As a little kid, my Gozitan father used to take me often to visit my aunts, uncles, cousins and friends and also to tour around his and my beautiful island of Gozo. As I grew up, the desire to visit had always been there and I kept going just for the trip to visit relatives or to see the feasts, especially that of St George in Victoria.

In the past, I had to depend on buses to visit various areas. I’m luckier now that when we go, we can drive our car around the island exploring the beauty that Gozo has to offer. I feel so much at home while there and many fond memories crop up in my mind while the affection revives itself to its fullest.

I make a point of speaking with tourists and they all find Gozo charming and clean. Yes, it’s clean because the Gozitans are proud of their gem and they treat it as such.

There are so many beautiful churches and sceneries. A trip to the Citadel is not only good to help you lose weight, it also gives you the satisfaction of a magnificent view. Xlendi and Marsalforn lost some of their old charm because of the buildings that have been erected but when I close my eyes, I can still visualise the Xlendi and Marsalforn I once knew.

Sometime in the 50’s, when I was a young teenager, my family went for a few days to Xlendi and we stayed at one of the rooms cut in the rocks by my father and uncles. Sunday arrived and my mother didn’t have enough ingredients to cook a meal and then, there were no restaurants except one, which would only open in the evening.

I took my fishing rod and caught some small fish and I remember, I also caught a crab. I took them to my mum and she made aljotta with them and the problem was solved. My late brother-in-law never let me forget how much he liked that fish soup.

Gozo is beautiful from west to east, from north to south and everything in between. The quaint villages and the picturesque little bays put a satisfying smile on everyone’s face. The people of Gozo are as nice as their island and I love their Gozitan accent.

Dwejra, the Inland Sea, Wied ir-Rummien, Xlendi, Marsalforn, Ramla il-Hamra, ix-Xwejni, Mgarr ix-Xini, ta’ Cenc, and every corner of the island are a joy to view. One other place which may not be too popular but is worth visiting is Wied il-Lunzjata, close to Victoria.

What a beauty. My late father was very fond of his island and so is his son.

Alfred Grech

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