White hot in Malta

Sarah Basset is trying to come to terms with becoming "randomly and technically a Maltese resident". Using some great Malta pics, she posted this on the international Vice magazine:

..Don’t feel stupid if you have never heard of this remote island and/or don't have a clue where it is. Up until the move, my exposure to Malta never surpassed annual Eurovision Song Contest highlights. The place itself is exactly what you imagine any Mediterranean island looking like: a mix between Miami, Ibiza, and Croatia.

There is obviously some major cultural confusion going on here though. When I got on the wrong bus and ended up in some sweltering hot industrial area in the middle of nowhere, I found what anyone would expect in such an arid and remote location. An Australian butcher..

..The most poignant example of a confused nation searching for their own identity was seen in the plethora of fluorescent tourist shops. Despite years of cultural image control, Jamaica has nothing on the Rastafarians in comparison to Malta..

Obviously Maltese people tend to be a little bit insane. Roza, the legendary cat woman, is no exception. For 25 years, Roza and her buddy have been creating a haven for stray cats in an abandoned lot that they called “Cat Village.” Housing over 30 cats in fancy baskets and scarily large stuffed pandas, Roza has been feeding them and showing them the good life..

If you feel like reliving your slutty pre-teen years, Malta has a huge selection of super shitty, super cheap alcohol that has resulted in many sun-crisped tourists getting rowdy and pole dancing in clubs. Much to the disgust of every sane person on the island who didn’t need to see your poor attempt at vodka-induced Shakira body rolls...