Warm welcome (Gozo)

Member Name: pebegator

Product:	Gozo
Date:	27/04/06 (423 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Short flight from UK

Disadvantages: None other than couldn't stay longer

Fourteen days in April , stayed at Qbajjar bay near Marsalforn in a self catering flat. Weather good, no rain and pleasantly warm like an English summer. Three days of wind in total with white horses on the sea but still short sleeved shirt weather in the daytime. Having now been there have found better and cheaper accomadation (Horizon apartments) which we have inspected look foward to next year even more.
Singapore used to be our favorite place until we discovered Gozo this year we even think it beats NewZealand for scenery and the people of Gozo are the nicest anywhere on the planet with a very good sense of humor, got time for you without trying to sell you something and very sociable and helpful.
Arrived at Malta airport on a Sunday and took the helicopter to Xewkija, Gozo, rather expensive ( £50 sterling each one way ) now a Spanish company has taken over and next time will have a hire car waiting at the airport and drive to ferry . The plan was to hire motor scooters when at Gozo but on seeing the state of the roads thought better of it and hired a car instead. Roads and driving standards are awful but good fun if not in your own car, soon get the hang of it in a few days though, several roads which are on the map but look like goat tracks were so steep that the tyres were smoking all the way up to get traction and drivers overtake, undertake, turn and stop without signals and park anywhere at peculiar angles to the kerb. Always give way to bigger vehicles at roundabouts even if it is your right of way. Driving is on the left, sometimes. Our hire car had dents the size of footballs in places and one back light smashed in on collection just to give you an idea of the place and police take no notice of this but newer cars are available. Quite boring driving back on the M6 again. Note that shops are shut on Sundays so if arriving on that day at least have tea making facillities and next days breakfast to hand, although restaurants are open. Mosts shops shut midday till 3 pm.
Whilst at the butchers in Xaghra was told of the Good Friday parade at the church that evening, when we explained that we were not Catholic but C of E we were still warmly welcomed by the butcher and several of his customers who explaind that we still beleive in the same God which is rather refreshing these days in such troubled times and that the underground shelters under the square were to be opened for the first time since 1945. We did go to the parade which was one of the best, most moving events I have attended in my life and it lasted for three hours and also the shelters which were candle lit. Such a small island with lots to see and do, safe, good food with a choice of British fare including rabbit or Med style and have not seen car and house keys left in locks, even in the capital Victoria for many a year. Wish we had discovered it before all those long trips to the other side of the world. ATMs a bit hit and miss, will take travellers cheques next time.

Summary: Think of a hot summer in 1950s Britain with exotic veiws