Gozo, Malta. Visited on 7 March 2025. Stop 3.
I had an exciting plan to explore Gozo the night before. But in the morning, I was not woken by the usual bright light – not a good sign. I stepped outside, the sky was overcast, and a drizzle was ominous.
The rain was persistent, but I was equally determined. I would not be stopped, though I was slowed. The uncertainty of whether the ferries would sail, the long, lonely waits at bus stops, and the slog through the downpour. But I was waterproof – equipped with a water-resistant jacket, a poncho, an umbrella, and my head well-protected by a cap, and the hoods from the poncho and jacket. My feet less so – my sandals gaping and spongy, as surface water ran down stairs, across cobblestone streets and over roads.
I managed to visit the main town Victoria, drenched in rain. Some tourists came and was stuck in the cafes, hunched under their hoods, looking lost and bewildered. I then tried desperately to navigate to the Gozo Citadel with my wet phone. A small citadel perched on a low hill – thanks to the rain, I had it almost all to myself.
Next, I took a public bus, but was dropped off 2 km from my destination – the Ggantija Archeological Park. So I braved the rushing surface water and the splashes from passing cars to finally reach the Ggantija Temple. One of the world’s oldest free-standing structures, it dates back to over 3000 BCE. Whatever remains of the stone blocks, they are trying to hold them together to maintain a semblance of structure. If it crumbles, our shared history will be much shorter.
I did not have more time to explore further; I did not want to have cold feet, hyperthermia and be swallowed by the early darkness.
The golden-beige stone used to build these historical buildings would have glowed magnificently in the sun. Today, they were lackluster. But tomorrow, as certainly as the sun will rise, they will shine again.
Otherwise, it was a fine day.
Marsaxlokk, Malta. Visited on 9 March 2025. Stop 4.
Today I decided to join a group of fellow travellers to Marsaxlokk, a fishing village in the southeastern part of the island. I have to keep my unbridled spirit in check for a day and enjoy being guided.
It is only 14 km away but a Herculean task to get there by public transport – we took a bus, a ferry, and yet another bus to reach the destination. Once there, we breathed the relaxed air of Sunday and the caress of the gentle breeze. Colorful fishing boats, as though freshly painted, were anchored in place in the tranquil blue water. They look much better on this water than those super yachts in Valletta’s Grand Harbor. When we arrived at noon, the Sunday market was still bustling but some stalls were packing up. I was again tempted by the many local savories on offer – a good place to see how the locals pamper their sweet tooth. On a day like this, a transaction becomes an occasion to socialize.
We then walked just under 3km to St. Peter’s Pool. An outdoor pool party was in full swing – young people were tanning on the rock, swimming, and cliff-jumped. The water must have been cold, but they did have an open invitation to the party.
From here, we hiked for a few kilometers on top of the cliff, skirting its edges, enthralled by the abrupt drops, enchanted by the vast blue Mediterranean, until we arrived at a restaurant in Thomas Bay. I celebrated the end of an enjoyable day with a pizza, topped with shellfish that look like they were alive and kicking.
Marsaxlokk, where the sea has chiseled it edges into a rough but exquisite gem, making Malta a treasure island.
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Itinerary for this trip:
Oman Muscat->Dimmah Sinkhole->Wadi Shab->Sur->Ras Al Hadd->Ras Aal Jinz->Al Wasil->Wahid Bani Khalid->Nizwa->Jebel Shams->Iraq Baghdad->Khurdistan Erbil-> Khurdistan Sulaymaniyah->Karbala->Najaf->Babylon->Tunisia Tunis->Sousse->Kairouan->Monastir->El Jem->Carthage->Italy Sicily Palermo->Sicily Syracuse->Sicily Catania->Malta->Madrid->Dominican Republic Punta Cana->Les Terrenas->Santo Domingo->Puerto Rico->Miami
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