Journalists, xena, l mos rock and joe power abdul karim, travel the coast of the mediterranean in search of answers to what do you see yourself as a tunisian junior youth with all the rights and responsibilities . How can you afford to see these animals . God help with join us to get to know the people and their dreams. A mediterranean jeremy. Today were going to europes 5th smallest country. Its a sunny place with a multi cultural heritage. Its been awful. Im on malta. Admit to man, its an island in the mediterranean sea, located north of libya, tunisia and south of sicily investing ports, multi cultural, melting, tramodol, the romans, the arrows, the dish and the french were all here at one time or another. The architecture shout sick too often. But its reflected in the people to m, but not im excited about what awaits me here on climate. Ah malta capitol. The letter is so beautiful that its been named a unesco World Heritage site. At the republic of malta is made up of the islands of malta, gozo, and camino as well as a number of other uninhabited islands. The 316 square kilometer territory is home to about half a 1000000, multi s the name malta is said to mean refuge. Its the 5th, most densely populated country in the world. The crusaders built the capital, the letter as a bastion of christianity. It has recently undergone extensive restoration and regeneration architect. Conrad boyar has played a key role in this process. Hes managed to melt old architecture with new now were walking aside the parliament and your part of designing department. Right . Yes, we worked. We had rental piano, who were commissioned by the government to who builds the building and that we were his local architects. The whole building is built health local stone. Oh, you know, its really interesting. Although this one is an old builder. Yes. And this one is a new builder. Yes. But they somehow fit together. Yes. I think thats. Yeah, that was the idea. So Mission Completed with no arena, you can see the light and shade on the thought. Yes. Gives a feeling of a corrode, did the way the ways it all the way on the other side and all i get more of it on the scale is similar to the lines on the top. So this triangular courtyards where he fell hold the line, continue like that, a structure we see there. Yes is actually reflecting this one, but this is in a modern way. Yes. Oh, okay. So it creates a continuity between old and new. Oh, wherever you look who figure it stevenville, let us crumbling beauty a facelift. Even the ruins of the former, while opera house have been integrated into an open air theater at which point the space in the life of the city. So when the performance is taking place, if theres a symphonic concept, that the sound spills out into the streets. So my, everyone knows Everybody Knows people sometimes stand on the edge and watch even though theyre not inside to theater. It says its very impressive because its open here and when you look at the building behind, it looks as if its the back facade of feds. Right . Yes. In fact, the choice of the green was from inspired by the green of the balconies. So when its at dock and its all, its up, that facade gets closer to the interior and it feels like what used to be the elevation of the, of the 5th. Mm conrad bootleg yard is convinced that the letter can only retain its vitality if its past is integrated into the present. The citys history should enrich rather than limit it. He shows me the enchanting boy from the upper barranca gardens. If you look at this, you dont have to say anything any more. This garden was built on the highest bastion of the land with fortifications or reach ne movies landscape was 3 full maximum stories heights like this. Its low and horizontal. 5 years ago. The opportunity to Start Building high buildings, tall buildings, was allowed. So now a lot of buildings not being built which are 1540 stories high. Youre a fan of it. No, im not a fan of it because the traditional landscape is going to obviously change. However, progress is relentless, its not you can really control. And i dont think one should be scared of change. Though it might, malta is a place of tradition and modernity ramp and construction boom here. Tranquil beaches in lagoons there. The time of the nation is trying to negotiate the middle ground between the needs of tourism and multi residence. The small fishing village, plaza shock is the home of the typical maltese wooden boat called a lute soup. Its idyllic. Now im traveling further south here on the main island to a place where a very exclusive multi specialty awaits me. Its been, its in it. And now in the jewish me what it is, im told the germans have sausages in the italians pizza and the maltese c a c t c to so theyre like, its meant to be very tasty. Or im looking forward to eating something to s. C j which is 10 kilometers from the capital here. The slogan is blubaugh day. It via today work and virtue i meeting Marty Lou Vela the founder of pos ditzy gourmet. Hello. Youre very low. I am a fit, superman. Yes, nice meeting you same. Welcome to my house. Thank you so much. Ready to make baset see . Im ready to cook for the 1st time. Kaiser. Good. Because so into the kitchen. Mary lou is an institution in sir j. We. Shes the queen of making the pastries that are mult us favorite snack. Every one i met here is talking about for cfc and you have to even fuzzy. He, after he countable it or you have to eat fast, its, it will have them for breakfast for lunch, for a t k. Then if you really dont feel like cooking, you have them for dinner as well. So its good and theyre fast, you know, you find them everywhere in every town village. You make different kind of proceed. See whats, whats the actual thing about you all proceed. I make busted c without lied for the traditional wise. And the made them with glide with point fact. And so i try to made that to make an alternative beginning vegetarian. Yes, yes. Yes, it is. The traditional this traditional food in malta is it is a vegan veneer. You know, its quite me the best the most. Its most popular. Im always these dish is in fact rabbits meets rabbit. Yes. Fried rabbits with garlic with ive heard there are some similarities between maltese and arabic languages. So im going to do a little test. Ah, what do you call this in mark is in