for taxis, but probably because it was Sunday, no taxi came. However, the Maltese are very kind and welcoming people, so a passer-by, after hearing where we wanted to go, advised us to continue by bus to Valletta and from there simply go to Attard. And so it happened, and there was another Maltese traveling from Valletta who knew where the radio club was and showed us when to get off. If anyone would like to visit the radio club, here is a picture of the stop with bus numbers.
Everything was successful and we were visiting the Maltese amateurs. Carmelo 9H1AQ, with whom we arranged the visit, paid the most attention to us. We sat down over coffee and discussed various topics. I was probably most interested in the fact that they are in CEPTA, but whoever wants to broadcast from Malta should get a temporary sign. The conditions for obtaining it are on the MARL website and it is not difficult. We took photos together, viewed the club's equipment, QSL service, facilities that they collect with the intention of creating a museum. The fact that I just had my name day ensures that I will never forget the day I was at the 9H amateurs.
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Now again about the Bridge. While traveling to the radio club, about six nuns boarded the bus, and when we asked them for advice on how to travel, they advised us to get off at Most pri Dóm. This one has been famous since the Second World War, when a bomb fell on the dome during an air raid, pierced it and fell among the people attending the devotion. If it exploded, it would be a terrible massacre. However, the bomb did not explode and its replica is still shown to tourists. The fact that the bomb did not explode is considered a miracle. The version that the bomb was made in the protectorate and filled with sand by saboteurs of the production is spread only by Slovak or Czech speaking guides.
Finally, a picture of the bomb and the medal of the Cathedral in Most.
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Ivan OM5UM