Malta Memories SLIEMA

It was July 1995 and our first visit to Malta, we stayed at The Tower Palace Hotel in Tower Road, Sliema. I remember when we first stepped out of the Air Malta 737 at Luqa, the sky was a dark grey colour and the heat felt as if you had stepped out of a fridge and into an oven!
After collecting our luggage and heading through the customs to the arrivals hall, we were greeted with a line of kiosks manned by staff from various holiday companies, we spotted the Bellair kiosk and were given an envelope which had all the necessary details for our stay in Malta. We were then guided out to the car park by a gentleman who was to be the driver of a red minibus which was to take us to our Hotel. I said to him that "I think it looks as if we are going to have a storm" seeing as the sky was still this dark grey colour, combined with the heat. I had no response from him, I expect he was thinking, "another load of crazy English tourists".
After a speedy journey, passing through a very foreign landscape, and having no idea whatever of where we were going, we soon arrived at Sliema.
After checking in at the reception desk, we headed up to our room, it had a balcony overlooking the sea.

The view from our balcony at the Tower Palace Hotel, Tower Road, Sliema

We explored the local area and walked along the promenade to St. Julians taking a rest under the shade of some palm trees near the Exiles beach, watching some lizards scurrying about.
A real treat was experienced one day when walking from Sliema to Spinola Bay, we decided to walk along the back roads for a change and just around one corner, what did we see but a Man selling his hardware items door to door. He had a lovely black horse and a two wheel cart laden down with everything under the sun, including plastic buckets, pegs, and a whole array of household items.

Horsedrawn Hardware hawker in the back streets between Balluta Bay and Spinola Bay

Other years we stayed at the Marina Hotel, Tigne Seafront, Sliema. Our room had a wonderful view across Marsamxett Harbour looking in the direction of Valletta.

Valletta seen from the Marina Hotel, Sliema

 The view from the Marina Hotel looking towards Gzira, there are plenty of route buses and Captain Morgan boats waiting for business at Sliema Ferries.

Route buses and boats waiting at the aptly named "Sliema Ferries"

A favourite place for a snack or one of their glorious fry-ups was the Army & Navy Restaurant, next door to the Magic Kiosk along the Tigne Seafront at Sliema, sadly both of these establishments have closed down.

The Army & Navy Restaurant, Sliema

The Magic Kiosk, Sliema