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“Best day ever,” my friend Jess shouted from the crystal clear water. maltaBlue Grotto Cave. Wearing John Lennon-style sunnies and a baseball cap, she was walking in the water next to a golden retriever named Miriam, who had decided to cannonball into the waves with her. It was the first time in many years that I had seen him so happy. There the embers of an old spark were rekindling and it crossed my fingers that it caught.
Jess and I first met at Reading University in 2012 when I, a fanatical PE dodger, signed up for ski Society during Freshers’ week. My first – and last – attempt to get down the dry slope was unsuccessful, but with my buttocks and ego already bruised, I had little left to lose when I asked Jess for her phone number. We spent amaretto-fueled nights dancing Taylor Swift And I thought I had good luck in the friendship lottery. Then he met a boy.
A few years later he completed the Nicholas Sparks playbook: escaping to America, adopting a husky terrier with the name of an octogenarian, and settling in a leafy suburb of London. A life of picket fence served him well – until it didn’t.
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During the last few months of their marriage, I barely recognized my previously carefree friend. When she told me she was applying for DivorceI felt relief, then a desperate need to help get him back on his feet. I hope she regains the confidence she had when we met 13 years ago.
This summer, when she told me the news, we were transported back to our teenage years, hanging out in an early-morning McDonald’s drive-thru and belting out Kesha’s “Your Love Is My Drug.” Also got my old digital camera back. In the 2010s we were in such trouble that there was a real risk of my sweeping fringes making a comeback. Grand finale? Girls’ four night trip to Malta.
I wanted us to take time to acknowledge what Jess is going through and also celebrate her. I saw this as a way to negate the stigma often associated with the end of a marriage. Most of all, I wanted to romance her. Platonically, that is.
As a perpetually single friend, I’m comfortable taking a DIY approach to romance. I enjoy solo theater trips on Valentine’s Day and a honeymoon suite all to myself. Truly, my friendships are my greatest love stories. And in Malta, Jess will become the main character.
when we arrived Kugo Gran MachinaA five-star boutique hotel in Sangli, a quiet area on the outskirts vallettaOur first port of call was the rooftop pool, where we ordered a bottle of champagne. We took it in turns creating clink-worthy catchphrases.
“You only get a divorce once,” I announced. Jess added: “Divorce is just a breakup with more paperwork.” It went downhill from there.
The hotel itself is worthy of a fairy tale. A limestone fortress built by the Knights of St. John in 1553, it now has 21 suites, an on-site restaurant and the all-important rooftop pool overlooking the Grand Harbour.
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During our stay, we opted for an in-room couple’s massage with physiotherapist Marina. She came to our door with some selected fruits in her motorbike helmet and told us about the cast of fruits gladiator ii who stayed at the property.
The romcom experience continued as Jess and I admired the colorful fun the balconies (ornate wooden balconies) and generous door knockers in the Silent City. After a sunset boat ride in Valletta, we enjoyed dinner soundtracked by a live orchestra who had been rehearsing for it. white NightMalta’s largest arts and culture festival.
The real highlights, however, were Jess’s bursts of uninhibited silliness – star-fishing on the couch like a tired child, or dancing to country songs while straightening her hair.
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On the bus to Marsaxlokk, one of Malta’s most famous fishing villages, he suggested we find a place to have a beer. A heartfelt conversation ensued. On stronger lageritas Cafe Society Bar On St. Lucie Street, one of the city’s famous streets, I spoke openly about my deep fear of being left behind by my friends in relationships.
I explained how, for the most part, I enjoy being alone; Sleeping alone is not something I will give up easily. But sometimes I dread weekends when my dear friends are busy with their colleagues and I am at home, roaming around.
Jess told me that the breakdown of her marriage made her realize the value of female friendships: especially mine.
At the end of the trip, I surprised her with a video I made during the vacation that included the best bits of it. It’s 40 seconds that showcases his personality in Technicolor: laughing over spilled drinks, pulling goofy faces at the camera, petting local dogs. She is shining in this.
A few days later he sent me a screenshot from the family group chat where he had shared the video. When I read her mother’s reply, tears streamed down my face: “Our old Jess is back”. My mission has been completed.
Jessica Cugo was a guest on Gran Machina
how to do it
London Gatwick operates three direct flights to Malta International Airport per day. One-way fares start from £15 Ryanair and from £35 British AirwaysFlight time is approximately three hours,
where to stay
Suites at Kugo Gran Macina Start from £150 per night. Most rooms overlook the Grand Harbor and also have kitchens. The hotel is an eight-minute ferry ride from Valletta.