Malta in the 90s.

[RayMK]

I posted this one in the 'Eye catching Black and whites' thread back in July 2019:

Buses in Malta circa 1953.  I was only about 4 when this was taken.  Dad was stationed with the RAF near Valetta and we lived nearby.   I have tried without success to match the view to something on Google maps.  Redevelopment has probably completely changed the scene unless I have failed to recognise key buildings. 

... I thought someone had responded with more clues as to the location but can't find it now.  We were in Malta for nearly 3 years but only have one or two photos.  If I find them and they are relevant/interesting I'll add them.  I have very few memories from Malta 70 years ago!

 

[ETCHY]

1 hour ago, RayMK said:

I posted this one in the 'Eye catching Black and whites' thread back in July 2019:

Buses in Malta circa 1953.  I was only about 4 when this was taken.  Dad was stationed with the RAF near Valetta and we lived nearby.   I have tried without success to match the view to something on Google maps.  Redevelopment has probably completely changed the scene unless I have failed to recognise key buildings. 

... I thought someone had responded with more clues as to the location but can't find it now.  We were in Malta for nearly 3 years but only have one or two photos.  If I find them and they are relevant/interesting I'll add them.  I have very few memories from Malta 70 years ago!

 

Looks very like the bus terminal at Valetta to me.

[captain_70s]

26 minutes ago, ETCHY said:

Looks very like the bus terminal at Valetta to me.

Indeed.

Around here I should think.

[Yoss]

1 hour ago, RayMK said:

I posted this one in the 'Eye catching Black and whites' thread back in July 2019:

Buses in Malta circa 1953.  I was only about 4 when this was taken.  Dad was stationed with the RAF near Valetta and we lived nearby.   I have tried without success to match the view to something on Google maps.  Redevelopment has probably completely changed the scene unless I have failed to recognise key buildings. 

... I thought someone had responded with more clues as to the location but can't find it now.  We were in Malta for nearly 3 years but only have one or two photos.  If I find them and they are relevant/interesting I'll add them.  I have very few memories from Malta 70 years ago!

 

I'd agree with the above, it is taken from a bit further round, anti clockwise from the picture I posted. There are high city walls half way round the bus station so it's easy to get a different angle on it. I am surprised though that the Triton Fountain was added later on, I'd always assumed the bus station grew around it, not the other way around.

[RayMK]

Another shot from the 1950s which shows the same scene as my dad's photo.  Trying to match the scene to modern times is tricky. Much of the older architecture has either been demolished or hidden by newer development. 

[Yoss]

3 hours ago, RayMK said:

Another shot from the 1950s which shows the same scene as my dad's photo.  Trying to match the scene to modern times is tricky. Much of the older architecture has either been demolished or hidden by newer development. 

Interesting that your first picture shows a plain roundabout and then this one is full of flowers. This got me wondering so I've done a bit of googling and the fountain only appeared in in 1959.

As I say, these days they have pedestrianised the whole area which is a bit of a shame as the bus station was so wonderfully haphazard, but I have to admit they seem to have made a nice job of it and it does make for a bit more of a grand entrance to the city.

That's the main entrance in to the city straight ahead and you can just see a bus in the bottom right hand corner.

 

This is taken from a drone I think looking the other way. I think your original picture was taken from the raised wall in the bottom left of the picture directly above the Shutterstock logo.

The new bus station is clearly visible here.

[Adrian_pt]

I'm currently there and while the chod level is distressingly lower than previously, I had a gigantic eyeful of this:

[MVX11V]

Last year

I was staying right by the museum

Didn't see no old buzzes though. All modern coaches and London bus sightseeing things with the roof cut off.

[Adrian_pt]

There is still a decent bit on the ground in the more rural areas. This was a village scene today, with an early Nova Merit just round the corner. Gozo a few years back was also fruitful. But I fear the golden days are gone...

[Schaefft]

23 hours ago, MVX11V said:

Last year

I was staying right by the museum

Didn't see no old buzzes though. All modern coaches and London bus sightseeing things with the roof cut off.

Toyota Century, nice!