More Malta



At anchor in Dwerja bay, Gozo

Anchored in front of Fungus rock, Gozo

We are having fun getting to know Malta and its islands along with our various guests joining us this month. We sailed up to Gozo and spent a peaceful couple of nights in Dwerja bay. No tripper boats to be seen and only the eerie sound of the Manx sheerwaters to keep us awake at night. We dinghied out of the bay past Fungus rock, an ancient source of herbal medicine, to view the Azure Window, a natural rock arch, and then braved a 100 mt cavernous tunnel through the cliffs to an inland sea which turned out to be more of a large puddle surrounded by the usual tourist tat. We set sail again early evening and managed to find a spot in the ridiculously popular Blue Lagoon on Comino. The rocks were teaming with sun worshippers and blue umbrellas and you could hardly see the stunning turquoise waters for boats and bodies of all shapes and sizes. With stronger north westerly winds forecast we decided to head south  and found a delightful anchorage under the cliffs in St Pauls bay. This was where St Paul was supposedly shipwrecked in AD60 and during his brief stay on the island laid the foundations of Christianity to the local population. The snorkelling was wonderful and the spot peaceful until we were joined by various large tripper boats unable to make it up to the Blue Lagoon due to the rough seas. They kept us entertained and awake to the wee small hours with their disco music blasting from their speakers.

 

The Azure window

The Blue Lagoon, Comino

 

 

Knights tombs in St. John's Co-Cathedral

We made a return trip to Valletta and did our own Grand Harbour tour admiring the impressive fortifications from the sea. Back on land we visited St. John's Co-Cathedral with its splendid marble floors beneath which the Knights are buried. The tombs of the more important or richer ones lying closest to the altar. We also admired Caravaggio's great painting, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, commissioned by the Knights for this Cathedral and completed in 1608.

Valletta seen from Grand Harbour

 

We are now at anchor in St Julian's bay, a lively spot surrounded by apartments, hotels, bars and restaurants. We even have outdoor water polo to keep us entertained. Great for provisioning and we've even found a Chinese laundry close by! Next adventure was a stroll over to St Georges bay and into the heart of Paceville. As the name implies a fast moving part of the island full of henna tattoos, hair braids, vodka shots, extended happy hours and music. The centre of Malta's nightlife....

St. Julian's bay, Malta



Water polo in St. Julian's Bay

St. Julian's bay