A stroll on Calypso's Isle

Sarah Griffiths travelled to Gozo to discover the hidden charms of this unspoilt Mediterranean island.

As first time visitors to Gozo, my friend and I were both looking forward to the mix of local food and traditions but also the knowledge that most of the locals speak English, as the island was once owned by the British! In fact the capital Victoria is named after the Queen following her jubilee in 1897. Our stay this time was to be a 4-night break just to get a taste of the island and to see what it had to offer...

Upon arriving at Malta airport, we opted to take the Gozo channel ferry over to the island. We were taken to the port by a friendly taxi driver and the journey took about 40 minutes. We then boarded the ferry for the 30-minute crossing to Gozo. As we arrived at Mgarr harbour the locals sprang to life, there were lots of brightly painted fishing boats moored up after the days catch, and people and waiting to board the ferry to commute over to Malta after a days work. We were transported to the Hotel Ta Cenc in one of their minibuses. The journey took about 15 minutes.

At the hotel, we were both very pleasantly surprised, the peace and quiet was great, all the rooms were on one level and blended into the landscape, it had a very friendly atmosphere and a rustic décor with lots of modern touches. The gardens were overflowing with flowers and plants, and the smell of bougainvillea was delightful. We stayed in a Trullo room, rather like a suite, which was great, there was a separate living room and loads of space. It was en-suite including a bath and a hairdryer, there was a TV, minibar, safe and plenty of storage space. We had a terrace area with a couple of chairs and great views over the island, perfect!

We dinned outside every day under the 200 year-old carob tree, and managed to get through a 4-course meal every night, there was a choice on each course and the food was a mix of local specialities and Italian dishes. The house wine was a good buy but the wine menu did offer a good selection including champagne! The waiters were smartly dressed and service was good. Breakfast was a self-service buffet, again you could eat outside under the trees and there was everything from eggs and cold meats to cereals and fresh fruit.

We chose to relax by one of the two outdoor pools on the first day and just wind down from daily life. Lunch (if you have room) was available from the outdoor bar/grill, that did a mix of light snacks including salad and fresh fish.

The next day we hired a car and explored the island, being only 14kms long, you can easily fit most of the important sights into one day. However, the pace of life is very relaxed over there and they don't believe in rushing. If you are staying for a full week and plan on completing all the walks, you will actually take in all the main points of interest along the way.

All the main roads on the island lead into the capital so it is easy to find your way around. The Citadel in Victoria is definitely worth a look and, as it is situated on the highest point of the island, it has great views. We chose to spend a few hours here, but there are museums and local shops located within it's walls and you could easily while away the whole day. The local market was also quite colourful, lots of locals selling their wares and sitting and chatting over a coffee. Prices weren't bad either, quite a good spot for souvenir hunting!

The following day we walked from the hotel to their private swimming cove called 'Kantra Beach' (full details are provided in the Headwater notes). The walk itself only took about 1 hour, but the swim at the end in the clear blue sea was amazing. There was a small platform with steps that allow you to step right into the Mediterranean, and with a small snack bar offering drinks and light meals it was a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

The next day we returned home via the ferry and then an onward flight to the UK. We were both in agreement it was a lovely relaxing break in beautiful surroundings. Time seemed to stand still and with everyone being so friendly, we didn't miss home at all!

We have been informed since returning home, the hotel has now added a wellness centre to their facilities, shame we missed it! You can now have a massage, visit the beauty salon and relax in the thermal heated pool, all under the one roof, heaven! Other activities available at the hotel include tennis, hiring bikes and a pleasure cruise over to the sister island of Comino.

Overall, we enjoyed it so much we are booking again for September this year, maybe we'll see you there!

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