F
aced with severe restrictions on all our freedoms over the past months, including an inability to travel, has pushed many of us to explore what our home countries have to offer more than ever before – a tourist on your own turf, if you will, giving way to a newfound appreciation for all we typically take for granted. This introspection extends to the latest edition of Guide Me, through stories that explore and delve into Malta, Maltese identity and the remarkable achievements by local people from various fields. On page 22, we dig into the features and characteristics that make Maltese buildings distinctly and identifiably local, from the boxy balconies to sculptural stone details, while on page 40, we catch up with long-distance swimmer and environmental activist Neil Agius, who completed an epic 28-hour swim from Sicily to Malta last June to raise awareness about the pollution plaguing our seas. On page 30, four distinguished chefs each share a special dish from their restaurant menu that merges old with new, putting an exciting and contemporary spin on a quintessentially local dish, while on page 70, three creatives with a fondness and appreciation for Maltese culture reveal how their designs are partly aimed at preserving, while promoting, Maltese identity. With all this and more, we hope you enjoy this edition of Guide Me. Martina Said Editor
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