Out Loud And Proud

A while ago (I've been festering in my cave lost track of time),the Prime Minister of Malta Mr. Gonzi (not of Muppets fame but a good lookalike) got really rattled at a recent "Meet the Rabble" gathering. The rabble were grumbling about the recent huge price hikes (fuel surcharge up to 67%-petrol and diesel and gas doubled or tripled-airport tax which is now the highest in Europe if not the world) and he got real miffed. Oh you ungrateful rabbling subjects! He said. Why cant you idiots appreciate all the things I've done for you! He said. Consider, my pea-brained peoples, that because of ME you can now stand in the fast lane at European airport customs instead of in the slow non-EU Citizens lane like before! He said. The rabble went quiet and hung their heads in appropriate catholic remorse. Indeed oh master we have been ungrateful. They said.

What DOES the PM taske us for...idyots? Well it seems so. But aha! he, as a truly democratic leader represents the peeples which makes him IDYOT NUMERO UNO. But a cunning idyot with a whole crew of spin doctors to whitewash his scumbag suit. So we are supposed to be grateful that we dont have to wait in the SLOWWW lane like non-EU plebs (read Ayrabs). Thats assuming we can still afford to get to the bloody EU airports considering the current price of an airline ticket off this rock.

I love trawling through the Sunday Times Travel section (what can i say, I have no life). All the bright sparkly adverts by travel agents: 2 weeks in Croatia!! Full Board at ***** star hotel/daily excursions/flight included/return included...woaah sounds good. reasonable price. until you check the excluded taxes....OHHMYYYGODDD. Yeahwell thats Malta for you right now...con con con..conconconcon..con con (hummed to tune of Pink Panther).

And the bloodiest most ironic thing is that in 2002 I came from the Middle East to settle in pre-EU Malta reckoning, well, I got roots here but also its ideally centrally located (with good view) for me to travel anywhere in Europe and North Africa reasonable cheaply....are you f**kin kidding? now what kind of a crap mean joke is that to play on an unsuspecting intrepid traveller of maltese origins? I cant get off the sodding island now for a weekend break without forking out the better part of a month's salary!

Mr. Goonzi, I dont mind waiting a bit longer in a non-EU airport customs queue along with non-EU Ayrabs and Indians and Chinks and Chooks etc because it cost me almost as much as it did them to get to mainland Europe. I live in the much lauded EUROPEAN Malta but damn that small spread of water separating me from the mainland is sure as hell some damn expensive space!