1. My Family
Certainly my family is definitely my top reason why I live on the island of Gozo. I was born here, grew up here, went to university and enjoy the brilliant healthy lifestyle and the slower pace of life on Gozo. Looking back… so many wonderful memories of friendly people, places and performances on Gozo. Nostalgia!
2. The Climate
The weather is truly lovely. The Maltese Islands are perfectly located in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, between Europe and Africa. The weather in Malta and Gozo rarely gets very cold in winter and very warm in summer. In winter, day temperature varies between 14 to 20 degrees Celsius and maybe goes down at night about 8 or 9 degrees Celsius a couple of times only. In summer, temperatures range between 30 to 36 degrees Celsius. But again, being in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, the gentle sea breeze does cool down the heat during the day and night. Fantastic!
Does it rain a lot?
I actually enjoy it because it does not rain a lot! I hardly remember when I really got wet! The nice thing about it is that we can plan ahead to do any outdoor activity with family or friends such as a BBQ by the sea or go kayaking in winter. Here you can definitely plan ahead.
3. The Sea
This is one of my soft spots. I swim on a daily basis. I call it my vitamin C (Sea)! Have my favourite beach spots and hidden gems where I kayak. Crystal clear waters perfect for swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking and any other water sports. Absolutely gorgeous beaches – rocky, sandy, dotted with small white, brown and yellow pebbles, secluded or not – the choice is yours. What else can you ask for?
4. The Views
The more I live on Gozo, the more I discover the hidden beauty spots of the island. Whether while I am coastal walking around the valleys or the South high cliffs or else sea kayaking around caves and inlets, the views remain spectacular. Two of my favourites are definitely the sunrise views on the Gozo channel and sunset on Xlendi and Dwejra bay. Just magical!
5. Simple and Relaxed Lifestyle
Informal and relaxed way of life is an essential part of Gozo – part of its natural identity. Summer is my favourite season and practically wear summer clothes in Gozo all year round with the exception of few days or weeks in winter. T-shirt, jeans or shorts if I am doing some outdoor activity. Fantastic! Besides, how peaceful and relaxing it is spending every evening and night having a family and friends chat over a BBQ by the sea in summer and early autumn time.
6. Food
Daily baked crispy bread and pastries from log ovens just round the corner, fresh Mediterranean fruits, vegetables and wild herbs just picked in the morning from the nearby valley terraced fields, daily fresh local milk products, quality red meat and certified poultry and certainly the unique fresh catch of the day – absolutely recommended!
7. The Perfect size island!
One thing I really like and do miss when I travel abroad are the short distances on Gozo. Wherever you are, it is just 5 to 10 minutes drive or 20 minutes walk to the nearest beach. Very few traffic lights, hardly any traffic jams except of course when the ferry arrives or in the main streets of capital Victoria only at certain hours of the day. If you are visiting Gozo, you will see a lot!
8. History, Art and Culture
Though a very small island, Gozo is surprisingly very rich in history and prehistory heritage. The world famous Ggantija Temples built over 5600 years ago are found here. That’s not all. If you like art in all its forms, old and contemporary in various mediums and shapes, you’ll find it certainly here. Festivals, historical re-enactments, exhibitions, concerts, musicals, operas, ballet performance and numerous sports events fill the Gozo’s cultural diary of events inside out. In a nutshell, there is always something going on here…
9. Cost of Living
Generally speaking, compared to other places around Europe, it is cheaper. Everything you get in other places, you get them here basically at a better price.
10. Local Hospitality
Luckily enough, Maltese people still have a strong sense of community. This is most evident during the annual feast celebrations across Spring and Summer time. The majority of families still embrace the values of commitment, dedication and solidarity. In fact, if there is one common element in all the guests’ reviews at our Gozo boutique self-catering accommodation certainly is how friendly the local people had been. So, if you’re visiting Gozo, do not hesitate to ask. You have the added advantage that all locals speak English, but they’ll even go the extra mile to help you.
