Sun., Apr. 22, 2018 - Gozo & Comino

Blue Lagoon, Comino
Malta

Milly in the Blue Lagoon.  Before 11a.m. and after 5p.m. it was idyllic, left to just a few sailboats to play in. 

A recap in photos of the Maltese Islands of Gozo and Comino.  A beautiful beginning to our anchoring season.

The tiny bay at the bottom of the photo was the site of our first anchoring attempt.  We plunked the anchor in a patch of sand but as we swung we came a bit too close to these enormous cliffs that surrounded us.  Opted for the more crowded Lagoon where we would have had a bit more time to notice a dragging anchor before hitting rock.

Sandali and Milly hanging out.  

The Maltese Islands are limestone of five different types and hardnesses.  This makes for intriguing caves, arches, erosions, and contours.  One of several tunnels through the rock.

We got our kayak out to scoot into several of the water bound caves.  This one went about 60 m into the cliff to a very dark, dank beach shown by the flash on the camera.

We hiked Comino - all 2.5 x 1.5 km of it - with cruising buddies, Al and Sandy on Sandali.  The island is breathtakingly stunning with incredibly clear blue sea views.

Quite a small anchorage packed with tourist boats during the day made for endless entertainment.  Tourists swarmed the hills and crowded the tiny beach or found a rather jagged limestone patch to lie on.

Il Kastell in Vittoria, the capital of Gozo, is renovated to perfection.  In 1551 the Turks raided the island and took almost the entire population as slaves.  This fortified town on top of the flat-topped hill provided sanctuary at night for the people of the island for two centuries afterward. 

A Sallyport leading steeply down through the wall to open in the "ditch" between inside and outside walls where those  inside could Sallyforth.

The astounding views from the walls showed the agrarian nature, already looking a bit brown and dry.

The old towns on Gozo, built on flat hilltops with fields in the valleys below are dominated by rather ponderous churches.  In Malta and Gozo there are said to be 365 churches.

We really enjoyed both islands.  There is a coastal trail that goes around Gozo which we would love to do one day.  Next time!