COVER N. 240 - MALTA

Postmark: Marsa Malta -  18.04.2023 

Posted on the 18th April; Received on the 26th April 2023
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Marsaxlokk.... my wife and I waiting at the bus stop, after an afternoon strolling along the waterfront and dinner in one of its many restaurants (probably the cheapest...)... - spaghetti with mussels and two rather overcooked rachitic shrimps, If I remember correctly -  and the bus wouldn't come..

...and yet it was not that late,   the sun had not gone down.... 

We were seriously beginning to think that we'd have to find another way of returning to  Sliema....we did not have much money with us (or without us, for that matter....) so a taxi was out of the question....

Suddenly, coming from the end of the road a growing sonic disturbance began to impinge on the late day still air ... ah ah!, we're safe... it's the bus... the last for the day, as the driver would confirm as we boarded and asked.

To this day, I never went anywhere again by public transportation without first checking the appropriate transport schedule.

I can't really remember, at the time, there was a great variety of Bus types operating, but the one we took back to the hotel, might have been quite similar to the one  on the stamp on the cover that Albert sent me. Thanks a great lot, Albert!

Stamps, Left to right:

 - Malta buses are as famous as Cuba's American cars. Over the years, since the introduction of buses on the Islands of the archipelago, in the beginning of the 20th century, many were the types, all single deckers, I believe, that circulated in Malta and Gozo. Many would carry on to the second half of the 20th century, well into the last decades,  parading their classic complexions and shapes all along the sun drenched roads.... Malta can be very hot and humid... these buses had no air conditioning, but ridding on them with the guillotine windows fully open was a treat! 

Things have changed, though, and even if  one might miss the rather photogenic silhouettes of the old buses, ridding inside modern and air conditioned buses, protected from the 30º C and 90% humidity outside, is certainly much more comfortable...

Yet, wisely, the characteristic buses of yore were not all scrapped, I read, and in the wake of a huge restructuration of the public transport sector, many of the old buses are now still running, but as restored heritage pieces. Well done, Malta!

Acknowledging the importance of the Bus as a tourist icon, Malta Post, over the years, has issued several sets dedicated to the theme.

The 1 € stamp on the cover is part of the 2002 issue, comprising 4 stamps (0,30; 0,51; 0,59; 1 €), which began to circulate on 12FEB2022. 

The bus on the 1 € stamp is a Ford Thames in the green Sliema Livery (it seems that according to the city they were based in, the colour of the buses changed, and I do have a distinct remembrance of the buses at the place where I was staying -  Sliema - being green. Aside from green,  I remember seeing red, and yellow (at the very least) buses.

- The 0.05 € stamp, is part of a definitive issue which began to circulate on 29DEC2009, comprising 17 stamps, which were also issued together in a souvenir sheet. it depicts a stone carving from the late temple period, this period having taken place between  approximately 5.8 to 4.3 thousand years ago. 

- The 0,35 £ stamp is part of a 4 stamp set (0,09; 0,35; 2.5; 3 €)  issued on 28APR2009, themed on  Vintage Postal Transport and it is illustrated by my friends, Messrs. Postmen, leaving for the distribution run mounted on their – colorised - motorbikes. 

The postmark is rather hard to decipher but Marsa is clearly legible in one of them, and the date of expedition can also be deciphered.