It was a blindingly sunny morning when I joined my dear friends, Janet and Barbara, for a jaunt to see the Azure Window on the tiny island of Gozo in Malta.

We piled into Janet’s open-topped jeep and roared off down bumpy roads, luxuriating in the cool breezes whipping our hair and fanning our faces. After a bit we jounced off the mottled side roads and onto smooth asphalt, curving our way over craggy hills and down to Dwejra Bay.

road to the sea Gozo

Dwejra Bay is a beautiful spot, and the Azure Window its crowning glory. A natural rock formation, the Azure Window is a favorite spot of photographers, rock-scramblers and scuba divers.

I was happy to stand on the rocky shoreline and gaze at it, easily imagining pirate ships lurking along the base of the cliffs.

 

Azure Window Gozo

The rough shoreline fascinates me. At first glance you think the pock-marked with amoeba shaped holes are encrusted with ice or filled with snow. But upon inspection you discover they are thickly frosted with salt that crunches underfoot.

Gozo salt pans

Since we arrived early there was hardly anyone about, so we happily posed in the sunshine for squinty-eyed pictures before clambering over the barren rocks while the wind tore at our hair and sent our skirts whipping wildly.

salt pans on Gozo

We gazed in awe at towering cliffs plunging down to the sea, and peered into tide pools for glimpses of tiny creatures.

 

tidepools on Gozo

Soon the blistering Maltese heat was upon us, and we were ready for a cool drink and some shade, so we took one last look at the beautiful Azure Window and headed back.

 

Azure Window

We ambled past a pretty little church perched on a hill, and headed down to the Inland Sea in search of a cuppa. I’ll take you there another day. 🙂

Gozo church

 

What is the prettiest natural formation you’ve ever seen?