arabic, we say i seen. Yes. And what is called a gina i its almost the same. Yes it is because i was tow martis language is very close to arabic. Language like a gina. You say i see the semitic language, in fact its 6060 percent of it comes from are and they can because of a room by the arabs for a very long time. So we talk now arabic, when i say he fick dba, you say hi yes. Is this in your, in your normal not his language . Yes. Imma. Yes. And this one, the pie, the green a p thing. No, that comes from italian personally, designedly. Thats kind of why we say bizarre la, ah, yes. So, so was yes, if you will say for a night thinking the same after the language lesson, the cooking lesson continues. Shall we get the the feeling . Yes, thats good. The filling this out here very well prepared that he caught daughter, caught the on the p, and they say, any one whos been to molto once, always return for the food alone. The dishes are unbelievably tasty. Fantastic. Especially pos, tsetse made using models recipe. And i didnt do a bad job making them either did i could often. Yeah. Okay. Well the pos tsetse are baking marty lou shows me around the small town of sa jr. We are stroll, takes us to the church of Saint Nicholas matos predominantly catholic. What influence does the church have here . She tells me the country is one of the most conservative in europe. I love melissa. Otherwise i would have faith. But i think there is the risk of more, i losing it. Okay. Oh, with the new high rise buildings, thats where i get a and some people are way too conservative. How does effect on you so on young people and especially women, for example, abortion is not legal here. Abortion is not legal. So that creates quite a lot of problems because then only, you know, rich people who can afford it can get to the because they can go abroad to other countries or as they go to black markets. Okay. So, and even, even when you want to divorce it, its in you yellow toys and show you is around 6 years ago. Something like that, 67. And for that you good for that . No, there was no the voice and voice when, when you know, when in a wonderful aroma entices us back to the kitchen. Were my very 1st batch of self made pos, tsetse awaits us. But since its already well though, oh, they look so good. Golden brown does gordon brown. I think they are very crispy. So i try the one with the cheese. Okay, this one . Yes. Its so good. Good. Its so good. It so good. Its really good. I really have best thunder. I shall. Yes, yes, yes. Yes, its very good. So i can stay the whole day now eating them, sir. It really tastes good. You know, at the beginning when you look at them and say, what special about it. But now you can see how, how good its, it tastes, its mess. So its, its worth it, im glad you like them. Ah, the highland nation has been a member of the European Union since 2008. And in this tax haven, people like to show off what they have. Its a popular place for wealthy english people to retire to for example, its a paradise for car lovers. Im surprised to stumble across a vintage car rally and val letter but malta has its dark sides to in late 2017 in assassination shook the countrys political elite and sparked a national crisis. Journalist daphne cutter, one ago elisia, was investigating a high level Corruption Scandal when she was murdered in a car. Bombing. The attack shocked the country and led to the resignation of top politicians. October 5000 zips. It would it be in october 2017 valia journalist daphne coline deal with murdered just a short distance from her home on death album deliver investigative work and focused on political and financial corruption and multiple motto constantly. And me, its, its important to me as a journalist that i come here to make a point where owned and science, i believe a democracy must guarantee freedom of opinion and the media in on a democratic, if after all, malta is part of the e at malta so a all, and i expect that freedom of speech should be a cornerstone in such a country gornstein, but fun saw in him london. The country mourned the journalist and demanded an end to corruption and lies. Ah, now malta has to prove it can implement the rule of law and respect the freedom of the press. So as to ensure daphne caught one ago, he did not die in vain. Ah, were leaving the main island and taking the ferry northwest via me. Go to it. Instead, ill look, were heading for gozo. Were going to visit the city of victoria. Hi victoria, its a small city. It has to opera house is open or is the question is why to why i go 0 is the 2nd largest island in the multi is archipelago. Its only 14 kilometers long and just over 7 kilometers wide. Ah, most of goes i was 31000 residents live in the iowa capital victoria. Its a bit quieter here than it is on the main island. Ah, im most interested in the 2 opera houses, the aurora, and the t or through astra. Here i meaning the director, john goliath, the 2 buildings are just 300 meters apart and i came to go here and i have one question. Why do you need to approach here on a very small island . Its because theres the rivalry between the 2 band clubs in victoria. The other band club has also the out or our open house. And theres this at the out to us, which is the seat of oper as well. And out of sheer artistic rivalry but, but in a good sense of the competitive sense. How is the competition affecting on the quality of the productions youre doing of you see, and there will be a much more engagement and commitment by the members of the opera astra. Who are actually engaged to promote the highest artistic level person. Mm. Both oper houses were built at the end of the 19 sixties and theyve been vying with one another since been visitors. Do they go to both or for us . Or if you have the feeling some i really loyal to one or pro some of the support as may be that its like youve done. Why, lawrence . Yes, yes, yes, its a club. It is, it is. But i mean, as a sense of maturity, lets was the way weve gone from strength to strength and people are going over to each other. The authors. And 1st of all, also to see the, the 11th the so that the Competitive Edge is always there. It is a very much like a mac golf artistic activity. Ah, yet the island nation is surprising. In another aspect, in 2017, the Maltese Parliament voted overwhelmingly to