Malta - Day 14: Exploring Mġarr and Swimming in Xlendi

As we had already visited the main attractions in Gozo that we had planned to see, we decided to have a relaxation day. We slept a little longer, then we had a late breakfast at the San Antonio Guesthouse in Xlendi. However - we thought a little trip to the harbor in Mgarr couldn´t hurt and there would still be time to stay at the pool and take a dip in Xlendi Bay.

We walked down to the Xlendi Bus Stop (located behind St. Patrick´s Hotel) to get the hourly Bus 306 to the Victoria Bus Terminal, where all buses on Gozo depart. There we switched coaches and rode the bus 301 to Mgarr. Inside the waiting bus, we were greeted by an uproar, as (mostly older) people inside were arguing. The "problem person," who seemed to have caused the arguing, fortunately, left the bus before we departed. Given that the uproar was in Maltese we didn't understand a word.

Soon we arrived in Mgarr at the Vapur Bus Station, which is just at the Ferry Terminal, where the ferries to the main island of Malta depart. We walked around in the neat area and watched the first loads of day guests arrive in Gozo.

From inside the bus, we had seen signs for the Fort Chambray, so we opted to walk up there from the harbor. But first, we passed by a supermarket and wanted to get something to drink, as it was already quite hot. I immediately got inside while my friend was asked to drop his bag in a locker room. I've admittedly missed the sign as it was the one and only supermarket in Malta that I have been to where they have a locker at the entrance. Later at the counter, I was asked to open my bag for the woman to check. I might have stolen something. There was no point in arguing with her as she won't let me buy the cookies, a pack of gum and a dental floss unless I let her check my bag. I pity her as she seems to be pretty bored. It was quite an unpleasant supermarket. Can't they just use cameras like any other supermarket?

Still a little upset, we walked further up until we reached the entrance to Bethlehem Village, but didn't step further, as it seemed to be closed. We proceeded along the road to Fort Chambray. However - there wasn't really something to see. It looked like they were working on it. Later, we read that they want to build luxury apartments there. 

The next bus back to Victoria was still some time away. So, we walked further along the road and then waited at a bus stop. When the bus arrived, it, unfortunately, didn't stop (despite everyone at the bus stop waving). It was apparently crowded with day tourists from the ferry terminal. Fortunately, we knew, there was another bus line to Victoria and walked in the direction of the Ghajnsielem Parish Church to another bus stop. The next bus that arrived after some more waiting was nearly empty and brought us finally back to Victoria. 

From Victoria, we went back to Xlendi and climbed the hill at the bay and followed the path back down to the water. Xlendi is really beautiful, rather peaceful and relaxed and I couldn't get enough of it. Of course, the trip wouldn't be complete without taking a plunge at the bay. Wonder why the water was still so cold.

Later, we came back for dinner at the oceanfront. The next day we would already have to leave for Valletta. 

 

 

Malta - Day 13: Floating on the Inland Sea, the Ggantija Temples and a Red Sandy Beach

The day before, we didn't really have the time and energy left for a proper visit to the Azure Window, so we decided to come back. After breakfast at the San Antonio Guesthouse in Xlendi, we walked to the Xlendi Bus Stop and took Bus 306 to the main bus terminal in Victoria, using our convenient 7-day-bus pass. There, we switched into the Bus 311 to Dwejra Bus Stop, which is just at the entrance to the Azure Window. Of course, I had to take my time, taking photos of the Azure Window.

When we were finished, we walked to the Inland Sea, just a few steps away. We weren't sure if we should take a boat tour there. No one was entering the boat, and the man there told us, he would only leave, when it is full. But just when we decided to go, even if we had to wait a while in the boat, a huge group of tourists came, who all wanted to go. Fortunately, we were already in, and so we quickly departed through the small opening in the rock, out to the ocean. The water seemed to be completely calm, but when we entered the tunnel, we came into the waves. It was rather exciting, mainly when we were outside on the ocean, and inside the waves. We didn't really expect that. We barely got to take sharp, clear photos from all the moving up and down of the boat.

Satisfied, we left with the bus going back to Victoria. Now we were up to something completely different - the Ggantija Temples. We took Bus 307 to Ggantija Bus Stop and then just had to walk a few steps. The Ggantija Temples are another World Heritage Site, Malta possesses. They were built between 3600 and 3200 B.C. and were once believed to be built by giants.  

We could enter with our Malta Heritage Pass, and first visited the museum. There, we found some information on the temples and artifacts, like human and animal figurines and bone necklaces, given to the dead, when they were buried. We also learned, that no one knows, what happened to the people, who built the temples. After around 2500 B.C. they found no traces of them and the people who settled there later, were very different and definitely not the same.

From the museum, a path leads through a beautiful park to the temples. The temples itself aren´t that huge, but they belong to the earliest free-standing stone buildings in the world, which is quite impressive.  

We decided to walk from the temples to the nearby Ta`Kola Windmill, which was also included in our Heritage Pass. It is an old windmill from the Knight´s period in Malta. It was just being renovated and didn´t have its wheel, unfortunately. But inside, there was a windmill museum.

From the windmill, we walked past the Xaghra Parish Church and decided to skip the bus and walk further to our next destination, Ramla Bay, which is about 3 kilometers away. It was a quiet and beautiful area, and we were soon at Calypso`s Cave, on a hill, overlooking Ramla Bay. There wasn´t really much to see of the cave, but the view of Ramla Bay was great. They also had restrooms and ice cream there, fortunately.

At first, it looked like there was a clear path down to Ramla Bay, but maybe we went wrong somewhere, as we ended up at a ruin, halfway down, where we met a snake, but no clear path. We then found something next to the ruins, that might have been a path once, and came down to the bay. Ramla Bay, also known as the Red Sandy Beach, is in the middle of nowhere but offers some infrastructure like restrooms, a cafe, and showers. And of course the great sandy beach, where we were headed. After all the walking, the cold water was just right.

From the beach, we walked to the nearby Ramla Bus Stop and went back to Victoria and then to Xlendi.

Later, we walked down to the bay for another nice dinner at the ocean.