Category Archives: Island of Gozo

A 180° Turn

Island of Gozo, Island of Malta, Malta, Valletta, , ,

Today we had to unfortunately leave Gozo. We really enjoyed the quiet, low keyed life there. Time to move on…

And where we went was an 180° degree turn. Valletta is an energetic european city with a distinct feel all its own. It felt familiar and new at the same time, exactly what we wanted on this trip. If we had to leave Gozo this was a great next step.

After checking into the hotel we visited the Lascaris War Rooms which played a vital role in World War 2. If the Axis power were to control the Mediterranean Sea they needed to take over Malta. In the Lascaris War Rooms the British Empire defended these islands which they controlled in the early 20th century. After preventing the takeover of the islands the rooms were used to coordinate the invasion of Sicily and southern Italy proper. The lessons here were were carried on to help plan the Normandy Invasion in 1944 making this stop a nice addition to our trip last year. We were given some bad directions to this rather hard to find place (little wonder the Axis Powers never found it) and we were glad we hung in there and found it.

After the War rooms we got Sydney gelatto and headed to The Pub where the actor Oliver Reed met his fate. A classic pub, well worth the visit. As it turned out two other guests on the War Room Tour were here as well, Martin and Alan are on vacation from Britian sailing a boat in Greece and on an impulse decided to come to Malta. They could not decided where they are going next. Corsica… Lampedusa… A couple of great guys, they were a bit wild and respectful at the same time.

To top off the difference between the islands of Malta and Gozo, tonight was the Isle of MTV Concert in Valletta, a annual anticipated occurrence. The city echoed with performances by Jason Derulo and Echosmith bringing a nice lively feel to the evening. Not that I know the songs, but the energy was great and was quite different from the other island.

 

Bye-bye Gozo.
Bye-bye Gozo.
Crossing to the Island of Malta.
Crossing to the Island of Malta.
The walls of the Valletta Fort.
The walls of the Valletta Fort.
Syd and Kim entering the city of Valletta.
Syd and Kim entering the city of Valletta.
Walking down Triq ir-Repubblika.
Walking down Triq ir-Repubblika.
The Malta War Memorial.
The Malta War Memorial.
The view from the War Memorial.
The view from the War Memorial.
A view of the harbo(u)r.
A view of the harbo(u)r.
Recovering from some bad directions...
Recovering from some bad directions…
The entrance to the Lascaris War Rooms.
The entrance to the Lascaris War Rooms.
Syd leads to the Lascaris War Rooms.
Syd leads to the Lascaris War Rooms.
Sydney in the room where the defense of Malta was coordinated.
Sydney in the room where the defense of Malta was coordinated.
Another view of the defense of Malta map room.
Another view of the defense of Malta map room.
The map used for the invasion of Sicily.
The map used for the invasion of Sicily.
You are here. Er... I am here...
You are here. Er… I am here…
Where the Generals sat.
Where the Generals sat.
A drink with (the memory of) Oliver Reed.
A drink with (the memory of) Oliver Reed.
A friend of Sydneys. Per her request.
A friend of Sydneys. Per her request.
Don't even think of parking here.
Don’t even think of parking here.
He really does.
He really does.
The wall of Valetta at night.
The wall of Valetta at night.
The 2015 Isle of MTV concert in progress.
The 2015 Isle of MTV concert in progress.

The Island of Joy

Island of Gozo, Malta, Ta’ Mena Estate, ,

We are going to miss this place. Very low key.

Today we hired a car to the drive us around the island. The driver, Joe Grech is a native born Gozan and like others we have met very proud of his island. A good man, here are some of the interesting points he shares with us:

  • Gozo means ‘The Island of Joy’ in Aragonese. I have read it means ‘joy’ in spanish.
  • The island was home to Calypso who kept Odysseus as a `prisoner of love’ for seven years. Odysseus was shipwrecked in Ramla Bay on the north shore of the island, also the location of Calypso’s cave.
  • The Italians twice tried to invade the Islands in World War 2. The were strongly repulsed when they tried to take the main island of Malta, when they tried to invade the more poorly fortified island of Gozo  they were so unnerved when they met no resistance they thought it was a trap and withdrew.
  • Gozo has been invaded many times over the centuries. In WW2 the United States launched its invasion of Sicily from Goza, the only time the island helped invade another country.
  • The origin of the Shrine of Our Lady of ta’ Pinu is unknown but it became famous when three farmers nearby heard a female voice ask them to say three Hail Marys. Over the year miracles became associated with the shrine and those whose prayers were answered came to leave their stories and thanks including Pope John-Paul II who prayed to the Lady of ta’ Pinu when his plane was in trouble.
  • There has been several efforts to connect the islands of Malta and Gozo via a bridge an all have failed. Recently Chinese companies have taken interest in the country and bought up part of the power company here. They are pushing for construction of the bridge and although many Gozo natives are against it the effort may succeed this time.

Gozo is a very green island and the natives are rightly proud of this. Joe took us to Ta’ Mena Estate for lunch where we were hosted by Joe and Margaret Spiteri, Joe’s mother Carmela started the estate and was an early proponent of Agri-tourism. The family has continued the tradition and we had some great traditional dishes with them. Thanks Joe and Margaret, we will return!

Dinner was at The Boat House in Xlendi Bay but after Ta’ Mena Estate… Sorry guys!

One of the stone quarries of Gozo.
One of the stone quarries of Gozo.

The Azure Window.
The Azure Window.

Syd at the Azure Window.
Syd at the Azure Window.

Fungus Rock where a plant grew that was thought to help heal wounds & dysentery. Harvesting it with out permission was a good way to end up on a slave boat!
Fungus Rock where a plant grew that was thought to help heal wounds & dysentery. Harvesting it with out permission was a good way to end up on a slave boat!

The Shrine of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu.

The alter in Ta' Pinu.
The alter in Ta’ Pinu.

The old shrine in Ta' Pinu.
The old shrine in Ta’ Pinu.

Some of the thank you letters in Ta' Pinu.
Some of the thank you letters in Ta’ Pinu.

Looking across the island towards Victoria.
Looking across the island towards Victoria.

The Saltpans on the north shore of Gozo.
The Saltpans on the north shore of Gozo.

Too bright for pictures Dad!
Too bright for pictures Dad!

Ramla Bay where we went swimming.
Ramla Bay where we went swimming.

The view from Ta’ Mena Estate, definitely not Napa!
The view from Ta’ Mena Estate, definitely not Napa!

Joe of Ta’ Mena Estate feeding the baby goats.
Joe of Ta’ Mena Estate feeding the baby goats.

Syd with the owners of Ta’ Mena, Joe and Margaret Spiteri.
Syd with the owners of Ta’ Mena, Joe and Margaret Spiteri.

The view from The Boathouse resturant in Xlendi.
The view from The Boathouse resturant in Xlendi.