'O' no its the old baby come back to haunt us, its all in the way people see things most people who either **** or **** it have never been. You could say the same about Tenereife, what is there to do there its only got a big mountain and some water parks more bars than you could ever go in on a two week break and the first thing that hits you when you get of the bus at P D C M is the stink of chip fat but there always plenty of us who go there.
A mate of our's once went to Bugibba and never left the town to see any of the sites or beaches told me he would never go back to Malta, as it was like Beriut I had to agree on that, but I did put him right on the rest of Malta.
Once I said I would never go abroad for a holiday theres now't to do only lay on a beach all day and what if it rains, then as we all do I went to Corfu and have never had another holiday at home only weekends away, so does this lead me to say I **** or **** it?
The only thing I can say to you Sliema2 is just keep cool and think of your next big jucy steak at Vince's

Dave

Hi Sliema2,

Mate if I'd heard that once off folks I must have heard it a thousand times especially off people who have never been to Malta! Why oh why do they use this inane phrase about Malta since as you've pointed out, you really can say that about anywhere.

When people say it to me now I just grit my teeth, smile and answer yeh! I have absolutely no time for anyone who goes for a moaning holiday to Malta and I avoid them like the plague. I personally think this phrase would be better suited to Tunisia - but then again we hate that place with a passion!!

By contrast during our recent holiday we got friendly with a couple who enjoyed a drink like us and seemed to be intent on making the most of their visit. I never heard them moan once and they were great company. They hadn't been to the Island before but after a couple of days they were working out how soon they could come back even though they were well travelled people.

Although we make a point of not taking personal details since we believe that holiday friendships are simply just that, they did say that they are likely to return in October and would we be here! I don't think they hated Malta but liked it (sorry but couldn't resist that one!!!)

Anyway we don't care really if folks don't want to go to the happiest place on Earth as long as we can always visit and enjoy this wonderful Island,

Trev

Ok. here goes!! I 'LOVE' Malta and feel the pasionate need to return year after year. I 'hate' Tunisia and would never, ever return there. I 'quite like' several places ie Mallorca, Rhodes, Italy (anywhere) and various cities and return to them periodically, but do not 'have' to go every year. I think this is the 'love and hate' syndrome

Hi Charliegirl007,

Now isn't it strange how we as Maltaphiles have the same opinion about Tunisia. Both my wife and myself had a dreadful time there about 5 years ago and couldn't wait to get back. That fortnight seemed like a lifetime but when we go to Malta a fortnight just zips by. Be glad when we can retire and spend months there not weeks!

Have any other Maltaphiles been to Tunisia and felt the same?

We also like places like Mallorca, Cyprus, Crete and have had some lovely holidays but as you said we don't feel we 'have' to return.

We think it's really great to be able to discuss issues with fellow Maltaphiles on this excellent HT forum,

Trev

Hi Trev, we have also enjoyed Cyprus and some of the Greek isles but of course mostly dear old Malta, I think it might be an "island" thing you know.

Regards
Sliema2

Sliema2,

Yes I thought before that it might be an island thing. Gozomark I just hope you do understand that I include wonderful Gozo when I call myself a 'Maltaphile'. Drunk our last bottle of red wine from our recent visit - which was I think called Citadelle - anyway it was delicious and specifically made in Gozo from local grapes. Be glad when I can return to replenish stocks.

Sliema2 - got through one bottle of Blackeagle already! Still have another waiting but I was told that stocks were getting low because they'd stopped production of it on the Island. Do you know anything about this?

Trev

Tut, you blokes are always going on about booze! My little story about liquid refreshment was a few years ago we did a cruise and the bottled water on board ship was of Greek origin. It was not nice and left a white residue in the kettle. On a stop at Malta we bought a six pack of large water, much better than the greek stuff. Is the bottled water in Malta produced there on the Island and if so where from? Is it from natural springs? I think the one we usually have is called Fontana

Hi Trev, I know nothing about that mate, however I think it very unlikely that they would stop producing it though, maybe what the person meant was that they may not continue making "Black Eagle" but not annisette as a product, but I notice that a lot of places in Malta / Ghawdex are now stocking Zeppi's Annisette which is basically the same but in my opinion slightly sweeter, we always bring a few bottles of Annisette back with us in fact on my last stock take of the Sliema2 drinks cabinet there were 8 bottles still unopened, thats a shame isn't it ?

