Written by Shelby Marter
Who said daily commutes have to be boring? Certainly not anyone in Malta! One of my favorite things about working here is the daily entertainment I get from simply going from place to place. Traffic is absolutely insane- maybe I think it’s exhilarating because I haven’t had to actually drive yet and am usually watching the ongoing road chaos from the luxury of a large bus. Either way, I just don’t get sick of watching this melee of tiny smart cars, huge public buses, expensive SUVs, dusty farms trucks, and well-kept retired military Jeeps all vying for their spot on narrow roads and complex roundabouts.
There is a communication system of beeps that the drivers use, but I haven’t totally figured it out yet.. Sometimes they use it to say “I’m coming around this hidden corner” or “I have the right of way” but then there are other times in which the drivers react (not usually out of anger) that I still don’t understand. However, you can tell when the drivers are angry at each other, especially the driver for the University shuttle. I love it because this guy (in his too-cool-for-you aviators, puffy blue vest and slicked back hair) sticks his head totally out the window and shouts something that doesn’t sound so nice in Maltese at the perpetrator. You don’t normally see this everyday in the U.P.
The public buses are interesting as well, and the crowd changes depending on the destination. You can usually tell which buses are headed for Bugibba or St. Julian’s based on the number of tourists gaping at the nearby bus schedule; a schedule that will probably never accurately predict what time these giant green and white things will show up to shuttle them somewhere else. Personally, I like riding the buses that are headed for a destination more popular amongst the locals. The younger residents are usually very well-dressed and hold themselves with an air of careful confidence as they put in their earbuds. The little old ladies and men usually converse loudly with each other in Maltese with a matter-of-fact tone. In fact, one day on Gozo a few older locals got upset that the bus hadn’t left the stop yet, so they all started waving their arms and shouting things like “AHOY! AHOY!” at the slow bus driver- the funny thing is that it actually worked, which definitely gives you slight taste of how Maltese culture works.
It’s such a small island that you can easily ride from one end to the other in less than two hours- which is what I did a few times during the first few weeks. I was able to get my bearings quickly, learn which stops would drop me off close enough to walk home without having to cross a roundabout (which for the record, I don’t recommend), and see where the beautiful landscapes were. It can be exhausting to find the right shuttle, or to constantly wait at random stops, but I’ve certainly learned a bit more patience- and know that with views like those on the ride to up Mellieha, an unlimited bus pass is certainly worth the money.
Who said daily commutes have to be boring? Certainly not anyone in Malta! One of my favorite things about working here is the daily entertainment I get from simply going from place to place. Traffic is absolutely insane- maybe I think it’s exhilarating because I haven’t had to actually drive yet and am usually watching the ongoing road chaos from the luxury of a large bus. Either way, I just don’t get sick of watching this melee of tiny smart cars, huge public buses, expensive SUVs, dusty farms trucks, and well-kept retired military Jeeps all vying for their spot on narrow roads and complex roundabouts.
There is a communication system of beeps that the drivers use, but I haven’t totally figured it out yet.. Sometimes they use it to say “I’m coming around this hidden corner” or “I have the right of way” but then there are other times in which the drivers react (not usually out of anger) that I still don’t understand. However, you can tell when the drivers are angry at each other, especially the driver for the University shuttle. I love it because this guy (in his too-cool-for-you aviators, puffy blue vest and slicked back hair) sticks his head totally out the window and shouts something that doesn’t sound so nice in Maltese at the perpetrator. You don’t normally see this everyday in the U.P.
The public buses are interesting as well, and the crowd changes depending on the destination. You can usually tell which buses are headed for Bugibba or St. Julian’s based on the number of tourists gaping at the nearby bus schedule; a schedule that will probably never accurately predict what time these giant green and white things will show up to shuttle them somewhere else. Personally, I like riding the buses that are headed for a destination more popular amongst the locals. The younger residents are usually very well-dressed and hold themselves with an air of careful confidence as they put in their earbuds. The little old ladies and men usually converse loudly with each other in Maltese with a matter-of-fact tone. In fact, one day on Gozo a few older locals got upset that the bus hadn’t left the stop yet, so they all started waving their arms and shouting things like “AHOY! AHOY!” at the slow bus driver- the funny thing is that it actually worked, which definitely gives you slight taste of how Maltese culture works.
It’s such a small island that you can easily ride from one end to the other in less than two hours- which is what I did a few times during the first few weeks. I was able to get my bearings quickly, learn which stops would drop me off close enough to walk home without having to cross a roundabout (which for the record, I don’t recommend), and see where the beautiful landscapes were. It can be exhausting to find the right shuttle, or to constantly wait at random stops, but I’ve certainly learned a bit more patience- and know that with views like those on the ride to up Mellieha, an unlimited bus pass is certainly worth the money.