It is
almost a year since Steve and I left our lovely home on the tiny island of
Gozo, which is part of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean. After leaving Gozo, we spent several months
in the south of France, before moving to southern Spain where we have spent the
last three months. We are about to move again, but that is another story. As we
once again start packing up our belongings to move house; for the 7th
time in ten years may I add! I can’t help but think of Gozo and the happy five
years we spent there.
Beautiful Gozo
I tried to put my finger on one thing I miss about Gozo, but I found I couldn’t narrow it down. I simply couldn’t name ONE thing about this island of magic, as there are so many things I miss. Instead, I decided to make a list; not a list of tourist attractions or things to do, but things I miss. So, here are the top five things I miss about Gozo.
Friends; in the five years we lived in Gozo, Steve and I made more friends than we’ve ever made anywhere else we have lived. That remains true today. There are many ex pats living in Gozo and we quickly built up a core group of true friends who could be counted on in any event, no matter what time of day or night. We miss our friends; we miss the spontaneity of that knock on the door as they called to see us. No arrangements were required; it was just the accepted thing that people turned up, the frying pan went on and bacon sandwiches were made. We had friends who would do their weekly shopping, then visit us armed with donuts to share; things like that. I recall on many occasions, friends would call around lunchtime, and still be with us in the early hours of the morning! At regular intervals during that time, I’d rustle up some food, open a bottle of two of wine, and we’d just talk and laugh all day. Good times, such good times J
At one of our favourite places, the Cornucopia Hotel in Xaghra where we got married
Some of our friends left Gozo while we were still there, and we missed them. However, we could guarantee that when they came back to visit, we would all meet up, and pick up where we left off, such was the close relationships we were lucky enough to share. I miss going down to Smiley’s in Marsalforn, or Kozmo in Victoria, or the tiny café down at the Inland Sea. It didn’t matter where we met, what mattered was the company. Whether it was just us plus another couple, or the whole group of 10 or more, we laughed, we cried, we shared griefs and joys – after all, that’s what friends are for. Yes, we miss our friends and I am very saddened to say that some of them are never coming back. Make the most of it folks, we’re only here once.
Just some of the wonderful friends we made in Gozo
Some of our friends left Gozo while we were still there, and we missed them. However, we could guarantee that when they came back to visit, we would all meet up, and pick up where we left off, such was the close relationships we were lucky enough to share. I miss going down to Smiley’s in Marsalforn, or Kozmo in Victoria, or the tiny café down at the Inland Sea. It didn’t matter where we met, what mattered was the company. Whether it was just us plus another couple, or the whole group of 10 or more, we laughed, we cried, we shared griefs and joys – after all, that’s what friends are for. Yes, we miss our friends and I am very saddened to say that some of them are never coming back. Make the most of it folks, we’re only here once.
Just some of the wonderful friends we made in Gozo
We also had many Gozitan friends, who embraced us and accepted us as part of the scene. One time, Steve and I had been on the bus and were chatting to the driver who we had come to know well. We knew that Gozo had become our home as he waved us off with a smile and said, “You’re locals now”. I recall another time we were on the Gozo ferry ,returning home after a trip to the UK. One of the workers on the ferry recognised us and simply said, “You’re home then” – I miss that.
On the Gozo ferry
Xlendi Bay; Steve and I never lived in Xlendi, but our very first trip to Gozo in 2010 was to Xlendi, where we stayed in St Patrick’s hotel. I fell head over heels in love with the place and decided I needed to live in Gozo. Xlendi has a special charm and magic, which I have not found anywhere else on the island. Restaurants and bars line the sea front, the fish swim in their hundreds right next to where you sit, and are always grateful if you share your bread with them. It sends them into a feeding frenzy and used to keep me entertained while I drank my coffee. The water is a clear as glass and provides a safe haven for swimming and diving. However, if you visit on one of those blustery winter days where the rain comes down like stair rods, the sea will show its wild side and leap right out of the bay at you and onto the sidewalks, making it impossible to sit outside until it calms down. Many’s the time we’ve waded across the road in Xlendi after a heavy rainstorm, marvelling at the difference a few hours of rain can make.
Xlendi Bay; Steve and I never lived in Xlendi, but our very first trip to Gozo in 2010 was to Xlendi, where we stayed in St Patrick’s hotel. I fell head over heels in love with the place and decided I needed to live in Gozo. Xlendi has a special charm and magic, which I have not found anywhere else on the island. Restaurants and bars line the sea front, the fish swim in their hundreds right next to where you sit, and are always grateful if you share your bread with them. It sends them into a feeding frenzy and used to keep me entertained while I drank my coffee. The water is a clear as glass and provides a safe haven for swimming and diving. However, if you visit on one of those blustery winter days where the rain comes down like stair rods, the sea will show its wild side and leap right out of the bay at you and onto the sidewalks, making it impossible to sit outside until it calms down. Many’s the time we’ve waded across the road in Xlendi after a heavy rainstorm, marvelling at the difference a few hours of rain can make.
Beautiful Xlendi
Steve and I had our own special place in Xlendi where we would go and sit. We would walk right along the side of the bay to the far end and sit on the bench there staring out to sea in simple silence. No words were necessary, such was the beauty of the vista. I miss that.
Steve and I had our own special place in Xlendi where we would go and sit. We would walk right along the side of the bay to the far end and sit on the bench there staring out to sea in simple silence. No words were necessary, such was the beauty of the vista. I miss that.
