They call it progress. In early July, Malta’s splendid fleet of heritage yellow buses was replaced by modern vehicles run by transport conglomerate Arriva.
We have always judged one of Malta’s prime assets to be its delightfully quirky yellow buses. The vintage buses that trundle out to Dingli, Qrendi and ?urrieq are part of Maltese life. Indeed, we would even say you’ve not experienced Malta unless you’ve ridden the 47 out to Golden Bay and the 13 to Pretty Bay.
“Life in Heaven” reads the sign on the front of the 91 that stops and starts in fierce traffic on the rush-hour run from the capital Valletta to Qormi. Inside the bus a rosary dangles from the gear stick and snapshots of the driver’s children are pinned up beside a picture of the Virgin Mary.
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