How cool! Old pic of Paradise Bay reveals how locals kept safe while having fun in the sun

Culture

Can we bring the tent life back?

Caroline Curmi

Before deckchairs and umbrellas (and probably even sun cream) became a thing for beach-goers, locals would protect themselves from the sun's harsh rays by erecting tents on beaches.

Check it out! Tents take up Paradise Bay

Stanley Eggleton via Old photos of Malta / Facebook

A photo shared to a local nostalgia Facebook group depicts exactly this. A very different sight to the one we're used to nowadays, it shows Paradise Bay in a very unique setting.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by BELS English Schools (@belsmalta) on Jul 7, 2020 at 5:14am PDT

The square tents would be homemade from white fabric to provide cool shade and prevent the sun's heat from getting trapped in the area beneath.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Elena Yasin (@elenayasin) on Jul 7, 2020 at 4:46am PDT

The photo, believed to have been taken during the '60s drew many nostalgic memories for viewers, with one commenting: "Those were the days."

Should this beach style make a comeback?

Written by

Caroline Curmi

When she’s not having a quarter-life crisis, Caroline is either drawing in a café, frittering her salary on sushi or swearing at traffic in full-on Gozitan. There is also the occasional daytime drink somewhere in the equation. Or two. A creative must be allowed at least one vice.