The one who painted the story!!

Travelling is so much fun.  But what give more gratification at the end are the pleasant memories that we carry along with us.  Be a roman while you are in Rome.  It does stand true.  To experience a real taste of a city or a village, a little conversation with the local people is essential and it does marvels to the whole experience you get.


Often when we traveled in non-English speaking countries, it became a bit arduous if we had to ask for anything – route, nearby restaurant, or tourist attraction.  We had to ask “Excuse me, do you speak English?” for which we knew the answer beforehand that they are going to say “No”.  But these strangers in the foreign land are always happy to help the lost tourist like me, even through the sign language! Never once they have annoyed in helping us.

While I thought about what to write for this contest, I realised that I did make some nice acquaintances with strangers from these unknown lands.  Be it the Gondola rider who made our ride a very romantic one, or the Aussie couple with whom we shared our travel stories at a youth hostel, or the roadside vendor who shared his desire of visiting India or the B&B owners who became really good friends.  At every place I have been so far, I have handful of fond memory of a person whose name I don’t even know.

I have sieved through a good handful of people and decided to write about this person.

He was a local guy who lives in the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, in the south eastern part of Malta.  He explained a great deal about fishing, boats, painting and how local people rely on the tourism and fishing.  While we pestered him about local restaurants and vegetarian food, he painstakingly showed us the way to a good restaurant, and even came inside and explained to the chef about our veggie requirements.  Thanks to him.  Otherwise we would have struggled to explain or would have ended up eating nothing there. 

He was a cool guy!  He allowed us to take pictures of him, his priceless possession – boat which he was painting to earn some money during the forthcoming sunnier days.  He was taking care of his boat like a baby – cleaning every nook and corner of the boat.  While we left the village he was half way through the painting, but his old looking boat now carried a charming new look.  It was gorgeous.  

Marsaxlokk is indeed a beautiful village to spend afternoon or evening taking a long stroll along the harbour (that's beautifying as my current header).  It puts your eyes in dilemma whether to watch the crystal clear turquoise mediterranean or the colorful Luzzu (these colored boats are called Luzzu in maltese and they normally have these eyes referred as Eye of Horus). 

This is the "Our Lady of Pompeii Church", twin towered baroque architecture of 19th century. Between these two towers you can see Virgin Mary standing on a traditional luzzu overlooking the sea. 

The village also has impressive Sunday market, where you can get hand made Maltese lace works, fresh fish, toys, clothes, maltese wines etc.   Walking along the harbour you can see Marsaxlokk power station amidst the sea.  

Marsaxlokk is overall a lovely place to be in.

This post is my entry for Indiblogger's -"Around the World with Expedia" blogging contest (http://www.expedia.co.in/).