Il-Kazin

Il-Kazin; or kazini (plural) are the traditional Maltese clubs. These are bars pertaining to the different political parties or band clubs, and can be found all over the villages of Malta. And to me, they are little gems of our tiny island's culture, and history.

Apart from this however...one cannot deny the fact that Maltese clubs are the best fun one can have on a night out. It's been thought by our generation, that these clubs only belong to the older generation. They imagine these clubs to be old and stingy, with a couple of old men reminiscing about past times. But this is far from the truth. I can say that I have had my fair share of the night life, be it in Malta or abroad- and I can fairly say that nothing beats a good traditional Maltese club. This is so, for a number of reasons.

1. The people: the people you meet at these clubs are so real, interesting and intriguing. Everyone has something interesting to share, be it a youngster or otherwise. I have learnt so much about life since I started going to such places. Furthermore, the people are ever so friendly. You will gradually start feeling part of a big family, and nothing beats this feeling of familiarity. There is nothing better than sharing a drink with these people, who have so much to say about their life experiences, and about their opinions.

2. On a less serious note: THE DRINKS: WHY oh WHY would you go to paceville, spend five euro on one drink, when you can go to a Kazin, and get 3 drinks for the same amount?? And be able to hear what your friends are saying, rather than the deafening noise which is passing for music nowadays? (I'm probably an old soul, but I'd rather have a decent conversation than wake up the next morning with a throbbing in my head)

3. Free finger food: slices of pizza, chips, crackers with cheese, maltese bread, timpana, chicken, horse meat...need I say more?

4. Karaokes: I know you can find this sort of entertainment anywhere in Malta, however this is linked to no: 1.  Going to a karaoke in Paceville- you'll find a couple of drunken girls screaming to 'I'm a Barbie Girl'  and giggling and shouting in the microphone. In a Kazin, you'll probably find a cute little old man singing to Elvis' songs, and trying to wiggle his legs. (This is a true story) Or you might find a couple of your dear friends, changing lyrics and making them funny. And the best thing is, you don't need to wait for your turn to sing. You can just walk towards the karaoke machine, and demand to be played a song. No one will make fun of you.

Ultimately, I can say that I have made some wonderful friends. These places have taught me so much, and I'm ever so glad for having this opportunity. After all, it is the people who make this world a nice place to live in.