Gozo with its centre Victoria is the island north of Malta, and en route to Camino which hosts caves and the Blue lagoon. I skipped the latter as it was a separate ferry and bussed locally to Cirkewwa harbor and took the ferry. All well organized, you buy the return ticket when returning and a one way takes about 25 mins. Also takes cars.
Arriving in Giza is a small harbour and cathedral on a hill.
I then took a bus north slightly west to Ramla Bay for an hour to see the orange sand huge beach with mountainous cliffs of yellow rock and green luscious vegetation. Saw a few familiar flora and fauna species but a new kind of pamphus grass with plumes on bamboo of about three or four metres high!
The buses in Gozo are rackety and their drivers are hero’s! They drive to a place then manoeuvre in u turns to change route to go to a new place. It’s that small. But! The streets although two way literally take the width of a bus and then just! Sometimes if there is oncoming traffic they reverse out to allow passage. Unique! And why I love travelling locally. Observing daily routines, normal life and cultural aspects of a country’s folk. Below, Ramla bay with its orange sand beach. Otherwise remote with nothing else going on.
Sky high pamphus grass
Dotted yellow stone villas overlooking the beach and sea. Owners drive up in jeeps.
Gozo is a tiny island and which means everywhere you drive you can almost always see the sea. Victoria its main small little city/village is about 1/10 the size of Valletta but pretty with Italian style streets, and literally 90% of balconies in pillar style, Christian statues often embedded in walls and just everywhere, the sun glowing on yellow stone buildings. Pretty! The main attraction is the citadel built high on a cliff or rocky hill.
It is still possible to get lost through similar Italian Sienna type winding alley streets which are worth exploring for their beauty and unique medieval ambience.
Back to mainland Malta takes a little time as the bus routes seem to zigzag and not have direct routes. This means you also get to see the magnificent cathedral in Nadir a few times. In fact all over Malta, due to its mountainous geography you will see cathedrals and domes wherever you go. This is because St Paul shipwrecked, stayed on the island three months and spread Christianity.
Souvenirs similar to St Gigmagno monastry in Italy
Attention to every detail in sculptured walls best to zoom in to see
Inside the citadel the main cathedral in Victoria
Victoria main streets
More suburban streets …always the yellow stone
Citadel is huge needs a half hour walk
In front of the cathedral in the citadel area
Hill you climb towards the Citadel looking back
But back to public transport, it is amazingly efficient. Two euro for a trip and transfers two hours long. So in short, Gozo worth visiting if you are staying in the north and close to Popeye Village in Mellieha where I was. Which is also close to the famous red Fortress on a hill which looks very Asia /Indian actually. Nadur Cathedral south of Victoria
Countryside landscape in between villages
Citadel from afar
Landscape generally always shows sea everywhere
Typical delightful alleys winding through Victoria centre. It also has a few squares with nice cafes.
The colour and texture of Malta. Yellow rock and stone.
Typically ornate balancing and ONE that didn’t have the Italian Sardinia, Sicilian style pillars!
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