Day Four: Its Gozo time

After another early start Stephen drove Zahra, Ali and Marilyn (Ann and Cec’s friend) to the other end of Malta (about an hour away) to get the ferry over to Gozo. I went over with Cec and Bernard. Bernard wasn’t feeling too well but he still drove us and stayed with us. The other had gotten the ferry before us so were already in Gozo when we got to the ferry terminal. We parked the car and went for a quick walk around the quays where Bernard made Cec scream with fright (Nothing new there) [Evil Ross 😦 you don’t like me either :(]. We then hopped back in the car and drove onto the ferry. The ferry was larger than I was expecting and only took about 20 mins. It was quite cloudy so I couldn’t get any nice pics of Comino the small island between Malta and Gozo.  We then disembarked and drove to the main town in Gozo, Victoria or as the locals call it Rabat. We met up with the others and I finally got to try the famous pastizzi. It’s a pastry filled with cheese. It was perfect for me as I was feeling a bit peckish.

Pastizz

Then we walked up to the main church to have a look around but there was a mass on so we had a walk around the battlements and took some pics. We then went back to the church and had a gander at the interior.

We then drove to this place (Cec help) for some lunch [Ta’ Kenuna]. It was a nice restaurant which in a little village that had some great views of the countryside. Cec and I had risotto romano which was a chicken and bacon risotto in a cream sauce. Now I hate to leave food behind but it was just too much for me. Cec left more than me so I won! [Congratulations Ross…you get a medal :P] We then changed into our togs (or as the others like to call them swimming costumes) and headed for secluded harbour area where we lay on some concrete and I got burnt through the clouds. After one failed attempt at entering the water Cec never one to give up got in again and her sister and brother soon joined. I thought I’d let the Fenechs bond [Excuses excuses Ross]. Zahra went in to wet her toes and then later for a swim. Poor Ali slipped on the way in and hit his head but still went in.

Dwejra Bay: Inland Sea

[We also looked at the Azure Window…unfortunately the weather was not too nice so it was not really blue, but here is the whole group…except me…infront of this natural beauty].

Azure Window

We then went to a coastal town where we got some ice-cream. The flavour selection was pretty diverse but my chocolate orange was gone [Boohoofoo]. I shouldn’t have let that kid order before me. Anyway then we went to see the salt pans which were holes that had been dug to evaporate off the sea water so that salt would remain at the bottom [Actually we went to see the salt pans before hand hihi].  We also saw some crabs and sea urchins (which apparently goes well with pasta) [Next trip we will find a restaurant that cooks them and you will have to eat them MUHAHAHAHAHA].

We then headed to the ferry terminal but much to Bernard’s annoyance there was a detour in place except the detour wasn’t signposted. So  after a nice alternative view of Gozo we made it back to the ferry (a double-decker). We then left the love birds to it while we stayed put and watched the views. I then switched cars with Marilyn and went back to the Fenechs. Marilyn was dropped off home and the lovers joined us [First you complain that our embrace was not ”romantic”, and then you comment when we spend time together…you are never happy are you :P].

We had the aunts famous Ravoli which Cec had be talking up over the past couple of months. It lived up to its expectations though [WEEEE go aunties]. It was delicious. It was topped with a tomato and onion sauce and grated gbejna. Pure perfection. Thankfully Ali and Zahra weren’t too hungry so I got their leftovers [Such a nice friend :P]. The plan was to play some board games and then maybe go for a walk around Zurrieq but that didn’t come to pass as we were too tired. Instead we just watched TV while Zahra and Ali packed for their flight to Rome the next morning.

By Ross O’Dwyer

Gozo

Bday part 3: Gozo.

After the Rockestra concert, Bernard, Julian, Christine and myself left to go to Gozo. We caught the 1am ferry and arrived at Julian’s family’s flat in Nadur. His dad had been in Gozo earlier in the day and bought pizzas for us weee…so as soon as we arrived we dug into the pizzas, had something to drink and plopped into bed. The next morning we woke up late (around 9am), lazed a bit around, then left to go to Victoria, the capital city of Gozo. Here we had some breakfast: Goat’s cheese qassatat and chocolate milkshake for myself. After this we left to go to Xlendi, where we went for a walk along the shore, up till the tower.

Xlendi Bay...with tower visible

We chatted along the way, and had a relaxing time. This brought us to lunch time. We went to the Country Terrace Restaurant at Mgarr. We found a table outside overlooking the Mgarr Gozo port, Comino and Malta. On such a nice day they were really breathtaking views. Now that I know I am leaving Malta, I guess I have started appreciating these things more and more each day! We decided on our selection: calamari for Julian, Squid Ink ravioli for Christine, Beef Steak for Bernard and pasta parcels with rikotta and pears for me. MMMMMMMMMM. Whilst waiting we were (as usual) brought the bread basket. Again we were pleasantly surprised (it seems as the thing to do in Malta to give different breads)…Instead of the normal rolls, we got warm rolls, all of which are different…brown, with olives etc etc…MMMMMMM (we asked for more hihi).

After Lunch we went back to the flat, where we changed into our swimsuits (except Julian who left his in Malta pfff) and went to Hondoq ir-Rummien. We do not go onto the beach part however we prefer the rocks. There fewer people would be around and the sea is simply beautiful (and you can park mere metres away from the sea). Bernard, Christine and myself jumped into the sea, whilst Julian stayed in the car listening to sports…so he was certainly not disappointed. After an hour or so of swimming, off we went to the flat, got our things and left to come to Malta.

Thank you Bernard, Julian and Christine for a wonderful birth day!

Hondoq ir-Rummien

It’s been a hard day’s work!

