Hearses with horses

Some time ago, in Sicily I noticed a funny thing happening when a funeral cortege passed by. Some of the male onlookers touched themselves - a superstitious habit that I have not noticed elsewhere. Not a thing of elegance, I'm sure. The Times of Malta has recently reported the entrepreneurial idea of a local businessman who is reintroducing the beautifully poised and dignified carriages of the past to the Maltese islands.

Horse-drawn carriage hearses were last seen on our streets some 40 years ago but an undertaker has dug up his collection and is breathing new life into them, following public demand. Louis Borg's resurrection of the horse-drawn hearses comes in the wake of the liberalisation of the motorised market, which led him to diversify, giving him the edge over double the competitors he had before.

Now he is bringing back from the dead his first-class carriage (tal-kewba), which was used by "rich Sliema residents"; the prima and sekonda, which are for lower levels of society respectively, but equally elaborate to the fresh eye; and the white version for babies and single women.

The set comprises the priest's carriage, which would also transport the altar boy dressed as he would have back then and carrying the large cross, sticking out of the window as tradition would have it.

Water taxi rates

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Customs House on an old postcard

Many of our guests use water taxis to ferry them across the Grand Harbour to the three cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua). The pick up points - Custom House and the Fisheries - are only a mere 5 to 10 minute walk from Valletta G-House and the journey is short and pleasant. The fortifications look even better down at sea too. The Malta Times today reports on a new law regulating the rates charged for use of the water taxi service.

Soon you should be able to catch a water taxi from, say, Sliema to Valletta and it should not cost you more than €5 for two.
The maximum fares the taxis will be able to charge are laid down in a new law expected to be announced today. The law forms part of the promised public transport reform, launched in July.

The island has been divided in six zones and trips from one zone to a neighbouring one will cost €15 for two passengers and €7.50 for each additional passenger.

The fare is €5 for a trip in the same port, for up to two passengers, with an extra €2.50 for each additional passenger. Trips to other zones will cost €40 for up to two passengers and €10 for each additional passenger. Tours around the island will cost a maximum €40 per hour for two passengers and an extra €10 per passenger or hour.

The law, backdated to March 1, speaks of licensed boats to ferry passengers from one point to another. Operators and the crew need a licence issued by the Malta Maritime Authority.

Masters are prohibited from calling or pestering anyone to use the water taxi or employ any person to do so. They have to wear a white shirt, a white Bermuda or long trousers, white socks and closed shoes. They must also issue a receipt after the trip and every receipt must include the date, the amount paid, the origin and the destination of the trip.

The Transport Ministry is today expected to officially announce the legislation for water taxis and ferries and plans for the vertical lift connecting Valletta Waterfront with the Upper Barrakka.

Water taxi services:
maltesewatertaxis.com t. 2180 6921 | m. 9924 7447
Traditional Maltese Dghajsa Tours: m. 7988 5969

Taxi fraud

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Recently, while making my way to Valletta to pick up our guests, the rear tire developed a puncture. I reluctantly instructed the guests to phone for a taxi. It later came to my knowledge that they were charged €25 for this short journey (a 15 minute 8 km journey). A London cab (where salaries are three times as much) would only set you back a maximum of £18 (€19.50 by today's rate) for the same length of daytime journey. A couple of days later I was stranded in Valletta (before 10:00 pm may I add) with no bus to take me to Paola and a howling wind that threatened to knock me off my feet, so I (again reluctantly) hailed a cab. I asked the unshaven taxi driver how much for the ride and he said €18. I replied I only had €10 and he immediately signaled for me to get in. I immediately realised I had probably offered too much but I felt I had no choice if I did not want to remain in the lurch.

First, does it not occur to taxi drivers that the reason why most Maltese do not make use of their service is that they have a reputation for overcharging?

Secondly, does not the Maltese Government have the guts to impose meters in taxis, and harsh penalties for those that are caught cheating? As a visitor, one can remain rather disgruntled with being cheated?

Thirdly, I discourage any use of taxis in Malta unless you know the average rate you are expected to pay so as not to be hoodwinked. According to the Public Transport Directorate, the journey from the airport to Valletta should cost you €23.29. Frankly I find that rather expensive even by London standards, let alone Maltese.
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