As he wakes up to a gentle breeze sweeping in from the Mediterranean Sea, Declan O'Brien will crack a wry smile and wonder how he landed in his new surroundings.
After seven years of plying his trade in the Airtricity League, the Dubliner opted to step outside of his comfort zone in December when he made the move to Malta by joining Valletta FC.
While it wasn't an easy decision for the 29-year-old, he viewed it as a new adventure and turned down offers from two League Two sides in order to link up with a club that he had helped dump out of Europe just a few months before.
O'Brien, who often goes by the nickname of Fabio, was on loan with St Patrick's Athletic last summer when Valletta turned up at Richmond Park in a Europa League qualifier. The striker scored in that game and repeated the feat in the second leg to fire the Saints into the next round.
Valletta's Dutch coach Ton Caanen didn't forget about the former Drogheda United captain. And when the Irish domestic campaign came to a close in November, the Maltese club made contact.
'After the season was over I wanted to get my situation sorted as quickly as possible. I had been with Dundalk and then went on loan to St Pat's, but there was no word from either club,' O'Brien told Sportsmail.
'Then Roddy Collins got in touch. He was managing a team called Floriana out in Malta. So I went out there to train for a bit and Valletta heard about this. They obviously remembered me from the European games, so they gave me a call.
'It was a shock to be honest, but I was intrigued by it. Burton Albion and Oldham were also looking for me at that stage, but there was just something about the Valletta move that stood out for me, so I decided to give it a shot.'
Everything has gone well since he arrived. He has scored nine goals in six starts, Valletta are joint top of the league going into today's game against Sliema Wanderers and they are still involved in both cup competitions.
It took a week or two for O'Brien to get used to playing in the humidity, although it is no longer a problem. And his living arrangements couldn't be better as the club have given him a car and put him up in an apartment just metres away from the busy streets of Sliema - a place that he describes as the 'Grafton Street of Malta'.
The oddity of the move has long since passed as he now counts former Manchester United midfielder Jordi Cruyff as a team-mate and a friend, while the passion that Maltese people have for football has helped him to settle in.
'They are crazy about football over here. It is all about attacking and scoring goals. I don't think there has been a single 0-0 draw since I came over. They want to see teams attack,' he explained.
'The crowds are decent too. There was 3,200 people at our last game and they reckon that if we make it to the cup final [currently in the semi-finals] then there could be 15,000 at it.'
It appears little can deflate O'Brien's spirits these days. Even the recent signing by Valletta of Ex-Coventry City frontman Michael Mifsud doesn't bother O'Brien too much as he is on a good run of form.
The only drawback is that the Blanchardstown native is living away from his young family. And it is that reason more than any other that may see him return to Ireland when the Maltese season ends in May.
'It has been difficult being away from my family. Everything has gone brilliantly, but not seeing my family everyday is tough,' he admitted.
'They are due over this week for two weeks, which is great. And I've been home a few times since coming over here, but I would be lying if I said it wasn't difficult.'
O'Brien insists that he will assess his future when the season ends as there is a lot for him to consider. He has an option to extend his deal for another year and the chance to play in Europe again is appealing.
However, the lure of home could prove to be tempting once the summer months roll around and the transfer window re-opens in the Airtricity League. One club that will surely be monitoring his situation is St Pat's.
O'Brien was a big hit in Inchicore last term, with his goals sparking an extended run in the Europa League qualifiers and it is a club that he has a great respect for.
'I grew up supporting St Pat's and if I were to return to Ireland, then I'd love to join them again,' he said.