A place in the sun

We live in Malta for part of the year and fly on a regular basis from and to the UK and it is with annoyance that we read of the constant complaints which appear to be of a trivial nature.

What people forget is that Malta is a small island and tourists mix with the infrastructure to a large degree and, therefore, should be respectful of their culture. We live in Zabbar, and when travelling to Valletta we pass by the dockyards, see cranes and gantries and nobody complains about those because this is classed as work, but construction within the tourist area is classed as a nuisance. Why should this be and why should there be a separation between tourists and locals?

We have also heard tourists complain about being overcharged by taxi and bus drivers and about the state of the buses and the roads. These complaints usually come from people who are first timers in Malta and are unsure of the value of a single note perhaps handing over Lm2 or Lm10 for a 20c ride. It is not the fault of the driver if they do not hold enough small coins to give change. In regard to the buses and roads, Malta is trying to update their vehicles and road system but this will take time. However, we have also heard people complaining that they want the old buses back! Personally, we would prefer them as they have much more character.

Maybe it is about time people (and this includes the locals) stopped moaning about Malta and enjoy the beautiful country instead. It is the only place we know where the people are as sunny as the climate and welcome others with open arms.