Malta...I'm lovin it

So I learned a new phrase yesterday….In Maltese? I hear you ask. No I asked a local musician if he knew if Bass players were in short supply in Malta….he said yes very much so as it is part of a Maltese persons nature to be the centre of attention and play lead guitar and do all that “ Fret W&nking” I love the phrase and intend to use it at every convenience…….

Two days left of our holiday……and tonight we are off to the Festa……for those not in the know…a festa is when the village or town celebrates it’s saint.One of the most important days in that particular churches calendar and apart from the religious significance it is part of Maltese culture and demands that they make as much noise as possible by shooting bombs (not fireworks) bombs into the air it also dictates that you open your front doors put on as many lights as possible (whoops there goes another Polar bear spontaneously combusting in the North Pole) You have to dress up and walk around aimlessly in the streets which are decorated with banners and lights….the most blasphemous ruffians of the village turn in to God botherers and decide to carry a statue of the saint around the village and swear their love to the statue. You have to eat as much Nougat and Hot Dogs as possible.(incidentally hotdogs in Malta are served with baked beans!!!!) Throw as many pieces of paper from a shredder around the streets and drink as much alcohol as you can. Then there is the village band……The Maltese band has a unique sound…..high pitched clarinets nice oompah oompah sounds and a bass drum balanced on the chasis of an old pram….priceless……..when living in Malta I kind of avoided the Festa….away from it I take every opportunity to go back just to make sure that they don’t change……On an island ever changing it is nice to see that some things do not.

Tonight is The Festa of San Duminku at Vittoriosa the birthplace of my Nanna….It’s a smaller festa and every so often the other Festa followers from the church of San Lawrenz throw bottles at San Duminku’s band and vice versa but in all fairness as the statue of San Lawrenz passes San Duminku Church in their Festa the statue bearers turn San Lawrenz’s back to the San Duminku’s Church but come Monday morning all will be forgotten and everyone will be friends again bantering about which Festa had the most fire works longest flag poles or better band…..and anyway just around the corner is the Regatta in the Grand Harbour and the people of Vittoriosa unite…..as the arch enemy Cospicua with their Blue and white Dghajjes (boats) are looking strong this year……….ah Malta……you just can’t help but love the place