legalize same sex marriage. Since then, goes to a wedding planners, jewels wiltshire and catherine goods have almost had more homosexual than heterosexual customers. Business is booming. Extraordinary. Why do you which sounds behind fact, just bring you round, you would buy some facing each other and the readings and your powers and every single exchanging of rings will be done here. All your guests will b, c, t, age on the terrorists, looking out this way. So obviously with mm. Back in the letter. Im amazed at how progressive catholic mult, as approaches to transgender and homosexual issues. In the spartacus gay travel index, the island is ranked as one of the most l g b t friendly countries in europe. Im meeting clayton mer chica and l g b t i q Community Organizer to find out more see, Catholic Church is very influential here on walter. How is that affecting on eligibility i q rights. I would say since the 2011 ford is referring to them and show that people want to move on and have the rights to do for this kind of changed the mentality even for the church to not be so focused on, on personal freedom of what people wanted to chose, im fortunate to sit out and show a fun, throw it over women. And when it comes to rights, productive rights in mind, thats the white lagging behind for when it comes to a g, b, t i to you. Right . So yeah, thats the context here in mind that as we have in this verity, whereas if your eyes are far ahead, i would say in the world, in general, we dont hear about aggression or homophobia directly to where our community is such. But yes, with cases the sierra for example towards the trans women. Oh, face physical and online abuse. And so that was quite shocking for us with clayton organize at the annual multi pride week and pride march clayton, you, you worked for an organization that takes care of t v i t q writes here on mata. And what do you do, except even though one of those very small was still phase, a lot of isolation and the fact that we dont have a lot of eligibility places where to go to was always based on events. And i think thats one of the things that were doing and g o, alleging more communities to, to create that sort of sense of belonging and community for, for are the eligibility kind. Malta has many facets. Most people only know the place as a beautiful holiday island, but its also become one of the track hotspots, the refugee crisis. Again and again. Votes that of pulled survivors from the sea, put into port here. Malta location, 350 kilometers from the libyan coast is the primary reason for that. More than 15000 people have died in recent years trying to reach europe via the mediterranean sea. I meeting some survivors who made it as far as malta. While im to i, yes, when did you arrive here . Is it the owner of the 2018 . And we found out really by libya across the see across the significant study. So can, how is that journey and what problems did you, how well, whats that . Well, we came in a small boat, sandy called the boats of dan, were they, they were worried for the can i get to him and you either live or die. Let the news that yahoo salam to the how you laugh about it now. And so it was top right, the minutes of the little bit . Yes, it was time. We were it, see the 7 days, i know it for 7 days. We were on a ship, a contacted Different Countries out and on, but no one wanted to take us about. And then the United Nations decided that we should come here to molten. We might have been deeply moved by their fate. What will happen to them . How many will get stranded on this island in the future . When will the e, you find a collective solution to the problem . This im speaking with darrens, im, its loopy. The multi photojournalist has captured scenes from the refugee drama. One. What does the military onion see today mean to you . Ah, to me personally, to law face, its my home for starters. I bought what we have seen over the toss. Went to you as a service. Its also a graveyard. The huge numbers of people crossing from africa trying to get to you it, im most of the, most of the departures tend to be from libya and the number of fatalities law enormous. For darrens accounts shocking. He shows me photographs of rescue missions that hes witnessed or. 2 to have been times when i, i put down the cameras and helped outs, i had taken enough pictures anyhow, so theres no point in to learn more about it. Can we click so his photographs are a stark reminder of what many dont want to excel. Humanoids are at stake here. Just as a guy that had just been rescued. Obviously. Sh. Wendys, people dont know if theyre going to nipple dye once they realize they have survived. Its a very you fav property Emotional Experience for their emotional and if you that i think they dont really be, i mean yeah, im some break down in tears. Some sort of celebrate and saying and pray, but theres a lot of crying. Theres one rescue mission that therein will never forget. The most magic weekend for me was easter of 2017, where several people fred into the sea. That was mad. Struggle for them. How does this have an impact on, you know, you get lucky these passive images fashion back to your minds which do not go away. They say sometimes come back to you at the most. The unexpected moments was ann. Yes. Think about the 100 c safe and the same rescue the same weekend. Think about the, the baby, his wifes life. He saved. What policies should change from the european perspective, according to your opinion. And i would love to see a more solidarity between the different till you a pin countries, you know, when it comes to creating a you a wide policy on how to, how to share these people out amongst themselves. The fact that all countries have to agree on it. I mean, that is obviously a problem because, you know, unfortunately though awesome e u. Member states which are adamantly against having refugees on their soil as long as europe fails to open up or to help. And as long as there is no improvement in the refugees, countries of origin will continue to see these dreadful images from the mediterranean. Mazda swiftly says it, malta has been really a really intense study. Sophia, hadnt expected to experience so much of the island is very small, but its architecturally very rich dimension. And with the people i sometimes got the feeling i could be mult