Gozo, Malta

Hey fellow wanderlusters and photography enthusiasts! Today, I’m taking you on a side-splitting journey to a land where azure seas and captivating landscapes meet the quirkiest, most charming island inhabitants. Buckle up and grab your snorkels, for we’re diving headfirst into the wonderland known as Gozo! Gozo is a smaller island located in the tiny country of Malta. While most visitors will remain on the main island, Gozo is by far the nicer place IMHO.

The Joy of Pronunciation

When you roam the island, you will encountered places that that seem impossible to pronounce. Names like “Dwerja”, “Mgarr-Ix-Xini”, “Xlendi” and “Dhalet Quorrot” become our tongue-twisting foes. Feel free to engage in a battle of pronunciation, but the locals politely pretended not to notice our verbal gymnastics. I’m convinced they secretly enjoy watching tourists like us mangle their beloved language!

The Beauty

Gozo has a lot to offer to those who want to explore. The waters around the island and its smaller sister (Comino) sparkle in various shades of blue. There are a lot of bays to be discovered. But be forewarned – lot’s of gems are difficult to find and the roads leading to them are anything but easy to drive on. As a matter of fact, we prefer to rent scooters as they allow you to easily navigate the plethora of potholes and narrow streets. When it comes to exploring the fabulous waters around the island, we have frequently turned to Seagozo. They are super nice and offer amazing tours. As a matter of fact, one of our most memorable experiences on Gozo was a trip to a tuna farm.

The secret temple

Speaking of difficult navigation – a few years ago, a local guy told me about an ancient punic temple with amazing views. It’s called Ras il-Wardija. Research quickly reveals that you cannot reach this place by car or scooter. You have to either hike or run there. There are no signs and the path is not marked. Luckily, my trusted Garmin watch helped me find this little gem. The views are outstanding. I have since returned twice and love going there every time.

Gozo

Gozo is a unique island and I find that it still resembles the Malta that I first saw in 1989. It’s wild, quirky and gorgeous. However, it’s not an island that provides easy access. You have to be willing to go out there and explore. That means going off the beaten track here and there. But the effort is well worth it. All photos were taken with one of my trusted Fuji X or GoPro cameras. You can see more photos of Gozo & Malta in my portfolio. I also wrote a blog post about the Azure Window which was sadly eaten by a winter storm in 2017.