So close, and yet so far : divergent experiences of gentrification in two neighbouring fortified cities in Malta

Abstract

On the first day of this year I was talking to someone who had been to, in her own words, „a wonderful New Year‟s Eve party in a wonderful old house in wonderful Birgu‟. Given that I take my daily walk in Birgu and know the town well, I asked her which street the house was on. When she replied „Nelson Street‟, I told her I knew of no such street in Birgu; anyway I asked her to provide some directions. It turned out that Nelson Street was one I knew well. Only it‟s not in Birgu but rather Bormla, the neighbouring town. When I pointed that out she changed the subject. When that didn‟t work she said „Oh well, I suppose the house and street are in Birgu, Bormla‟.