'Sweet' Memories
As a child in the 60's, every couple of weeks, my brothers and I were treated to a visit into Valletta by my maternal aunt - Getting there though was always an adventure - It all began fittingly with a short ride on a 'Karozzin'. My aunt would bundle us all on to this horse drawn carriage down to the Spinola bus terminus and then we would catch a rickety bus from there. The ride along the coast all the way to Valletta, was part of the fun of this outing. Still it somehow always started with a squabble between my brothers, as to who would sit next to the sliding window, on the humped wheel guard at the back of the bus.(Looking back only a child could have enjoyed such a joy ride, as the glass panes would rattle perilously and loudly, adding to the infernal din of the exposed steaming and whistling bus engine. Plus anyone seated here would randomly be thrown up off the seat as the bus would hit the potholed roads at varying speeds - this according to how quickly the bus driver felt inclined to get his day over.)
To keep us quiet though my brave aunt sometimes kept a steady flow of treats coming, things like Twistees, or barley sugar sticks which we sucked to a very dangerous point, or chocolate 'Treats' and a pear/peach juice from a glass bottle or a Kinnie. When we got off the bus at Valletta we would wander around the terminus, first to look at the 'Triton Fountain' and then if no goodies had been provided on the bus, it was off to the 'milk-stand' at the entrance to the City Gate for a milkshake in a disposable triangular-shaped container with a straw - either strawberry or banana yum... and if it was summer a Granita was in order - almond, lemon or strawberry to dig out with a little wooden spoon like stick. Walking through Valletta with our goodies in hand was fun, as we would stop at all the toy shops and look in at the things we would have liked to have for Christmas, Birthdays etc the lists were endless.. then after a trip to the Upper Barraka to see the magnificent ships and the breathtaking view of the Grand Harbour we rounded this visit here with an exciting ride down and up again in the large metal lift. Now dismantled, this lift once took sight-seers and sailors, up and down from/to the Grand Harbour - then finally it was off to Cordina - sometimes for a 'pasta' which in real terms meant a sweet cake or for a savoury cheesecake called 'pastizzi', accompanied by a 7up float to wash it all down. This would be the end of the day's outing but of course our 'Valletta outing' was never the same schedule.
So at this point it would be a shame not to mention the occasional stop off at various other respected establishments in this wonderful city - in fact one fashionable outlet "Blackley's" confectioner's - was known for its scrumptious doughnuts, cream buns and cream doughnuts - the smell was unique, and I have yet to find a place that can rival the smell of the these divine buns. These cakes bring back fond memories of my grand father, all dressed up in his white suit, donning his panama hat to match, all chic and smart walking along with us little rascals as we plastered our faces against shop windows and saying 'can I have?' or 'I need...', all along Valletta - once again with my aunt in tow. Still to buy these lovely cakes then, was a expedition in itself. So many beautiful old fashioned wooden-fronted shops - elegantly painted in either red, or blue, or green, or black with original hand-painted signs, finished in gold lettering - most holding tantalizing morsels, either savory and sweet... or clothing, jewelry and anything fine and fit for a gentleman of class.
Another must visit was to 'Croce' confectioners almost on the corner of Merchant's Street, on the steps of Britiannia Street, for those little melt-in-the mouth almond cakes, with a shiny ruby or emerald cherry on top or else the almond macaroons with a rice paper bottom - heaven. Then just a few metres down the road, a stop at 'Albion' this time to tick off something my grandmother required. 'Albion' a unique shop in Valletta even in all of Malta in those days, with its mystical smells of the east, - a haven of spices and essences and anything to do with baking and cooking, all items imported through the best merchants, promising a perfect result every time you conjured your homemade dessert. It was Christmas, Easter and Carnival all year round in this little treasure.
Finally, the last but not least, was that wonderful 'Green Cake' from Camilleri's cake shop further down the road in Merchant's street. A glistening and sticky coated cake, with a thin layer of light green marzipan, sitting on a secret creamy center put together on a light soft sponge base. What memories, what wonderful nostalgic times. Of course, rose tinted glasses always help to make the memory seem more romantic, but at face value I would have to say that these were and are very special and sweet memories indeed. A memory of smiling, sticky smiles and warm hugs and happy days. -
and you're probably thinking 'How Sweet'.
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