When Mdina’s Silent City Got a Loud Surprise

The Great Traffic Conundrum in Mdina

One sunny afternoon, the ancient cobbled streets of Mdina were bustling with the usual mix of tourists and locals, all savouring the quiet whisper of history echoing off the walls. This was, after all, the Silent City, where the loudest noise was typically a ‘Mela’ from a surprised visitor after biting into a particularly spicy ftira. That is until the day a loud, honking convoy of Segways rolled in, piloted by a group of foreigners eager to “experience” Mdina like never before.

The Characters and The Ideja

Bizarre indeed was the motley crew, led by the intrepid Dżesika from the distant shores of Amerika, who had read online that Mdina was the place to be. There was Fiorello, the self-proclaimed Italian stallion and fashionista, swathed in enough designer logos to make a billboard blush. And let’s not forget Olga, the eccentric Russian vlogger, whose followers were in for a rattling ride through this medieval maze.

A Social Media Frenzy

“Uwejja! Check out this ancient city, guys! Hashtag no filter, hashtag living history!” – Olga’s latest Insta post

A Turn for the Historical

As the Segway crew zigzagged past San Publju square, narrowly dodging a flock of pigeons and a stand selling ħobż biż-żejt, the inevitable happened—Fiorello’s taste for the dramatic had him attempting a wheelie, just as Dżesika was capturing a selfie with the imposing Mdina Cathedral in the background. The resulting collision was less a crash and more a spectacular domino effect that saw Segways and pedestrians in a tangle that would make a plate of spaghetti weep. From the chaos, a hidden cellar door flew open, unveiling a secret passage that led under the city.

Discoveries and Misunderstandings

The dust settled, and the Segway troupe found themselves staring at a stairway that time forgot. Olga, ever the intrepid explorer, descended first, streaming live to her audience abroad, with Dżesika and Fiorello close behind. What they stumbled upon was no ordinary cellar but a forgotten WWII bunker, cobwebs and all, filled with dusty bottles of what appeared to be Ġbejniet flavored wine.

Local Enthusiasm Meets Tourist Antics

The commotion had by now attracted the locals, including Ċikku the konvint and Dun Karm the parish priest, who were both curious and concerned. Dun Karm began to sprinkle holy water around liberally, fearing spirits had been disturbed, while Ċikku, licking his lips, was more interested in the liquid spirits the foreigners had uncovered.

The Great Wine Heist…or Not

“Dear folks of Mdina, we apologize for the ruckus. We didn’t mean to start the Great Mdina Wine Heist of 2023! Turns out this isn’t wine, it’s WWII-era rabbit stew! Who knew?” – Dżesika’s embarrassing realisation, posted later that day

The foreigners declared they’d discovered a clandestine cellar full of antique Maltese wine. Excitement turned to laughter when it was revealed that the “wine” was in fact preserved rabbit stew, a culinary prank from a time when the locals were storing food against sieges both real and imagined.

Conclusion: Mdina’s Silent City Rings With Laughter

As night fell over Mdina and the tourists bid their farewells, the city returned to its tranquil persona. Streets once echoing with Segway shenanigans now resonated with chuckles over the curious blend of modern mishaps and historical happenstance.

The Times of Mela ran the headline the following day: “Segway Soiree Subsides in Stew Surprise!” with a photo of Fiorello’s failed wheelie and Olga’s bewildered face livestreaming it all. It was an episode that Mdina, and the internet, wouldn’t soon forget.

Mela, whether it’s a silent city or a loud surprise, every day is a story in the making on this little rock in the Mediterranean. And as for our foreign friends, they learnt a valuable lesson: in Malta, even the most unexpected twists and turns eventually lead to a good laugh, or at the very least, a storied stew.