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Sliema Strand, a trendy shopping and cafe' area of the suburb overlooking Valletta and the tiny Manoel Island, is also popularly known as Sliema Ferries. The title goes back to the old, colonial times when a ferry service used to shuttle between Sliema and the Capital of Valletta.
The service (there was a similar one between the Three cities of Bormla, Birgu and Isla to Valletta) was mostly intended for British servicemen based in Sliema who needed to reach the city every morning and civil servants on their way to the office.
The advent of better-organised, more efficient land public transport, especially during the winter months, eventually led to the demise of the ferry. A similar, though less ambitious, service was, however, successfully introduced a few years ago to help cope with the growing number of tourists wishing to cross over to Valletta by sea.
This shuttle ferry service now operates regularly between Malta's capital and the seaside town of Sliema, one of Malta's most desirable residences and impressive promenades. This fast, convenient service takes only five minutes to cross the harbour and runs throughout daylight hours. The approaching image of Valletta as the boat sails towards it is a wondrous sight to behold.
It is a sun-lit picture of baroque splendour mixed with robust fortifications and an inspiring sky-line that blends so well with the whole scenario of a Capital about to rise and face another busy day. The trip itself is an enjoyable ride past Manoel Island, named after the Grandmaster of the Knights who fortified it, and across Marsamxett Harbour with its yacht marinas, the fishing boats and the bigger ships on their way to Gozo and other nearby destinations. It is quality time that simply runs out rather too quickly.
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