The sun shines for an average 6.46 hours each day in winter and 10.11 hours in summer. The island is seldom too hot even in the height of summer as hot summer days and nights are regularly tempered by cool breezes from the sea. The Maltese welcome the company of foreigners and being helpful to them comes naturally. Also, they take great interest in what is happening in the rest of the world, and, with their flair for languages, communication with visitors is easy. They have an admirable sense of humour and like most Mediterranean people, tend to be rather jovial.
Tap water is perfectly safe to drink.
Milk is pasteurised and available daily in cartons and bottles. All dairy products are safe for consumption. Chemists are to be found throughout the islands and are open during normal shopping hours. Telex facilities, as well as facsimile machines, are also available at most hotels. Services of overseas telephone calls, telex and facsimile, as well as the sale of Telecards, are available from Maltacom's Branch Offices at Bisazza Street and Plaza Shopping Complex in Sliema, Malta International Airport, at Qawra and at St Paul's Bay.