20 likes | 32 Views
Malta tourism is booming. Hotels are full; so much so that some tourists have had to be sent to Gozo - and the odd one even as far as Sicily! Yes, the figures show that 2007 is turning out to be the best year for tourism in Malta in at least the last six years, with increases not only in terms of arrivals, but also in hotel rates and occupancies. National Statistics Office figures for September showed that arrivals were 17.8 per cent up on last year.
E N D
Gozo forms part of the Maltese Islands, and is the 2nd largest in the archipelago. It is often called the "island where time stalled" considering that it is among the couple of Mediterranean locations which is mostly unaffected. Although Gozo kinds part of Malta, it is rather various in both its traditions and culture. In truth, even the people are very different. As Joseph Bezzina put it, "the Gozitans are Maltese inasmuch as the Scottish are British, or the Sicilians are Italians"! Gozo is an exceptionally picturesque island, which can be admired all year round. In the summer season time, water sports, and swimming in the beautiful bays are a must. Diving is outstanding here and infact, Gozo has begun to develop itself as an all year-round diving location because the winter is extremely mild - comparable to an English summer season - and the presence stays very good. Moreover, there is no place in Gozo that is more than 20 minutes away from the coast. From autumn to spring the Gozitan countryside comes back to life after the hot summer season. The Maltese Islands turn green and by late spring a thousand or more species of plants blossom. Gozo boasts a lovely countryside - a few of which has actually been left untouched by the 20th century! This part of the island is very important for farmers and farmers due to the fact that a lot of village life centres on the farming and fishing seasons. It is fantastic to see that these towns still maintain their old lifestyle, where old ladies and guys work the fields or head out at sea. Guidebooks have been developed, that map out ideal walking trips from one town to another. Speaking of picturesque, Gozo is also decorated with gorgeous natural harbours, valleys and cliffs. One especially amazing natural beauty is the 'Azure window' which is a megalithic archway cut by ways of the crashing waves for countless years on the lower layers of the rock. Other amazing websites are Mgarr ix-Xini bay, the Castle, the caverns at Xaghra, Lunzjata Valley and Wied il-Ghasri. Ramla l-Hamra is another gorgeous site which includes a long sandy beach comprised of red-tinted sand! The ladies of Gozo are renowned for one of Malta oldest craft tradition, lace-making. From the time of the Knights, life in Gozo in addition to the rural parts of Malta was relatively extreme. https://we.riseup.net/gunnigyfrl So, craft industries ended up being a primary income source for rural households, specifically embroidery, weaving and lace-making. The conventional lace is known as 'bizzilla' and this craft was initially presented to Malta from Genoa around the 1800s It was called bobbin lace and was very popular for ruffs and collars in the 16th and 17th centuries. Maltese bobbin lace is made with a number of threads which are wound upon an elongated wooden bobbin or spindle. An unique long cushion called 'trajbu' is used as a base for the lace creation. Although parts of Gozo have actually been updated for tourists, one is mainly exposed to the raw character to the island, not just in traditions, landscape and craft, however also food. One incredibly popular year-round meal is the 'Fenkata' where Maltese families go to really casual and generally little specialized bars and dining establishments in order to consume a meal of bunny. This is usually made up of a first course of spaghetti with bunny sauce, followed by bunny (usually fried in garlic and tomatoes), and lastly nuts and sweets. The sweet that is most often paired with the rabbit is the 'Helwa tat-Tork' which is a sweet sugary mixture of crushed and whole
almonds. Another dish that is often served prior to rabbit, but can likewise be discovered in lots of common Maltese dining establishments, is 'Bebbux'. Bebbux is the maltese word for snails, which is a special in Malta. When checking out Malta or Gozo, make certain to give this a try! Gozitan 'gbejniet' (goats cheese) are a delicacy that is finest coupled with fresh Gozitan bread. Prickly pears, a delightful seet fruit, are also typical here and can be found all over the island, both cultivated and wild. With concerns to archaeology, the islands of Malta and Gozo contain one of the wealthiest, most fascinating megalithic cultures of perpetuity. This Neolithic culture developed huge temples out of orthostats which functioned as ritual websites to the luxurious mother goddess. The oldest one, Ggantija Temple, lies in Gozo and is the earliest freestanding structure in the world - much older than the Egyptian pyramids! It is over 5000 years of ages. Gozo is also house to other historical sites, particularly Phoenician and Punic ones. Gozo is a really devout island and is littered with marvelous churches of stunning architecture. One of the most beautiful, and with the earliest story, is that of the Castle. There are no less than 50 churches and chapels around Gozo, half of which are committed to the Virgin Mary. The majority of the churches are in the Baroque style and were typically constructed over even older erections. One incredible chapel is that of Ta' Pinu which has become an expedition for those from Malta, Gozo and abroad.