Manchester to Gozo

After a 3am wake up and smooth 7am flight we touched down in Malta around 11am local time. Beautifully efficient airport - our luggage arrived within a few minutes, a short walk to pick up the hire car and we were away!

We were immediately struck by the beautiful Moorish/European fusion (I’m
sure we’ll learn more about the architecture and influences as the trip progresses).
Kate did some expert driving (on the left side of the road) negotiating the many small roundabouts and single track windy roads (under my helpful direction and encouragement of course).

Our tummy’s were rumbling from the early start, so we pulled into Ghadira bay and enjoyed lunch at a beach bar called Munchies, whilst watching the international sailing competition training and listening to the waves. We knew that moment, as the sun poured onto the terrace, we’d made the right call coming to Malta in December.

We then had a confusing but efficient drive over to the small ferry port, and were one of the last cars on the 2.15, bound for Gozo. After 25 minutes mooching around, negotiating dogs, school children and other passengers we docked. There was a beautiful church overlooking the small town of Ghajnsielem (pronounced “Einsilem” - Maltese language is apparently a mixture of Arabic, Italian, Spanish and English - the only Arabic language written in Latin text, which will also take some getting used to!).

Claudia’s house was tricky to find, a 10 minute drive from the ferry port at Mgarr Harbour. She greeted us with a warm smile and big hug after we took a chance and knocked on the big green door. The rest of the afternoon/evening was spent unpacking, getting to know “the girls” (the felines we’ll be caring for over the next 8 days) and all chatting over tea and pannetone. Claudia had some amazing recommendations of places to see and eat, and insights into living and working in Gozo, and how this differed to her time in London.

Maya was last seen relaxing on her scratching box. Kate just said to me, whilst giving Chandra (Fatty-Bum-Bum) snuggles as she rested on her chest purring and “making biscuits” -
“Hasn’t it been a great first day”.
Very right she is, feeling right at home already!Read more