Singing; Steve and I worked in Gozo as
entertainers. Resident at The Captain’s Table in Xlendi, and regulars at many
other places, we made many great friends through our singing. We performed on
roof tops, on beaches, in squares, on the waterfront and of course in hotels,
bars and restaurants. It was what we did, and we loved it. Our followers never
ceased to amaze us with their creativity in ridiculousness. They loved to catch
Steve out, and many’s the night he couldn’t sing for laughing. We both miss
that.
Great times at The Captain's Table
The Simple Life; living on Gozo was so easy. We had left the UK due to never ending hassle in daily life. We’d had enough and were looking for an escape. We found it in Gozo. With a simple, slow pace of life, where everything seemed so straight forward, it was exactly what we needed. The sun shone most of the time, eating out was cheap and the food always good. Time moved at a leisurely pace, people were polite and friendly and life really was simple. There was no crime that we were ever aware of, and you really could leave your car keys in the car and your handbag on a table without fear of theft. We were lucky enough to be in a position to pretty much please ourselves in what we did. If we wanted to go out, have a wander round the shops, a bit of lunch, a walk by the sea, then that’s what we did. We might pop to Marsalforn and enjoy the walk along the front; one or two coffees were always in order, along with lunch.
Everything came with a sea view of course. Other days, we might go down to the famous Azure Window in Dwerja and marvel at this well-known monument and wonder that it hadn’t fallen into the sea yet! What we did not know was that one day, we would shoot a video here and sing right up on top of this most famous Gozitan landmark!
The Simple Life; living on Gozo was so easy. We had left the UK due to never ending hassle in daily life. We’d had enough and were looking for an escape. We found it in Gozo. With a simple, slow pace of life, where everything seemed so straight forward, it was exactly what we needed. The sun shone most of the time, eating out was cheap and the food always good. Time moved at a leisurely pace, people were polite and friendly and life really was simple. There was no crime that we were ever aware of, and you really could leave your car keys in the car and your handbag on a table without fear of theft. We were lucky enough to be in a position to pretty much please ourselves in what we did. If we wanted to go out, have a wander round the shops, a bit of lunch, a walk by the sea, then that’s what we did. We might pop to Marsalforn and enjoy the walk along the front; one or two coffees were always in order, along with lunch.
Everything came with a sea view of course. Other days, we might go down to the famous Azure Window in Dwerja and marvel at this well-known monument and wonder that it hadn’t fallen into the sea yet! What we did not know was that one day, we would shoot a video here and sing right up on top of this most famous Gozitan landmark!
And here we are; rockin on the rock!
We always loved a trip into Victoria, where we would make our way through the lovely new park in the centre, and up to the market. We’d stop and talk to the stall holders. They would shrug their shoulders when we asked how business was, and tell us it was too quiet, or too busy. We’d bump into people we knew, stop to chat, or agree to coffee – there was always time for coffee. I miss that.
Everything! It’s no good, I can’t narrow it down to
5 headings. I miss the lifestyle we had in Gozo, which I know we can never
replicate anywhere else, because there IS nowhere else like Gozo, or should I
say there was nowhere like the Gozo WE lived in. It wasn’t perfect, nowhere is.
The winters could be wet, cold and fairly miserable. I certainly don’t miss
that, but everything else ……………………..
When it rained, it REALLY rained!
It may be different now in Gozo, but the life we had for those five years was wonderful. We sang, had great friends, I wrote 2 books, we did car boot sales, which were so much fun. Hell, we even got married there!
Our wedding day with 20 year old Ollie the lurcher as our best man!
I miss the beauty of the place, the colours, the cliffs, the sea, the ferry ride over to Malta. I miss the locals sitting on their doorsteps after the heat has gone out of the sun. I miss the lizards darting about, the flowers in May, the sound of that musical singsong language. I guess I just miss it all, so thank you Gozo, for everything. Things change, people change, and places change. But Gozo was just what we needed for the time we lived there. It was a time of healing, of simply being. I miss that and I know we can never have it again.
It may be different now in Gozo, but the life we had for those five years was wonderful. We sang, had great friends, I wrote 2 books, we did car boot sales, which were so much fun. Hell, we even got married there!
Our wedding day with 20 year old Ollie the lurcher as our best man!
I miss the beauty of the place, the colours, the cliffs, the sea, the ferry ride over to Malta. I miss the locals sitting on their doorsteps after the heat has gone out of the sun. I miss the lizards darting about, the flowers in May, the sound of that musical singsong language. I guess I just miss it all, so thank you Gozo, for everything. Things change, people change, and places change. But Gozo was just what we needed for the time we lived there. It was a time of healing, of simply being. I miss that and I know we can never have it again.
You
can read all about our life in Gozo in my book, Gozo Is the Grass Greener? This is not a tourist's guide to Gozo, neither is it an exhaustive narrative about the pros and cons of the island. It is simply about our lives while living there, along with anecdotes and observations of life in general.
Available from Amazon and published by Faraxa. Gozo Is the Grass Greener was awarded an Honorable Mention at the 2015 London Book Festival.
Available from Amazon and published by Faraxa. Gozo Is the Grass Greener was awarded an Honorable Mention at the 2015 London Book Festival.
Visit
my website; www.freyabarrington.com or find
me on Facebook and give me a like J
https://www.facebook.com/FreyaBarrington/
Freya
