We have just returned from a lovely week’s sunny holiday in Malta. Our previous visit was 21 years ago so we saw a lot of changes, even in the weather as it had rained incessantly last time. We missed the old yellow buses that we used so much before, which leaked, rattled, always seemed to travel with doors open, and the drivers all had crucifixes hanging in front of them. The modern ones are much more comfy and have recorded message as well as digital displays advising the next stop. We bought a tallinja card between us that entitled us to 12 bus journeys during our stay, each one for use up to 2 hours’ duration.
One day we caught a bus from Bugibba into St Julians (where we made use of the loo in McDonalds) and then had a lovely stroll along by the sparkling blue Mediterranean to Sliema, taking just under the hour, as we paused several times to people-watch and gaze at the colourful boats in the bay.. On the other side of the street there were a few imposing old buildings and we marvelled at the tall cranes wedged between some of them, the bases of the cranes stabilised by block upon block of stone.
There were plenty of cafes along the wide pavement and some pretty gardens too dotted with memorials; also a children’s play area. Once we reached Sliema it got busier and on the other side of the road we noticed a Matalan and M & S, though I didn’t succumb.
All along the prom during our amble we’d passed people giving out info about the hop-on, hop-off buses and also Valetta’s two harbour cruises, and we bought tickets to take one of the cruises next.
