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7 Things We Miss About The Old Maltese Busses

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If there’s something every Maltese person born before the 2000’s remembers from their childhood, its the old Maltese busses. With their slick yellow, black and white design, their cheap fare tickets and retro image, they were staples of Malta for locals and tourists alike. 

Today we dive, into our past, turn our nostalgia feelers up and remember seven things we miss about the old busses.  

1. Ringing the line

Back before buttons were put on busses, old timers had to actually get up from their seat and pull down on a line which encircled the bus. This would pull down on a bell, in turn signalling the driver you wished to stop at the next bus stop. 

Of course, no one was never truly sure about the amount of force requited to pull the rope down with, or if the actual bell did go off.

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2. The adrenaline (read: fear) of falling off the bus

For those of you who don’t remember, before electronic doors, the busses had a different system. Simply put no doors. Sure it wasn’t the safest of ideas, but how else were you going to get a breeze to pass through the passengers. 

Most of the time the open door area was never a problem. Except on the days where the bus was full and you had to hold on for dear life. 

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3. The price of tickets

Before inflation, tickets on busses were dirt cheap. 

Being able to travel across the island on 50c was fantastic. That’s 50c in Euros by the way. If memory serves us well, it used to be around 20c Lira to travel across the island. 

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4. The retro design

It’s definitely not just us who think so; the old busses had swag. 

With a great retro 70s look, along with a bright vibrant yellow paint job, looking dope was never a problem they had. Most busses also had some great one liners painted on them for passengers – and other drivers – to enjoy. 

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5. The old Valletta bus terminal

Ok, yes. The new Valletta Triton fountain area is outstandingly beautiful. But there was something about the old area that’s just so nostalgic. 

All the busses parked around the fountain. The smell of imqaret and all the other friend goods around, and all dwarfed by the Valletta Gate. 

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6. The long seat near the driver

The fastest way to become best buddies with the driver. Relaxing on the front side of the bus made you feel like a total boss. Watching passengers come up, (WITH CORRECT CHANGE ONLY) and analysing the driver as he tapped on that machine with 100 buttons, was an experience all by itself.

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7. The Santa

The staple of every old Maltese bus. Whether it was Adult Jesus, Jesus on the cross, or the Virgin Mary, there was a statue or picture of one of them on every bus. Probably placed there for passengers to look to, and pray, while the questionable driving of the bus driver caused them stress.  

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What do you miss about the old busses? Let us know in the comments below!

READ NEXT: 9 Hilarious Bus Stop Names Around Malta

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