The Red Mist - like anyone actually cares…

Just back (yesterday) from my latest jaunt - this time to Malta. One of those late deals, and an incredible bargain for £147 all inclusive, for 7 nights B&B at a 3-star (but better than that in my opinion) hotel at Melliehar in the north of the island - a nice spot.

Malta’s a bit of a strange place though. The towns and villages all seem very similar, with little to distinguish them, and much of the island’s appeal lies in its history, of which there is plenty and varied. Being a very devout Catholic society, the main focus of the towns’ interest is the churches, of which there are many. They all seem to follow the same basic design, externally at least - two towers beside the grand entrance, with a large dome, red in colour. Inside is a different story, though, ranging from fairly plain to the most magnificent and ornate.

The people of Malta are a very dour bunch. They don’t seem to smile much, and the bus drivers seem to have surly down to a fine art. The place lacks the joie de vivre that is normally associated with Mediterranean cultures, and the only live music on offer was Elvis tribute acts - nothing at all distinctively Maltese. Very strange…

Malta’s history is chequered with influences from many different cultures, from Phoenician to British, with many others in between. This results in a strange mix of evidence on the landscape and townscape. The Maltese language is a derivative of Arabic evidently, and while town and street names are almost exclusively Maltese, many of the road signs - “bus stop” etc., are in English. There are familiar red British phone and post boxes too, and the island’s buses are almost entirely British (vintage 1950’s onwards, which makes for interesting travelling…)

The buses are a real feature of the place. Although old, they are quite smartly painted, on the outside at least, Maltese buses being yellow and red, while Gozo’s are grey and red. Inside is a different story. The drivers seem to have dedicated buses, and each decorates the cab area as he sees fit. Religious icons are commonplace, while some have mascots of football teams, or family photos. The state of repair of the rest of the bus is very variable, but it is fun to travel around the island on these relics of the past. I used to go to school back in the 60s and 70s on some of these buses, and they were considered old then, so you have an idea just how knackered these things are. Great to see though…

Travel on the island is incredibly cheap - we had 7-day unlimited tickets, which cost only E13.98. The services don’t really stick to a timetable, but there’s generally an other bus along within 20 minutes, whichever route you’re on.

Food seemed to be very good with plenty of choice and reasonably priced everywhere - I never felt ripped off anywhere, unlike many places these days.

I’ve been curious about Malta for some time, and my curiosity is now satisfied. I enjoyed it, but I don’t think I want to go again.