Eight Clues to know that you’re Experiencing a Maltese Summer
For most people living in Malta, the year tends to revolve around the summer season. Mainly because summer is not limited to its calendar days between the 21st June and the 20th September, but tends to start in May and can easily carry on until the end of October. Naturally the season tends to revolve around the warm weather and Maltese sunshine is definitely not lacking in that area; however, there are other hints that indicate that a Maltese summer is well and truly underway.
The sun is beating down on you as you step outside your house, full of energy and in good spirits. After a 30 second trip to the car, however, you realise you’re already out of breath and on the verge of hallucinating and the energy you felt just 30 seconds ago has vanished completely. As you slide into your seat and frantically reach for the AC button, you are greeted by the cool breeze of quick relief from the air vents.
All the hotel car parks are full during the weekends because couples choose the summer months to get married (no worries about the rain ruining the big day!), leaving you with nowhere to park.
Signs of summer lovin’ are evident as the summer weather turns everyone into a social butterfly. The numerous events and parties that fill up the summer social calendar become a proverbial hunting ground as people look for a partner to nest with during the forthcoming winter months.
As less clothing is worn and more flesh is shown, gyms start getting full again with people guiltily remembering their New Year resolutions and re-using their annual subscriptions that “is so much more worthwhile and will help motivate me to continue attending classes”.
People no longer drive their cars up and down the Sliema front on the weekends checking out the strollers through their aviation Ray Bans; instead they race each other to the best spot at Blue Lagoon (or the latest Mediterranean hot spot) on their cabin cruisers/yachts/speedboats.
The beaches look like crowded zoos that house all different sorts of animals ranging from graceful gazelles to sweltering hippos with all of them trying to claim their spot ideally located midway between the seashore and the bar. Luckily they share the space easily enough without any animalistic scenes.
Scores of English language students descend on the island crowding the buses and the beaches, contributing to the gazelle population and every teenage boy’s fantasy as Sweden suddenly becomes a fascinating country that they MUST visit.
Loud bangs go off at intermittent intervals throughout the day and tourists can be seen gazing around in fright wondering whether Malta has suddenly gone to war. Don’t worry, it’s just festa time! Every town’s and village’s excuse to block roads and have a street party where alcohol and cholesterol are the main ingredients for everyone aged 9-99. Of course we discourage underage drinking and aim for our ‘five a day’… but it’s the festa and traditions must be upheld in all senses.
Ultimately though, by the 1st of July people are wishing for winter to arrive, the rain to fall and for the weather to cool down because the heat is just too much to bear! Have a great Maltese summer everyone!
By Giselle Borg Olivier. Published in Style Magazine – June 2009
For most people living in Malta, the year tends to revolve around the summer season. Mainly because summer is not limited to its calendar days between the 21st June and the 20th September, but tends to start in May and can easily carry on until the end of October. Naturally the season tends to revolve around the warm weather and Maltese sunshine is definitely not lacking in that area; however, there are other hints that indicate that a Maltese summer is well and truly underway.
- The sun is beating down on you as you step outside your house, full of energy and in good spirits. After a 30 second trip to the car, however, you realise you’re already out of breath and on the verge of hallucinating and the energy you felt just 30 seconds ago has vanished completely. As you slide into your seat and frantically reach for the AC button, you are greeted by the cool breeze of quick relief from the air vents.
- All the hotel car parks are full during the weekends because couples choose the summer months to get married (no worries about the rain ruining the big day!), leaving you with nowhere to park.
- Signs of summer lovin’ are evident as the summer weather turns everyone into a social butterfly. The numerous events and parties that fill up the summer social calendar become a proverbial hunting ground as people look for a partner to nest with during the forthcoming winter months.
- As less clothing is worn and more flesh is shown, gyms start getting full again with people guiltily remembering their New Year resolutions and re-using their annual subscriptions that “is so much more worthwhile and will help motivate me to continue attending classes”.
- People no longer drive their cars up and down the Sliema front on the weekends checking out the strollers through their aviation Ray Bans; instead they race each other to the best spot at Blue Lagoon (or the latest Mediterranean hot spot) on their cabin cruisers/yachts/speedboats.
- The beaches look like crowded zoos that house all different sorts of animals ranging from graceful gazelles to sweltering hippos with all of them trying to claim their spot ideally located midway between the seashore and the bar. Luckily they share the space easily enough without any animalistic scenes.
- Scores of English language students descend on the island crowding the buses and the beaches, contributing to the gazelle population and every teenage boy’s fantasy as Sweden suddenly becomes a fascinating country that they MUST visit.
- Loud bangs go off at intermittent intervals throughout the day and tourists can be seen gazing around in fright wondering whether Malta has suddenly gone to war. Don’t worry, it’s just festa time! Every town’s and village’s excuse to block roads and have a street party where alcohol and cholesterol are the main ingredients for everyone aged 9-99. Of course we discourage underage drinking and aim for our ‘five a day’… but it’s the festa and traditions must be upheld in all senses.
Ultimately though, by the 1st of July people are wishing for winter to arrive, the rain to fall and for the weather to cool down because the heat is just too much to bear! Have a great Maltese summer everyone!
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