Comino: Instagram bliss versus rowdy reality

Picture this: you arrive in Comino, mobile phone in hand and rush to buy a cocktail served in a pineapple. You then quickly climb up to a spot as high up as possible overlooking Blue Lagoon to get the perfect shot, embellished with pineapple and clear, blue sea. But while you’re busy adjusting your freshly-bought pineapple before it starts to drip juice all over your phone, you take a step back to think of the caption to go with the Instagram post you’ve been so keen on sharing.  It is only as you start stepping back that you realise all the people who were with you on the boat to Comino are doing exactly the same thing. This is Instagram versus reality live in action. A quick search for #Comino or @Blue Lagoon Malta on Instagram brings up a sea of perfect shots of the popular beach and its surroundings. While the allure of taking photos of landmark places is not new, especially while on holiday, the rise in popularity of social media now often results in crowds gathering in one spot simply to get the ‘perfect’ shot. And Comino is no different, with those heading to the island for the first time often eager to get their own version of the shot they have seen countless times on...