Malta June 9th 2007
Mellieha Beach, Mellieha & Zebbug (Festa St Philip)
The final day, except for going home. We set aside this day for taking it easy and just basically giving Mellieha our undivided attention. Undivided that is except for the evening when we booked a coach trip to Zebbug to see the fireworks for the Festa , St. Philip.
So we did just that. Still got up pretty early for us, just after 8.0am. Bumbled around and had some breakfast then decided to give the beach at Mellieha some company again.
Daniel & Rosie on the beach at Mellieha.
We loafed around on the beach for about 4 hours.
Not normally something I can do for long, I get bored, but the kids certainly enjoyed it. I had to keep going for a swim to cool down. A nice problem to have though?
The sun is shining in the sky,
There ain't a cloud in sight.
One day they will arrive in their hundreds
Blue Army !.
After an overindulgence of sun, sea and loafing we packed up and returned to Mellieha for a more in depth look around. The high street or 'Triq Gorg Borg Olivier', to name it, I think has a reasonably good selection of shops and little bars. It is a bit steep though and would keep you fit if you lived there.
There is not much more to say, though that is not to say it is not an interesting village to stay in or visit. Anyway I'll just show a few more pictures instead of rambling on.
Mellieha Parish Church.
View down Triq El-Marfa with mellieha Bay in the distance.
It's worth noting that there is the most enchanting liitle courtyard, 'The Church Courtyard', which is a little bit of peace & quiet, in a sometimes quite busy village center and with great views.
Mellieha Parish Church and Square.
Well that was a pleasant enough day. But wait . . . . . it's not over yet! Oh no ! I hear you shout, there's more? Afraid so.
We returned to the Hotel around 04:30pm to get ready for our evening excursion to Zebbug, which if I remember correctly was scheduled to leave at about 05:45pm.
Mdina at sunset.
The coach trip to Zebbug was a nice opportunity to sit back and take in some of the scenery.
We passed Mdina at about 06:05pm, just as the sun was beginning to set. Bet it looks good in the dark, we'll see on the way back.
The coach dropped us off at the De Rohan Arch, right on the outskirts of the town, which was actually a pretty good landmark for finding your way back.
Back to the coack for pick up at 00:30am the driver told us. Arrrgh ! We have to get up at 05:00am to get to the airport. I suppose knowing that, we should have asked when we booked the trip.
Not to worry, just places a bit more emphasis on making sure we don't miss the coach back.
The De Rohan Arch, Zebbug.
Hey they got a band !.
It took a few minutes to figure out quite what we were supposed to do now. Then we noticed a brass band that had been gathering in the street on the other side of the arch accompanied by a small but growing crowd of people.
We figured that they must be getting ready to go somewhere, so we would follow them.
Now, I've been told by quite a few people, including my parents that the Festas are quite treat, but nothing that really prepared us for what went down over the next few hours. It would appear that another thing the Maltese are good at is partying, en masse.
We followed and eventually overtook the band as it made it's way down the lavishly decorated narrow streets.
The unique sound that they made was so . . . ? It's difficult to find a word that would not offend and I certainly do not wish to do that. It was a bit like the Pied Piper, with all the people following the band and the music they played was just . . . . jolly, I suppose and complete with a little lad being pushed in front in his pushchair with his plastic trunpet 'pharping' away. Start 'em young Eh !
Just delightful !
Street decorations, Zebbug.
After walking alongside, behind of and in front of the band for about ten minutes we turned a corner towards & into the City 'sqaure' to a truly fantastic sight. The Church of St. Philip and the surrounding streets carried illuminations better than I've ever seen at Blackpool. (I know I keep comparing things with back in the UK and I'm sorry but you just gotta ain't yer?)
Turnung into the square.
St. Philips Church, Zebbug.
Inside St. Philips, Zebbug.
As Kathy wanted to see inside the church and as everyone else seemed to be going inside, we did. I wasn't sure as it is their Festa and felt a little as if we may be sort of intruding, but no one seemed to mind.
The interior of the church is a feast for the eyes. So beutifully decorated. Speechless for a moment !
The streets were also lined with hundreds of fireworks, mouted on posts, though some looked more like the workings of a huge mechanical device, with gears and cogs made from wood. (probably MDF but who cares).
Below are two pictures of just some of the hundreds of firework lining the streets and square.
Fireworks on posts.
Fireworks on posts.
Looking down one of the side streets and from about 08:00pm onwards was an almost continuous barrage of large fireworks, I'm guessing some half a mile away.
Those coupled with the three, yes THREE brass bands, competing with one another, made for a very lively atmosphere.
There was just about everything you need for a really good bash, including what I reckon was the whole population of Zebbug and some, gathered in the city centre.
Distant Fireworks.
We spent some time wandering up what was the main street for food and other stalls. There appeared to be literally, hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of things from food to drinks, toys and much more and it was totally chocker. More of that totla gridlock ! Anyway the others had something to eat, I wasn't hungry, just had a drink and we returned to the main square to catch some of the music and atmosphere.
We eventually sat down on the pavement in the main square to await the fireworks that surrounded us wherever we went. Sadly they didn't start the fireworks until close to midnight and seemed to be having some sort of technical problems getting them going. Each one or post full was set off in turn, starting right down the other end of the main street and working towards the square. Another good reason to hang around there. Or not ! They still hadn't reached the square by the time we had to make a dash for the coach, but we could hear the bangs and banshees all the way back.
We did manage to get a good, albeit fleeting look at Mdina in the dark though, all lit up. All in all a real good time but we had to get up in about four hours. Aargh !
Click here to read about Sunday 10th June.
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