One Week in Malta E-Book

Giuseppe Guarino

• Herausgeber: Infinity Books Ltd, Malta
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

From 17th to 23rd October, 2018, I was in Malta alone, without my computer. All I could do was go out, buy a notebook, a pen and begin to write. This is the result: a diary of those days, a tribute to this wonderful island, a collection of memories, pictures and thoughts.

Giuseppe Guarino is author of many books and articles on various topics, theology, novels, English and Ancient Greek languages courses, etc. See his personal website for updates, www.giuseppeguarino.com.

Leseprobe

ONE WEEK IN MALTA

Memories and Thoughts

Giuseppe Guarino

INFINITY

Published by

Infinity Books USA

By special agreement with

Giuseppe Guarino

Layout, pictures inside and cover design by Giuseppe Guarino

Cover picture: Cristina Carrasi

Copyright 2020© Giuseppe Guarino

All rights reserved

Thank you Sue for your help!

CONTENTS

17th October, 2018

01

Interlude: love

11

18th October, 2018

15

19th October, 2018

23

20th October, 2018

25

19th October, 2018

31

Interlude: Time

39

00/00/0000

41

21st October, 2018

45

The night between Sunday and Monday

51

1:30 am

57

Interlude: Daredevil

66

23rd October, 2018

73

Dawn seen from a bench in Sliema

For those of you not familiar with Malta, it is an archipelago of 3-4 islands in the Mediterranean Sea less than two hundred miles south of Sicily. By its placement it has always been considered a strategic piece of real estate for those who would control the shipping lanes in the Mediterranean Sea.

Today it is an Independent Republic and a member of the EU.

I woke up early just to enjoy this incredible view.

17th October, 2018

Yesterday was my first day in Malta.

I am in my room, now. I decided to write a diary about the days I will spend on this island. This is why I bought a nice notebook in the Chinese shop right in front of the hotel where I stayed with my family during my previous trip on the island.

The notebook says on the cover:

Sometimes words are hard to find

I’m looking for that perfect line

To let you know you’re always on my mind

I decided to write this diary, to share my vacation with my wife who is at home, in Sicily, working and taking care of the house and our naughty son.

She read the original, hand-written version of this diary, which is partly preserved here. What you have in your hands is the printed edition, which is a bit longer and also conceived for the potential readers.

Let’s start from the beginning.

The flight was great. Less than one hour, short and relaxing. I love flying Air Malta.

On board I met a couple from northern Italy who were scouting to see if they liked the island and its potentialto start a company there.

A huge crisis throughout Italy has the people to put aside all our differences that have divided us for generations. Today, maybe for the first time in our history, Italy is permeated by the same feelings of discontentment and fear for the future - sadly for too many, they don’t see any future at all.

This couple had already paid the price of an economy ruled by crippling taxation, which already destroyed so many honest business persons. They were trying to find hope in another land. They were as sad as I was. I love Italy. Italians do love Italy - we must leave only because we have no alternative. So, our comments were bitter and sad and ended up in silence as we landed.

The landing was awesome: Air Malta pilots have been very good so far!

I wished the best of luck to my flight friends and I got out of the plane, enjoying the very moment I put my foot on Maltese ground.

I took a deep breath, looked up to the sky.

Yes, it was Malta again!

First thing I did on my way out of the airport was try to help a woman who stopped me saying she was looking for someone who spoke Italian. She needed help to find her way out of the airport. She was obviously not Italian, but mine was the only language she spoke. She was on my plane, since she told me she came from Catania too.

She made her way out following the suggestions of another guy who stepped into the conversation showing a clear interest in her. So, I faded off the scene, eager to begin my time on the island undisturbed.

First thing I did was buy this pretty convenient card which lets you catch all the buses you need for one week.

In my hometown I am compelled to drive. There is no time for buses, plus the service is pretty cheap – never on time, if they show up at all.

In Malta some tourists complain about the bus service too. But the Malta Public Transport compared to the Catania AMT, it is like heaven. It lets you get anywhere you need to go for a reasonable fee. Clean, air-conditioned buses and a punctual, reliable service.

One time I witnessed such a wonderful thing. Two old people got on the bus. Then the bus driver stood up and made sure the two would comfortably sit in their reserved seats. Then and only then, he sat back down and the ride continued.

I got on the island too early and the appointment with my accountant was at around 10 am. So, I decided to take a bus to ‘The Point’ and have breakfast there.