Popeye Village Malta is the original film set of the 1980 Popeye movie starring the late Robin Williams. The theme park, complete with 20 authentic wooden structures that make up Sweethaven village, is a popular local attraction. Here's a walk around!
Popeye and Olive Oyl are hanging around the main square interacting with children and just being themselves. On my way down, I spotted Bluto finishing off the filming of a short Popeye movie where the park's visitors were the actors!
Before I begin to explore Sweethaven village, I head down past the Seafarers restaurant to the shore. A child is playing in the water. People are chatting away happily as they queue for the boat tour. Roofed double sunbeds are available for chilling by the sea. I already feel my spirits lifted to a lighter level.
The main street of Sweethaven village is a pink paved road lined with crooked, brightly-coloured wooden buildings. 'Cute' and 'quaint' are the adjectives that spring to mind. The street contrasts with the bright blue sky and green vegetation. Try to be surrounded by so much colour and stay in a bad mood!
Each building reveals its own treasure trove. For example, the post office and dentist's office contain wax figures. There's also the opportunity to add your head to painted cutouts of Bluto, Popeye and Olive Oyle - gotta love it!
Entering the cinema is like travelling back in time yet I feel right at home. Inside the movie theatre, Bluto is presenting the premiere of the movie they have just made. Popcorn in hand (and mouth), the actors squeal with laughter when they see themselves and are happy to pay the nominal five euro for the epic souvenir.
The mayor's office is newly done up true to life in Sweethaven village, complete with crooked wall, frames and furniture.
The enormous amount of detail is fantastic. I particularly love the picture frames. So many hilarious expressions on the faces of the inhabitants of Sweethaven village!
I get to the Popeye Museum, a collector's paradise. The entire room is bursting with memorabilia, including the actual Popeye movie showing on screen.
Part of the museum is dedicated to E C Segar, who created the Popeye cartoon character in 1929.
The grandest building in Popeye Village is Olive Oyle's house. When Popeye arrived in Sweethaven, he rented a room in this house and thus he met his beloved Olive.
The interior of the house is absolutely stunning. The sailor's nook displays Popeye's hammock hanging over his bed and his belongings scattered around the room.
This is just one angle of the fabulous kitchen in Olive's house. It somehow feels lived in and, again, the detail is wonderful. Many retro objects, such as a wooden ironing board, are part of the furnishings.
And of course, we might expect a picture of Popeye and Olive hanging on the wall.
Outside, a view of the bay with clear green water and towering cliffs meets you. It's not just Popeye Village that's pretty, but also its environment. Did I mention that there are also children's trampolines for the adventurous kiddos?
My stroll brings me to more colourful buildings, some having a more practical use. This is the way to the public toilets. Nearby is a restaurant and winery, all done up in the same Sweethaven style.
This one building stands out for being less than colourful. See those boxes standing upright at the bottom right of the buildings?
They're coffins! And this is the cemetery. I gasp at how nothing has been left out at all!
I can't but admire the wonderful way the Management found to say 'Keep out' - 'Trespassers will be taxed.' Haha, I love it. I'm told that each of the buildings is slowly being converted to contain a display of some sort, including a tribute to the late Robin Williams.
At the end of the road is a large sun deck, set beneath cliff walls and overlooking the bay. It offers several of those cool double sunbeds again - you could really spend the whole day here. Here's a shot of an unoccupied section to give you a notion.
At the deck is a children's pool with slides and also a separate adults pool. Again, thumbs up for a fun family day.
If you do nothing but enjoy the view, it might be enough in itself. This passage to the broken pier was carved into the rock!
On the way back, I stop by the silversmith. There's a real silversmith inside making traditional Maltese silver filigree. There are various ladies looking to take home a souvenir. Good choice, ladies.
Back up top, I enjoy scrutinising original shots from the Popeye film that line the walls. But not before checking out the Sweethaven watchpost. A final refreshment at the restaurant outside the gates and then I'm off with an extra spring in my step.
Did you know?
The 1980 musical was produced by Lions Gate Films, Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Productions as a half-century tribute to the popular cartoon character Popeye the Sailor Man by E C Segar.
All photos credit: Melanie Drury