Storm the citadel

Blue water straight across from apartment

The Citadel

Isn't Gozo beautiful!

In Archeology museum, the 5 types of rock used in building,
very interesting

Finally some street art, albeit a few hundred years ago
 in Citadel Prison

Ggantja Temples

Lizards are everywhere

Excitement plus, festa

St Johns lit up for festival

First order of business today is to get the bus. We board right outside the apartment and in no time we arrive in Rabat (Victoria). Paul is in demand, has to take me to the Citadel and escort Monica and Angela around Rabat. Being Gozitian has advantages all round.

The Citadel was a place of refugee for all Gozitans to protect themselves from raiding corsairs and Saracens. Until 1673 each night the populations by law for their own safety to spend every night within the citadel.

Paul and I are walking up the ramps to the entry gates in the heat, we make it inside to be greeted by the steps of the cathedral. After a quick orientation tour Paul now leaves and I am free to explore on my own. Lots of photos to take and places to imagine how it must have been over the years to defend the Citadel from attack. Even in WW2 the Citadel was used for protection in WW2 air raids. Since arriving in Gozo I feel like I am on an episode of Game of Thrones.

There are 4 museums to visit as well. One of particular interest is the Old Prison with maritime graffiti from inmates. Finally I have found some street art!

We wind our way back to the bus terminal through the narrow streets of Rabat, seeing houses from Paul’s family and arriving at the terminal. Its very hot and we wait a while then finally get on the bus with about half of Gozo. I am at the back of the bus with stacks of tourists and locals. We hang on for grim life as the daredevil driver makes his way towards Marsalforn, I glimpse a river. Its about a metre wide and does not look very deep, but this is the first one I have seen anywhere in Malta. We go up hill and down dale and arrive at the sea, nearly there now. The bus has stopped and will go no further, what is going on. Lots of Maltese are going mamma mia and hassling the driver. Eventually we figure out the road is blocked and the bus will not go any further for a few hours. Ever resourceful Paul goes off and finds a lift back to the apartment and returns, as our shining knight of Malta is his white Peguot. Disaster avoided.

Finally we arrive back for siesta, we need it. For our traditional sandwiches, hobzbiz-zejt u tadam. I have been living on pastizzis and tuna sandwiches, bliss.

When it is cooler we venture out again, our first stop is the Ggantija Temples. It is late and I have the temples practically to myself, this is good. This megalithic site is the oldest freestanding structure in the world and was used for about 1,000 years for worship from about 3000 BC until the temple culture abruptly disappeared.

I am very impressed with this site and so glad that I got to see it!

Next the gang whisk me back into the car and off we go to Qala, pronounced Ala – I am getting more of the lingo as we go. More towns, little cemeteries, views from everywhere and even the channel to Malta with all three ferries in view at once. Time for some dinner at Rexy’s my gozo cheese ravioli is divine.

We are heading along the back streets of Gozo winding our way home, I promise I will not take anymore photos before we get there. The church of St John in Xewkija is all lit up and there is people everywhere. What is going on? Paul pulls into the square and I jump out camera at the ready and run up the steps of the church to see what is happening. There are hundreds of people singing and clapping a band is playing its amazing. I feel Paul at my elbow and he expertly manoeuvres me through the crowd, past the statute of St John and into the front of the possession this is mad. What a sight!

After all the excitement we head back to the abandoned car in the middle of the square with Monica and Angela and continue our journey. I am totally over excited now. I promise not to take any more photos, maybe.