Yesterday evening, after my hospital visit I received a call from my manager to tell me that today I was to go to Gozo to check out some complaints we have had there. Therefore this morning I went into work, and as soon as my manager came in we discussed the issues I need to check on in Gozo and at 8:30am I was off to catch the ferry. Once I reached the ferry, a ferry was in dock and cars were going up. However there were another 6 lanes to go up before me, and after a few minutes it left the quay. The next ferry came in, but I did not manage to make it in either…for just 6 cars…but anyways. Finally the 3rd boat came in and off I went. On the ferry I met up with Lara (a BSc friend) and we had a good chat and at long last at 11am I arrived in Gozo…WEEEEEEEEEE!!

I made my way up to Arkadia, where I was to meet my contact, Leli. He is a sales guy responsible for Gozo. He told me he will be there in about 10mins. So I went around the shops, and met up with Clarissa, who is on holiday in Gozo with her family. As soon as Leli called me I met up with him, and we went to the first shop. We then left to see the Gozo Warehouse, since he needed to take some money there and then went to the second shop. We arrived at the shop at 11:45am…but it was closed…hmmmmmmmm…he should close at noon :S…well we tried calling him but to no avail. I called my manager and he tried contacting him as well…but he was also unsuccessful.

Me and Leli went to another shop, in the vicinity since he had some work to do. By this time my manager called back and told me to stay in Gozo till 4pm, when the shop opens again. Hmmm…what to do? So Leli took me back to Arkadia, where I again met up with Clarissa et al and had a good chat till about 2:15pm. At this time, my mum (she has gone up to Gozo for the next 5 days or so) smsd saying she arrived in Gozo…weeeeeeeeee…I told her to come to Arkadia to meet up, so the friends she was with left her at Arkadia. She arrived and off we went to Marsalforn…as soon as I arrived at the flat I looked around and found an old swim suit (from when I was around 12 years old)…I managed to fit into it, and told mum to go swimming.

Off we went to Qbajjar, which is a rocky beach next to the flat. We spent around 30mins swimming, then went up again went to her friends’ flat (about 30sec away from my aunt’s flat where my mum is staying) and chatted a bit. However 4pm was close approaching. So I called Leli again and told him I will be meeting him next to the Nadur Church. He said ‘bully’ (his exact words hihi), I had a shower and changed to my work clothes again, and off we went to the shop.

The guy was there luckily this time, and he was quite nice (other people said he was very very angry etc etc)…I took the details of his complaint and made my way back to Malta. This time the trip was easier haha…just arrived at the ferry, paid my fee and went straight up on the ferry. Then back to work, and I am finally home!

It was a great ‘day at work’ hihi…tiring but fun, for days like this when you know that you are still leaving, other people are taking care of your jobs back at the office, and therefore do not have to worry about time lost…WEEEEEEEEEE

Sea…Sun…Sunburn…SUMMER!

Just arrived back, tired, sunburnt and sad :(…that the weekend is over that is…I have spent the past 48 hours or so in the beautiful island of Gozo , together with my lovely bf, Bernard…We both love to go to Gozo…there life seems to take on another meaning…you have time to relax and enjoy your time. However it is often difficult to just up and leave everything, since something is always happening. However, since on Saturday we had our anniversary (5 years together weeeeee), we decided to take on this trip, after another successful trip last year.

Friday saw us leaving Malta quite late, because Bernard had to help his father out to fix the boat moorings prior to them taking their boat to sea for the summer. We arrived in Gozo at about 10:15pm, and stopped at a restaurant close to the Mgarr Port to eat. We ate al fresco on their terrace with the beautiful view of Comino and Malta in front of us. After that, it was straight to the flat (which my aunt luckily allows us to use whenever we go to Gozo), and went to sleep.

Saturday saw us waking up at around 8am and soon after we left to go to Victoria, Gozo’s capital city. Here we had breakfast at a cafe and proceeded to go round the shops at Victoria. I wanted to buy some clothes. As usual, I did not manage to find anything I liked, whilst Bernard managed to buy 2 shorts, 2 shirts and a pair of trousers for Eur54 :(. At around 1pm, we went to the flat, changed into our swimsuits and went to swim at Qbajjar…a short walk from our flat. At around 4pm, we proceeded to go to Lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Qbajjar Bay. This was followed by mass at Qbajjar after changing into appropriate clothes.

Saturday night saw us going to Victoria again, where the San Gorg feast was on. We saw posters talking about San Gorg Megalomartri…and we have no idea what a Megalomartri is :D…can anyone enlighten us? After this, we went back to Marsalforn, where we had dinner. After a short walk we went back to sleep 😀

This brings us to today, Sunday, where the programme consisted of SWIMMING! After breakfast at Victoria again, we left to go swimming at Ramla Bay. However, on the way we stopped to buy our new friend…PIXY the PIXX :D…hihi…she is a cute adorable inflatable fish…should be a ring which you can place around yourself…however the hole in the middle is too small for either me or Bernard :(…nonetheless swimming with us she came.

Ramla Bay, Gozo

At around 1:30pm we went to collect some food from a bakery in Nadur, il-Maxokk Bakery. We normally buy from Mekren Bakery, also from Nadur, since we think the quality is better. However we found out that Mekren is closed on Sundays…so off to Maxokk we went. We picked up our food, and proceeded to Hondoq ir-Rummien.

Hondoq ir-Rummien, Gozo

Bernard parked just 5metres away from the shore, and we ate looking at the beautiful sea, Comino and Malta. The sea at Hondoq is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. It is crystal clear and quite a number of fish, crabs and other animals (luckily no jellyfish…not at any part of our holiday). We did not want to leave, but alas we had to. After some time swimming, we went back to the flat, washed, changed, packed and left to come back to Malta. With a lot of new memories and Pixy the Pixx :D…Hope we will have many more such weekends together.

Thank you Bernard for the past 5 years…hope we have many more together!…wove u!!