"Silent Island of Joy" a Gozo Travel Page by jayhawk2000

Homer's legendary hero, Ulysses, is said to have spent seven years with a sorceress on the Isle of Ogygia, the 'navel of the sea.' But for Phoenician sailors while Malta was 'Malet' (a haven), this smaller sister island to the north was merely 'Gwl' (something round).

So is this island the heart of the Mediterranean or an isolated afterthought?

To the Spaniards this cliff-ringed rock was 'Gozo' (joy). After our trip, I think that's the best name of all.

On Gozo fig trees bloom in walled groves, lizards scamper across narrow dirt lanes and hilltop vistas are strewn with church steeples, cactus mounds, scarlet poppies and luminous sunflowers.

In early May 2002 we spent a week here, staying in a farmhouse and renting a car to drive around this tiny island. We had enough time to see everything at a leisurely place.

We're not planning to go back anytime soon because we've seen everything and have a long list of other places in the Med we'd like to visit. However, I can heartily recommend you visit here for a relaxing holiday!