On pavements

My first trip abroad as a young man just out of the army was truly memorable. I was fascinated by the beauty of Florence. The city's outburst of artistic and architectural activity between the 13th and 15th centuries made it, in my youthful eyes, a wonder city worth living in. I was so carried away by its sheer beauty.

Later I did visit other beautiful cities. However, living in post-war Malta made me realise I am pure Maltese. As such I was and still am confirmed in my view that Malta was the only country in which I wanted to grow up.

The reasons were many and varied. This does not mean that everything in Malta was rosy. Far from it. But it could very well be that, as one wants one's home to be a house lived in, so I suppose is the case with a city like Florence. This was because through hindsight and experience Florence is a museum city. Everywhere is just perfect and one is not aware of the defects and dirty spots there are in alleys in that city, like any other.

The beautiful and the ugly

A sudden swerve in today's article. It is really what the British call "of cabbages and kings". From the beauty and fascination of Florence the spotlight focuses on a disgraceful part of the Maltese scene.

One of the worst sights in Malta is the litter in the streets, especially in country roads. Other minus points are the horrible roads and the even more dangerous pavements in the towns.

It is good to learn that after so many years of neglect the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee has included the repair of pavements and steps in its agenda. Lord Byron decried the city of steps because of his clubfoot, so the state of its pavements and steps are not of recent neglect.

The state of the pavement in front and on the sides of St John's Co-Cathedral, made of broken cement slabs, is indescribably perilous . One prefers to walk on the street so as to avoid broken ankles or legs. But then one has to be careful to avoid being hit by passing cars. It is only relatively recently that Great Siege Square in front of the law courts was resurfaced.

The sights of our towns and villages are attractive. Tourists enjoy taking photos. The trouble is that while one is concentrating on focusing on the buildings, especially on those parts above eye level, one is liable to stumble and break a limb because of the very bad state of the pavements. There are holes, uneven slabs of paving stones, especially after covering the trench dug for water pipes. When paving is made of hardstone slabs that become polished through long years of walking on them, the pavement tends to become slippery.

Walk at risk

We are so much aware of the mentioned damage that could endanger walkers, and even tourists complain. The impression made upon tourists is certainly not complimentary to our pride in the environment. To my mind roads and pavements constitute an important and essential part of the environment. Considering our millennial civilisation one expects such an essential infrastructural commodity to be beyond reproach. But this is definitely not the case.

It is a pity that we have so many beautiful monumental buildings, baroque palaces and churches only for the scenery to be spoilt by pavement and steps that are dangerous to walk on. It is not out of point to ask for immediate consideration of the rehabilitation of our pavements and steps in our capital city. At the moment it is risky both to walk on the pavement as well as to walk in the streets, the latter because of the traffic flow.

Posters of features

We are justifiably proud of our architecture. Our churches and palaces are beautiful on the outside and inside. Our houses have noteworthy façades. This is evident from the publication and printing in poster format of a number of features. Posters show a collection of balconies made both of wood and stone. There is a fascinating array of door knockers and knobs. The different styles of doors also feature prominently in guide books and posters. But we have nothing of the kind portraying pavements and streetscapes. At least we are conscious of these shortcomings; it could not be otherwise. They are an utter disgrace.

In happy contrast are the roundabouts, centre strips and traffic islands that have the appearance of tapestries of coloured flowers. Happy thought, that! Now these colourful spots are truly worth a poster.

It is submitted that the reconstruction of pavements be moved up the priority list on the agenda for rehabilitation of passageways, especially of Valletta.

For goodness' sake let us present pleasant sights and safe passage across our streets. For the sake of the locals as much as for the tourists.