Two big attractions on Malta are nothing more than forms of transportation. The buses and boats are very symbolic on the islands and you can’t help but stare as they pass by. The buses first started arriving in Malta in the early 1900’s and what’s really unique is that each bus is individually owned. A local authority coordinates bus schedules, but each bus is cared for by its private owner (and parked at home if there’s room in the yard). You can really see the pride each driver takes in his bus as we often found them polishing their rides on the side of the road. Aside from keeping them clean, they also do a lot of customizing. You’ll find extra chrome, lots of paint detailing, customer messages both inside and out, things hanging from the mirror, slogans, lucky images (lots of horseshoes), and even full body modifications. Originally there were several different bus colors with each one signifying the route it took, but today there’s only two. You’ll find yellow on Malta and gray if you’re on Gozo.
Once you head out to sea, it's easy to spot the brightly colored local boats called Dghajsa. Aside from ferrying people here and there, they are also the boat of choice for local fisherman. One fun feature is the Eye of Osiris on the front, which is said to protect against evil and bring good luck.
