The Maltese islands were just a dot from the air as our Transavia flight from Amsterdam gently cruised in for its’ landing. Only a few seconds before touchdown we could then see the main island of Malta with the other islands of Gozo and Comino just a short distance to the north. No sooner had we landed and gone through the formalities we were whisked away to our point of stay, the village of Marsascala on the south-east coast. Our accommodation was a one bedroom apartment with a balcony overlooking the picturesque Marsascala Bay. The view was just serene with the many multi-coloured boats dotted around on the water and the local church just opposite with its’ Romanesque bell tower.
After a brief repose we wandered out for our first bit of exploration. It was late afternoon, very warm but comfortable. There are many bars and restaurants around the U-shaped bay of Marsascala, most of them facing the water, and we took our time and carefully inspected each and every one. The locals were just “emerging” from their afternoon siesta and the foot traffic was increasing. It is called ‘il passegietta”, which translates to “a casual stroll”.
Our first impressions were certainly mixed but not negative. The climate was warm with a gentle breeze and the sun did not seem too harsh. The people seemed open and friendly enough and had an air of casualness about them that makes their lifestyle look quiet, simple and certainly unhurried. We did detect a slight indifference towards tourists but they were obliging at the same time. Most people spoke English, which was very convenient for us, but the Maltese language itself we found to be very colourful and expressive.
We hired a car the next day and did a tour of the immediate vicinity. The roads were busy but not crowded and the pace a bit slower than most other western countries. There were many open fields scattered around and some were bordered by walls of stone looking not unlike ancient Roman structures. The houses are built of limestone and are mostly one or two level dwellings with the exception of the apartment blocks up to an average of six storeys. The main roads are good, some are two lanes each way, and they drive on the left hand side of the road (as in the UK). The roads through the villages are narrow with some only one way and just wide enough for one car to squeeze past. The front doors of some houses actually step out right on to the road (a dangerous situation we thought). We certainly recommend a walk through the villages rather than drive as we thought it was much more adventurous.
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