Summer

On this Memorial Day weekend Americans (at least those of the upper Midwestern variety) generally mark the beginning of summer. There is no national holiday this weekend in Malta, but there is no doubt that summer has begun here, as well.

The first clue is the weather. We have been here for the warmest, driest winter on record, so the temperatures have been pretty moderate for our entire stay. But in the last week or so they have really shot upwards. Instead of low- to mid-70s, we're now in low- to mid-80s Fahrenheit. The sun is hot, the winds have calmed, and though we've had almost no rain, the large bathtub called the Mediterranean Sea surrounding the island contributes to humidity.

Stone beach near our flat on May 18 -- much more crowded now!

The second clue is the tourists. Our neighborhood has gotten decidedly more crowded. Most are Europeans. We do hear some American accents (though we've been fooled by Canadians, who sound like they're from the U.S.). In early May, cruise ships started docking in Valletta and disgorging hundreds for day tours. Those don't come to our neighborhood. But the folks who come for a week or two generally come here to Sliema.

So, the season has changed. It's definitely summertime in Malta.