Strait Street making waves beyond Malta’s shores

The revival of Strait Street is making waves beyond these shores as evidenced by insightful features published in the German newspapers Augsburger Allgemeine of 27 December and Der Spiegel of 10 January.

Lilo Solcher, who is one of the leading travel writers in Germany called her article, A Narrow Alley and its special history where she talks about the runup to Valletta 18 and the integral part Strait Street played in the life of the city.

Speaking to George Cini who authored two books in Maltese on Strait Street and recently published an English version, Strait Street secrets and stories from behind closed doors, Solcher notes that Cini has researched the stories behind the facades and met barmaids, apart from transvestites, who gave shows to the delight of servicemen. Additionally, he collected old photos that shed light on Valletta’s centre of entertainment. Cini’s books represent “the memory of the Strait Street” and a world view that has disappeared, she said.

The narrow alley provided jobs for barmaids, hailing mostly from dirt poor families, who did their best to help their parents and siblings with what they earned at the bars. Strait Street produced artistic talent, especially jazz musicians, and a cosmopolitan lifestyle, that Malta wouldn’t oth- erwise have known. The alley was the financial backbone of the city.

Solcher spoke also to Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci, artistic director of the Strada Stretta Concept and the top-notch cultural events he has put together and is planning to do to help in the re-vamping of Strada Stretta.

Jason Micallef, Valletta 2018 Foundation chairman is quoted as saying: “We see culture as a future investment.” The articles may be viewed by logging on: https://lilosreisen.de/valletta und-die-strait street/; http://www.spiegel.de/reise/europa/valletta-die-strait-street-ineuropas-kulturhauptstadt-2018a-1185190.html