Malta & Gozo – Instagram Highlights. #MaltaisMore

My recent trip to the serene and tranquil Gozo (at the same time Brad and Angelina were hosting their lavish honeymoon and filming Under the Sea, we were told), and the bigger sister-big city island Malta, had many highlights.

Balmy weather with sultry nights for terrace dining, aquamarine waters, gorgeous architecture with the loveliest of honey-coloured stone, ancient temples and quaint seaside villages, arid sandy land that miraculously produces good grapes, tomatoes, olives (no surprise), pomegranates and marrows, the range of sheep and goat’s cheese, seafood and warm, friendly people are some of them. I had a wonderfully packed two weeks, and will be sharing more soon.

Here are some of my favourite Instagram and Facebook image posts:

…Give the pages some love, will you? 🙂

Sunset at the Tiki Bar, Excelsior Hotel, Malta

Sunset at the Tiki Bar, Excelsior Hotel, Malta

 

Beautiful doors in Gozo and Malta

Beautiful doors in Gozo and Malta

An obvious answer...seen in Valetta, Malta

An obvious answer…seen in Valetta, Malta

 

Barren streets by midday light. Today, alone. Without a sound, a step, a stirring, No brisk hooves, nor the clank of valiant armour, Of the men who built this city. Retreat! They have departed. Silent knights with heavy hearts. Somewhere, a sound. A step. A stirring. *taken in Vittoriosa (Birgu), Malta. The remaining Knights of St John now have exclusive use of the Fort Saint Angelo in Birgu*

Barren streets by midday light. Today, alone.
Without a sound, a step, a stirring,
No brisk hooves, nor the clank of valiant armour,
Of the men who built this city.
Retreat!
They have departed. Silent knights with heavy hearts.
Somewhere, a sound.
A step.
A stirring. *taken in Vittoriosa (Birgu), Malta. The remaining Knights of St John now have exclusive use of the Fort Saint Angelo in Birgu*

Blogger brunch essentials at Tatita's in San Lawrenz, "our" village in Gozo

Blogger brunch essentials at Tatita’s in San Lawrenz, “our” village in Gozo

Look up! Prickly pears - they're in season now in Gozo & Malta. Pity it isn't easy to pluck them off the branch without the discomfort of the prickly bits - scattered all over the roadsides and perfect for foraging #foodpics #maltaismore #gozo

Look up! Prickly pears – they’re in season now in Gozo & Malta. Pity it isn’t easy to pluck them off the branch without the discomfort of the prickly bits – scattered all over the roadsides and perfect for foraging #foodpics #maltaismore #gozo

 

Azure window, another view #Gozo #loveMalta #travel

Azure window, another view #Gozo #loveMalta #travel

The Azure window. Everyone wants to make a record that they were there. Pictures are a sort of graffiti, the etchings appear in Facebook albums and digital books instead of on rock and stone these days. You may recognise the window from Game of Thrones? #Gozo #maltaismore #travel

The Azure window. Everyone wants to make a record that they were there. Pictures are a sort of graffiti, the etchings appear in Facebook albums and digital books instead of on rock and stone these days. You may recognise the window from Game of Thrones? #Gozo #maltaismore #travel

 

Local's fave cafe in Gozo

Local’s fave cafe in Gozo

Gozo platter, after the dramatic and sudden hurricane on the Island. All fine in the end!

Gozo platter, after the dramatic and sudden hurricane on the Island. All fine in the end!

 

From the top of the stairs at the citadel in Victoria, capital city of Gozo #maltaismore #architecture #travel

From the top of the stairs at the citadel in Victoria, capital city of Gozo #maltaismore #architecture #travel

 

The Ta'Pinu basilica in Gozo as seen from the green tourist bus. Always enjoy a bus ride through a town for orientation. #maltaismore

The Ta’Pinu basilica in Gozo as seen from the green tourist bus. Always enjoy a bus ride through a town for orientation. #maltaismore

Pick a boat, any boat. Galley Creek with Senglea and Valetta across #malta #maltaismore

Pick a boat, any boat. Galley Creek with Senglea and Valetta across #malta #maltaismore

 

Doors of Gozo. Wee selection #maltaismore #doors #architecture

Doors of Gozo. Wee selection #maltaismore #doors #architecture

The eye of Horus or Osiris, a protector against evil, an ancient Egyptian custom said to bring luck too. They say the eyes are stuck prominently on the front of the luzzu (fishing boats) in the village of Marsaxlokk but we couldn't find them on many. Boats are covered in blankets and sheets too (sun protection, I imagine) and we started to lift the blankets up looking for the eyes. Discreetly, of course. Nada. At the little market in the harbour a young man took his time selecting one. "I hope this brings me luck," he said to the vendor who advised he placed it at the front of the house. Won't say I wasn't tempted to ask him a few questions :) #loveMalta #maltaismore

The eye of Horus or Osiris, a protector against evil, an ancient Egyptian custom said to bring luck too. They say the eyes are stuck prominently on the front of the luzzu (fishing boats) in the village of Marsaxlokk but we couldn’t find them on many. Boats are covered in blankets and sheets too (sun protection, I imagine) and we started to lift the blankets up looking for the eyes. Discreetly, of course. Nada. At the little market in the harbour a young man took his time selecting one. “I hope this brings me luck,” he said to the vendor who advised he placed it at the front of the house. Won’t say I wasn’t tempted to ask him a few questions 🙂 #loveMalta #maltaismore

 

Perching on my haunches in lovely Marsaxlokk - ten points if you can pronounce is right the first time! #Malta

Perching on my haunches in lovely Marsaxlokk – ten points if you can pronounce is right the first time! #Malta

Xwenji Bay in Gozo. Arrived here by Segway. With @budgettraveller & @voyageavecnous #maltaismore #travel #seaside

Xwenji Bay in Gozo. Arrived here by Segway. With @budgettraveller & @voyageavecnous #maltaismore #travel #seaside

 

Hard to believe this isn't fake. Anchor's bay at the Popeye village movie set in #Malta #maltaismore

Hard to believe this isn’t fake. Anchor’s bay at the Popeye village movie set in #Malta #maltaismore

 

Delightful Popeye Village and Anchor's Bay. Set of the 1980's movie with Robin Williams - he insisted they keep it intact #Malta #maltaismore

Delightful Popeye Village and Anchor’s Bay. Set of the 1980’s movie with Robin Williams – he insisted they keep it intact #Malta #maltaismore

In Mdina, as the sun sets and the outsiders exit, we enter through the gates of splendour Within the fortress, latte stone and doorways in shadow Voices hushed and corridors narrow. We dine with candles, flickering softly on walls of gold. Last goodbyes, new friends and old #maltaismore #Malta

In Mdina, as the sun sets and the outsiders exit, we enter through the gates of splendour
Within the fortress, latte stone and doorways in shadow
Voices hushed and corridors narrow.
We dine with candles, flickering softly on walls of gold.
Last goodbyes, new friends and old
#maltaismore #Malta

 

Sunset in San Lawrenz, Gozo

Sunset in San Lawrenz, Gozo

Disclaimer: This project is part of the Blog Island Malta campaign in partnership with the Malta Tourism Authority and the support of Air Malta. I’m not getting paid for this series, but will receive assistance with flights, accommodation and tours.  

Special thanks to Carina, Alexia and fantastic tour guide Nicolette

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