As we know J K Rowling was inspired to write Harry Potter whilst sitting in cafes in Edinburgh. When you walk around Edinburgh you can see small stone carved gargoyles and dragons over your head on corners of buildings. There are narrow streets and alleyways, all fairy tale –like.

Well, firstly I must distance myself from the brilliant writing of Ms Rowling as I am a mere person writing our travel blog.

However, inspirational sights and places come to us all.

 

There is a wonderful little cafe in Valletta where I am now sitting. It is tiny about fourteen feet wide by forty feet long, the interior filled with memorabilia on stone walls and wooden ceiling beams and tiled floor. The tiny high legged tables run in lines along each side of the cafe are a mere two and half by one and half feet allowing two people to just about squeeze together on one table to eat.

And so, the seven tables are always full, usually with local Maltese people. The cafe has an almost timeless feel about it, although the memorabilia is of the 1930’s/ 40’s.

Harry Potter rushes along Kings Cross station on platform Nine and three quarters to transport himself through the wall and onto the Hogwarts Express.

This narrow cafe has the same feeling. There’s a sense that before the food arrives you might be transported into Malta of just pre-war. On the stone chiselled walls there is the front of a V.R post box and a memorabilia cabinet oozing with 1930’s/40’s children's toy boxes, a model ‘Larkin and Newton Anchor butter-biscuit lorry, packaging from 30’s/40’s daily life, sewing kits, war –time boxes, matches etc. I guess this is the reason the cafe is called the ‘Museum Cafe’--- it is in fact no where near a museum.

 

I love the mix of people who come and go, children, families, elderly--- all ages and walks of life. Often clergymen, head to toe in black passing through before returning to the many impressive churches in Valletta. The Maltese language is a mixture of Arabic, Italian and English, it is a language unlike all others where the strong Arabic dialect drops every other word into Italian, English and back---adding to the mystery.

The inexpensive, simple but very good home cooked food brings about a constant stream of traffic, to eat in and local people collecting take-aways.  Glorious lasagnes, local specialities of ftiras, salads, rice and pasta dishes are displayed in large trays, freshly cooked every morning--- and if your too late you miss it !

The little open kitchen is at the far end of this long, narrow, tunnel-like cafe. The staff are very friendly, calm, attentive and seem to instantly produce lovely food. Today I arrived with a headache and was even kindly offered headache tablets withy my coffee.........

 

These ‘melting’ places are great venues for travellers and locals alike, no doubt many with stories to tell. One of the best things about our travelling has been meeting many characters and seeing some of the interesting locations.

This cafe is one of them and we intend to enjoy it for the time we are in Malta..............perhaps it might even transport us to somewhere ????

 

Love to all

 

Tina and Tony x x