You know it’s summer in Malta, when…
Written by Elizabeth Ayling
A cliche' but it wouldn't be summer in Malta without it
With the rising mercury, it’s screaming summer. If you’re here now or have holidayed in the Med in summers past, see if this list rings any bells with you.
You know it’s summer when…
- The cat won’t move for hours on end
- Ants start invading your kitchen
- Yells, bells and smells greet you on every street (festas, food stalls, car windows open, TVs blaring through open doors…)
- Families, old and young members like, perch outside on chairs, doorsteps and kerbs to chat
- Drivers of heavy vehicles strip to vests
- Valletta’s (now in name only) City Gate area reeks of sweets, diesel and sweat
- Tarmac starts to melt and rutch up
- Kids eat an ice cream a day
- Tourists are on the beach at midday; while Maltese turn up after 5.30pm
- Drivers start getting more abusive as heat = road rage
- You hear every festa wherever you are on the islands
- Town and village festas close roads and cause tailbacks (people kerb-crawling watching fireworks)
- There’s barely a local to be seen in village streets after midday.
- You can park in Valletta easily after midday – public servants have all gone home!
- Government offices rarely answer phones after midday
- Paceville is a no-go zone for a whole lot of reasons!
- You can hear clubbing venues’ music even if you’re miles away
- Beer not wine is the drink you want when dining out
- Aircon firms charge a whole lot more for call-outs (get servicing done by end May next year!)
- Whole families perch quayside with fishing rods as the sun sets
- Beaches get BBQs galore
- Beaches get filled up by large groups of language students (from midday at weekends, so plan to go other times!)
- You know it’s summer when you’ve had enough of going to the beach and look elsewhere for things to do.
The list is endless, so do add your own summer in Malta characteristics…
Photo: Anne Muscat Scerri of Cloudberry Images
- Families, old and young members like, perch outside on chairs, doorsteps and kerbs to chat
This is by far my favorite. I just love at how villages, neighbours seem to come together each evening often till late.
Until recently I was living in Rabat, Malta, and I have fond memories of my neighbours in the block of flats discussing the day with the neighbours in the block 50M across the road.
One night coming back home from work, I was walking down the Rabat summer streets. One turning took me onto a street with people sitting on the door steps, chairs, pavements talking with the local band marching up the street, kids dancing and laughing ahead of it.
Yes summer in Malta is truely a cultural event to be visited and shared.
Just stay away from Paceville if you want to experience Maltese culture.
‘Tourists are on the beach at midday; while Maltese turn up after 5.30pm’ is my favourite. As i tourist i can vouch for the truth in this sentiment. The Maltese people are sensible and only venture into the sun when its cooler. Tourists see the Sun (which lots don’t in their own country and MELT)….
@John, it’s because they like those BBQs! See this for some ways locals use the beach when the visitors have left! http://www.maltainsideout.com/12817/no-smoke-without-fire-banning-the-beach-bbq/
You know it’s summer in Malta when you see two or three generations of Maltese walking along the sea front enjoying the cooler evening weather, although still very warm but without the direct sun light… I love to see this when I go to Malta as here in England it is a rare sight for this to happen.
Also some people fear going out late at night here even in a group…..
You know it’s summer in Malta when you see two and three generations walking along the