Excitement in Sliema

We had no sooner gotten off the plane in Malta, returning from our excursion to Sicily, than we heard that there was big excitement back in our neighborhood, near our flats. The news was buzzing about the airport, even though the event was only an hour old (it's a small island and word travels fast).

A popular restaurant, where our group has had a couple of large pizza parties, and where Mary and I have eaten a couple of times ourselves and with guests, had a balcony collapse. Eight French tourists were injured when the balcony gave way and they were thrown to the rocks at the edge of the sea.

Ambulances and emergency crews converged. The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) even dispatched a patrol boat to assist in the rescue. (The AFM is both army and navy -- Malta is too small for separate services.)

Fortunately, all survived and are expected to recover. We hope the restaurants recover, too.