Saturday 11^th July – Grand Harbour, Malta (Festa - Kalkara)

35:53.221N 14:31.217E

Fireworks: Maltese style – they don’t need to be pretty, they just need to go BANG J

This morning we finally rooted out the chap who we got the fuel from on Thursday (well, his son, as he wasn’t around) and managed to pay him.  Once they trust you here, it becomes quite difficult to actually pay for something.

We asked about the local festa (fiesta) this weekend that the Berth Master had told us about when we arrived back and were advised that proceedings really get going at around 10.30pm and not to go to Kalkara until then.

So we had a BBQ late afternoon (as we didn’t want any more heat in the cabin from cooking on board) and this evening, not being ones to miss a fiesta and fireworks, we strolled down to Kalkara.  We left Pyxis about 9.30pm and walked up through Birgu and along the waterfront around to Kalkara.  We could see the lights on the other side of the inlet and there were already loud bangs coming from the direction of the fort plus sounds of a band.

Once in the town we checked out the waterfront activities and explored the ornate church which was brightly lit up.  We then walked up one of the side streets and spotted the end of the procession and the band taking a refreshment break. 

Just after we arrived, the parade started to reform.  Both band and the statue they were parading had to go up a narrow stair case and reform on the street above.  Naturally we joined in with the locals.

We followed the procession through the streets of Kalkara, behind the statue, and just ahead of the home made bazooka which was being used to fire shredded paper all over everyone.  Every now and then the band paused and people gathered around it singing and dancing.  The party was going strong…

Just before midnight, the procession finished its tour of Kalkara and the statue was hoisted by block and tackle onto a plinth in the centre of the town.  Around midnight the main firework display started, accompanied by loud music, and was very good – there were some of the large pretty ones as well as the now customary loud bangs – some just across the harbour and some from the top of Fort Rinella.

After the main show, there was another show, described as traditional fireworks.  This turned out to be the home made variety with Catherine wheels and Roman candles, just like the ones we saw in Victoria on Gozo, so we stood well back, watching from a distance.  It went off without a hitch, just a lot of, you’ve guessed it, loud bangs.

After the show we bought a couple of pastizzis and wandered back home, arriving at Pyxis very late.

Grand Harbour:  Kalkara

© Pyxis 2009