L-isbah Xewqat
Sliema2

Hi Charliegirl007,

Dunno about where Fontana comes from but that's the water we buy when we're in Malta and we have no complaints!

Regarding the white residue (now I'll put on my chemist's hat), it's probably because the water has flowed through limestone rocks and has become temporarily hard due to the prescence of dissolved calcium hydrogen carbonate which when heated turns into insoluble calcium carbonate the chalky stuff left in your kettle.

Drinking temporary hard water will not harm you. On the contrary it often tastes better than 'muddy' soft water and according to research helps to stave off heart problems. Trouble is you don't get a good soapy lather with it but I never wash with bottled water anyway!!

Trev

There's a very worrying article on the BBC News website about how the water supply on Malta is being threatened by rising sea levels:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6525069.stm

I've just had a look at a bottle of Fontana - its produced by HH Limited
http://www.hh.com.mt/index.swf - they also produce fruit juices (Safari brand)

Its produced in Malta, but its not from a natural spring AFAIK - its just distilled water isn't it ? (presumably tap water thats been distilled) - whatever, its a nice clean water

Citadelle - a very nice wine, Trev. My top pick for Gozo wine is a small producer in Nadur, Ta' Kantini - no, this isn't the usual Gozo wine story of its only 50 cents abottle, and just about drinkable. This is an excellent red wine, full bodied, more like an Australian wine - you can find it in Arkadia and in the Bottle Shop in Victoria - the 2005 vintage was called "A Taste of Gozo", but due to someone else using this name, the 2006 is called "A Product of Gozo". Its Lm 1.75 a bottle, and one of the few Gozo wines that is improving with age - if you spot the 2005 merlot or cabernet, they are superb now, and really should be atleast Lm 3 a bottle

As for including Gozo, I can understand people hating Malta (or atleast the parts some tourists never leave), but has anyone ever heard anyone say " Gozo, you either love it or hate it ?"

Not until you just said it Mark

Doh !

Hi Mark,

What an excellent piece of info about that wine from Nadur. Thank you and you can be sure we'll be buying some next time! Haven't they held summer wine festivals around Nadur in the past?

Mind you Mark I did find something we really hated about Chawdex - on the day we chose to visit recently, we wanted to pick up some hand made chocs from the specialist round the corner from the college, only to find he was shut!!!

Trev

Is that Fred's the Belgian chocolate maker in Victoria ? His chocolates are amazing !

as for Nadur wine festival, I'm not sure if his wine is there, as I think its sponsored by Delicata, and its only their wines ??? He did have his wines at the Xmas market in Nadur in early December, and at the carnival market in Feb

Hi Mark,

Yes it is Fred's the Belgian chocolate maker in Victoria! You say his chocs are amazing - maybe next time we'll find out but we'll make sure he's open first!

Trev

back on the wine, , make sure its the wine priced at Lm 1.75 (or 1.50 if you buy it from the guy himself - in fact he sells it at 1.50 per bottle, and one free bottle if you buy 12) and not his wine priced cheaper - he also produces wine for less than Lm 1, which is fine for the price, but he happily admits its plonk and he just produces volune, whereas as his wine I mentioned is a classy drop !

I was in the Bottle Shop in Victoria today, and they had his 2005 Merlot and Cabernet in stock

My experiance of Malta. 3 years ago we wanted a cheap break for the family (of four) and decided on Malta. We have been to varous destinations, cyprus (4 times) spain, ibiza, majorca, corfu, greece, for our holidays yet Malta is the one that left the most lasting impression.

Without offending anyone (and its not my intention) we absolutly hated the place, we only booked for 7 days and we felt that it was a long time, had we booked 2 weeks i would have been on the plane home without hesitation. No real beachs and more amazigly one of the resturants we visited did not take credit cards!, apparently not unusual. THE best bit was seeing the old busses and was fantatic..

However if i won a holiday to Malta i would give it away or rather stop in a tent in my back garden.. never again, cyprus knocks it into orbit.. as mentioned my opinions are not ment to offend