Marsaxlokk

Headed off today to Marsaxlokk...a fishing village about 35 minutes bus ride from Valletta.  As with many places in Malta, Marsaxlokk saw action during the Great Siege, the French invasion and World War II.  Today it is home to about 70% of the Maltese fishing fleet, but also a container terminal and power station.

Comme d'habitude we took the ferry from Birgu to Valletta...it's so much nicer than the bus, even factoring in the stress of the airless lift...only to be greeted at the Valletta side by two monstrous cruise ships.  These ships were anchored just a few metres from the local water taxi stop.  Picture the water taxis...which are traditional dghajsa rowing boats with just enough room for six passengers...in the shadow of the bows of these monsters!

The dghajsa offer the same trip as the ferry, at a slightly higher cost of 2 euros per person (which is also the price of a bus ticket wherever you go in Malta), or a cruise around the harbour for 8 euros.  Hopefully they made good business from the cruise ships.  The solo skippers of the rowing boats are very vocal salesman, so I'm sure they know what to do when the cruise ships are in town!

From a selfish perspective, I could only think of what the crowds would be like in Valletta today!

Anyway...we made our way to the bus depot and found the right bus bay.  Just a short wait and then on our way.  The bus was crowded, but as comfortable as a city bus can be.  Most of the passengers were headed for Marsaxlokk, except for some nannas who seemed to be meeting friends at bus stops along the way!  Considering the menfolk seem to spend the day congregated around café tables, clad in shorts and singlets, I have no doubt the nannas escape for a few hours of enjoyable conversation too!

Marsaxlokk is a small harbour, with a souvenir market, curtained from the sun, along the main street.  The main street is lined with cafés and restaurants of all types...we stopped for a cold drink and pastizzi (Maltese savoury pastries) and then wandered the length of the harbour.  We visited the tourist information office for a map, mainly so we would know where the bus left for the return trip.  There didn't seem to be any parks around town, and it was just so hot, with little shade except in the cafés or under their sidewalk umbrellas, we didn't have the inclination to stay in town.  Wandered through the back streets, following the shade, to the bus stop, and were soon on our way back.  Not a big day out...but happy to have ventured out.