The exploration of Gozo continues. Despite the very uncomfortable heat, I’m still very much enjoying getting out each day for a good look around, finding new things. And it really does pay off just walking, as opposed to using public transport or other means like Ubers all the time. On foot, you happen to find amazing things that you would just speed past if you were driving.
History shows that Malta has been invaded many times over the centuries. Everyone has taken a turn at running the place – the Romans, the Arabs, Spaniards, Napoleon, the Brits, and of course the Knights of St John. When the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem collapsed, the Knights headed to the island of Rhodes (Greece) before then moving onto Malta, where they ruled for 268 years, from 1530 to 1798. You can still see many of the fortifications and towers the Knights built around the coastline.
Anyway, as I was walking through a small commune called Fontana (aka Fountain), I walked past one of the original washhouses the Knights built and used during their rule (see picture in the slideshow). Some of the locals in Fontana still use the washhouse to maintain that tradition. Most of the tourist buses on that road just zoom past, with those on board having no idea about the history so close at hand.
Throughout the year, Malta and Gozo host local community Feasts. Given Malta is 90% Catholic, on most weekends you will find a local village or commune celebrating their Patron Saint feast. When I visited Malta in 2016, I was lucky enough to be there for the Feast of Our Lady of Victory in Xaghra. This village (Xaghra) just happened to be my Maltese friends’ brother’s feast. And what a great night it was – locals throwing open their doors to strangers, providing free alcohol and food; the community march coming down the street with trumpets, flags and marine flares! And I’ll never forget the culmination of the event with poor old Mother Mary flying across the square outside of the cathedral on a zipline…with a firecracker whizzing out her backside! Unfortunately, I’m literally going to miss that particular feast by one day, as I’ll be leaving Malta on Saturday, whereas the Feast is on Sunday. But the Feast in San Lawrenz is on this weekend, so I’ll pop along to that, and then I see there is a beer and food festival in Sannat on the 18th – only 3km walk from home.
And of course, importantly, I’m getting some good research done here as well – given that’s the reason why I’m here 😊 But you can still have some fun, I say!
My new swimming spot (see bottom left of pic, old boat ramp) near Dwejra Tower
