2010 February - Malta

Carnival in Valletta
The Maltese Carnival in Valletta.
The Carnival lasted for few days, but the main attraction was the last day.  It started at about 12.00 pm and finished at about 1 am.
 

All streets was full of tourists and Maltese people. All children were dressed up, sometimes all families were dressing costumes, but mostly children. There were many princesses and fairies, some knights.

Near the gate of the city on a separate square were some musical bands.  At the beginning, the youngest children were trying to dance - floating around, then older children and at the end the professional bands. This event wasn’t only near the main gate of the city. Wherever we went, there were platforms with the paper figures. On the another street were some music bands. 
There was many place where was really quiet and many open bars, restaurant or cafe’s.

 
For the Carnival they usually have a big platform fitted to a tractor or pulled by a tractor. On these platforms they built huge constructions likes ‘101 Dalmatians’ and there was a space for dancers, of course all platforms had their own music.

All big platforms parked on the Bus Terminal in Valletta, but the terminal still worked, so there was the Carnival platforms moving between public buses.
The final was a big parade from Valletta to Floriana roundabout and back to Valletta. Children were still with parents sometimes they looked tired but still dressed. The parade was so loud and full of colourful lights, dancing dressed people. It was a really amazing show.

We were there all the time, it was February, at the day it was really warm, but evening time was so cold.
When the Carnival was finished there was a public transport to everywhere on the island – normally the night public transport is only to Sliema.