Postcard from Malta
First impressions from The Dolmen Resort Hotel where preparations for the 2010 European Team Championships and European Under 19 Championships are in full swing.
When in Malta, there is really no alternative but to chill out and enjoy the superb hospitality and friendliness of the Maltese people, while basking in the beautiful surroundings and weather that Malta offers, even in March.
It was amusing to watch the players and officials arriving from Northern Europe, pale and wan after the very hard winter, and ripping off sweaters to enjoy the sun on their backs, while the Maltese were still swathed in sweaters and complaining that winter hadn't finished yet!
How can it be winter in a country were the orange groves are laden with ripe fruit and lemons hang from the trees waiting to be dropped into your next gin and tonic!
So afternooon tea on the sun terrace seemed like a good way to settle back into the superb Dolmen Resort Hotel, which seems like home from home as we were last here in 2005 for events.
I know it's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!
So before we settle into the Team Championships on Wednesday morning Global Snooker is taking some time out to show you around Malta.
It's a terrible hardship to have to wake up and look out of the window onto a wonderful vista of the crystal clear Mediterranean lapping the shores of Qawra.
Malta and its outlying islands, like Gozo, are steeped in history. It gives the impression of stepping back into the cradle of civilisation.
Of course Malta has also woven its name into the history of billiards and snooker, with some of the great names of both disciplines carving their names onto world trophies.
Their greatest ambassador, Tony Drago, carries the name of Malta far and wide around the world. Maltese supporters were torn between cheering Tony through to the Last 32 in the China Open, but that success means that Tony can't be here to compete with the Maltese Teams.
But Malta's number one team of Alex Borg, Simon Zammit and Duncan Bezzina will be a test for any team in the Championships.
There are some extremely strong teams this year, from defending champions Wales, to the Irish out to avenge last year's final frame shoot out defeat.
A very powerful looking Scottish team will probably start as pre-event favourites, but no doubt previous winners Germany might have something to say about that.
It is not only Malta's players that have enhanced Malta's reputation around the the world.
Malta is also legendary for the successful events hosted here down the years. From the International Amateur events, to the Malta Grand Prix Invitation events and many Professional Ranking events.
This year the superb Malta Snooker & Billiards Association, led by their President Joe Caruana Curran, and his hard working team, have worked tirelessly for many months to ensure that this year's raft of events will be equally, if not more, successful than those held in the past.
Over the next two weeks, Global Snooker will bring you all the news, results and much more, if we can tear ourselves away from the Sun Terrace!
