What a Pedicure is like in Malta

Anyway, I did the required research and ended up going to a very posh place right on Manwel Dimech Street--my street in Sliema. Of course, I did a couple of things wrong. First, I missed the step and tripped into the shop and everyone screamed (from fear) but I landed on my toes. Next, I asked if I could have a pedicure.

Normally, it wouldn't be mistake to walk into a nail salon during open hours and ask for a pedicure. But I found out--after a lot of communication activities--that you had to make an appointment--no walk-ins (or fall-ins) in this place. OK.......

An appointment was made for Saturday morning. Then the receptionist asked for a deposit. Yes. In answer to my apparent quizzical expression and my very posh uttering of "Huh?"--the receptionist explained that foreigners often don't show up for their appointments.

Okay, okay--I gave her five Euros down on a 25-plus Euro deluxe pedicure.

Showed up on Saturday and got Angelina who looked the part of a very polished pedicurist (sorry). I sat in a chair which I was hoping would go back, but it didn't and I didn't want to try too hard for obvious reasons. Angelina had me put my feet in a bubbling water bath thing, and asked if the water was warm enough. I asked her to take out the ice and I would then decide.

Well, actually, she did try to warm the water up by heating up some water in a hot-water machine you use for making tea. I lied and told her the water was perfect and then she left me alone for about 20 minutes to relax in my bubbling lukewarm water bath.

Hot water or not, the place was clean and colorful and there were stashes of very nicely stacked nail products. There were also lots of jugs and bottles around that made it seem like this could be a mini emergency center for a broken nail.

Angelina started the pedicure and she passed the first test: She didn't gag when she saw my feet which include a big bunion on my left foot along with a big bump on the top of that foot that feels like a bunion. One nail on this foot is also lifting up and will come off soon. I also have those very ugly nails on my little toes. You know, those hard, deformed kind of toenails. The only reason I'm telling you this gross stuff is so that you know what a strong little stomach Angelina has. And I also had a big, round ripe blister the size of a quarter (from switching into my comfortable shoes).

Things proceeded normally and I began to relax a bit. Angelina seemed to know what she was doing. When she came to the first ugly, hard, thick deformed nail, I asked her, "What is that?" I was expecting something about fungus infection or aging nails or something like that.

But Angelina answered, "It's the nail."

Finally, after all these years, I had my answer. I had closure and could go on with the rest of my nail life.

Then there was the dead-skin scraping which was made less repulsive by Angelina applying a very thick purple paste on my feet. At first I though she was making molds of my feet to send back to pedicure school for clinical use. But it turned out to be a softening and abrasive agent.

Finally, the best part--the foot massage. And I have to say, this was the best part of the whole thing. Angelina had magical hands. The massage didn't hurt like it often does, and it lasted a long time with each foot. It was so good that while she was massaging my left foot, I went into a meditative state and "came to" thinking I was in ancient Turkey. I don't know why, but it's true.

That scared me a bit and so I tried to stay a little more conscious while she did the second foot and leg, and it was still wonderful.

Then we ended with the nail polish, of course. She applied it expertly, I waited for it to dry naturally because there were no nail drying machines. But that was OK.

I thanked Angelina profusely, gave her a nice tip and went home with feet that looked like they belonged to a human instead of a chimp.

The next day, the nail polished chipped off my big toenail while I was on my knees cleaning the cat box.

Nothing lasts forever, I guess. But two days would have been nice.

(Seriously, this was a very good pedicure experience and I recommend it. It's called Nailcraft and it's on Manwel Dimech Street in Malta. Remember, appointments only.

Ilene Springer is author of An-American-in-Malta.com