Gozo, Malta

Today you are going to taste all 3 types of local transport in Malta: the bus, the Sliema ferry and the high speed ferry. We are off to Gozo, a small island just off the coast of the mainland. Excited? Shall we go.

Public transport is so easy here.

Gozo is described as Malta as it used to be. Think small villages and lots of agriculture. The bedrock is slightly different to the mainland so water is more readily available.

Some of the small villages have streets so narrow that you can almost touch the house windows on either side of the bus, Meet another vehicle  and one has to back up. Not easy for a bus…the drivers are amazing.

Each village is dominated by a beautiful parish church. Sorry we don’t have time to stop and look at each of them.

Rabat or Victoria is the main township on the island. It is fairly central and we should have lunch there, don’t you think. The Franciscan monks settled here and built a Citadel in the 1500’s because of the fear of an another attack by the Ottomans. Many of the population were taken as slaves in one of the invasions. In fact the design of the houses also reflects this fear. There are few windows and a sturdy outer door on each house. This then opens onto a central courtyard to allow light and air to the surrounding rooms.

Today seems to be a children’s fete. Lots of fun activities for them.

The streets here are so interesting. I think a quick walk around them, lunch and then back to the bus. Agreed?

What do you think of this restaurant? It is in a quiet area.

These are cute sculptures.

Yes we are coming home. Get those hugs ready….but there is just time to try the prize winning cocktail:- the Maltese Falcon

See you soon