I’ve been searching for the right property for more than two and a half years now in Cyprus.
A place that could both be my home and an extraordinary place to do my entrepreneurial teachings.
That special place where you’d be wow-ed and love to come to learn and pick my brain when it comes to entrepreneurship and digital nomad lifestyle.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not going to find what I’m looking for in Cyprus.
A decision has been made. I’m moving to Malta
I’ve been living all the way West in Pafos, all the way East in Protaras and in Larnaca in the Southern middle part of the island (where the airport is).
I’ve looked here, there and everywhere.
Cyprus is nice and has its charm. But I want more.
Things in Cyprus are never quite good enough. Not for me at least.
If one of my clients (that I know love luxury) would ever ask me to recommend a really good fancy and high-quality hotel in a nice neighbourhood in Cyprus – I wouldn’t really be able to recommend any.
Malta offers plenty of lovely palazzinos (which is a slightly smaller version of a palace)!
A palazzino is usually an antique, elegant and historical building with plenty of character. Many of them with a nice garden and sea view.
Now that’s what I’m looking for!
There are lots of other charming buildings with soul too.
I’ve really been missing the charm and vibe I experienced when I lived in Barcelona.
Though, I haven’t missed the Spanish language – not even a bit, haha!
And when it comes to property pricing, I can get a charming palazzino i Malta – or get a standard concrete building in a not-so-nice neighbourhood in Cyprus.
Not hard to choose.
In Malta the legal language is English – it makes everything so much easier.
The government offers digital ID’s with self-service on most things like setting up a company, signing up for tax and VAT, etc.
OMG, I’ve been missing to be able to do things myself – and in plain English!
Malta offers a much larger entrepreneur community, more tech firms, existing coworking spaces, history, charm and overall pretty good looking neighbourhoods, parks, etc.
Direct flights to and from main Europe – and especially both to/from Eastern and Western Denmark – are much better throughout the year.
Sicily is only two hours away by boat.
You can actually get to Malta from main Europe without flying!
I actually have a good friend in Denmark that does not fly. Now he can actually come to visit.
No place is perfect
Malta has issues with traffic. Luckily, I’m not a commuter. But that’s about it.
Personal taxes are a bit higher in Malta, that’s alright.
I guess you get what you pay for.
Luckily for me – I’ve designed my lifestyle and my business to be location-independent.
Of course, it’s a bit annoying to move (again)! But, I know what I want and I’m not going to compromise.
I love the warm temperatures in southern Europe, at least I got that right!
I love wearing shorts for more than half the year and a simple jacket at night in wintertime.
I haven’t found the right house in Malta yet and my bf has just started looking job opportunities over there. It will take a few months before we’re ready to move.
My courses will, of course, follow with me to Malta.
If you’ve signed up to one of my courses, you already know that we’ll meet in lovely Malta instead of Cyprus.
I’m heading over to Malta in a few weeks time to view some amazing houses.
Stay tuned.
Take care
Ricco
