Jul-2013
Prisoner of Love in Gozo
The island Ogygia used to be the place where the nymph (Greek for hidden) Calypso used to live according to the Greek mythology. The island Ogygia nowadays seems to be the island Gozo near Malta. The important myth of Odysseus and Calypso would have taken place near the Ramla Bay in Gozo, where you can admire the Calypso cave today.
View at Ramla Bay
After the Trojan war it took Odysseus 20 years to return to his beautiful wife Penelope who was waiting for him on the Greek island of Ithaka. Odysseus washed ashore during a ship wreck in the bay of the eternally young, beautiful and cheerful Calypso. She fell in love with him immediately and took him to her cave where she treated him as her prisoner of love. After a few years Calypso was told by the gods that she had to set Odysseus free and arrange tools and wood for me so that he would be able to make a raft. After having stayed on Ogygia for 7 years with Calypso, Odysseus left with a little self made raft to Ithaka where he would see his grownup son for the first time after 20 years.
Youth sentiment
There was only one problem. Penelope had to weave a sackcloth because her husband most likely was not going to return alive after the war. Dozens of men wanted to marry her as soon as she would finish the sackcloth. Every night Penelope tried to undo her work on the cloth, because she only wanted her own man: Odysseus. And nobody else.
When Odysseus finally returned to Ithaka the gods made him look like an old wanderer so that he could enter the palace without getting recognized or killed. That way he got to see his Penelope again and the gods made sure he would get his original appearance back again so that she would recognize him.
This beautiful story was being told by the local guide on the bus from the harbor to the cave of Calypso. For me this is youth sentiment because my dad used to read to me from books about Greek mythology.
View at the Blue lagoon of Comino from Gozo
Nice, but how do you get to Gozo?
To get to Gozo you can take a ferry from Malta. You will see the island Comino on the way and after the 6km trip you will arrive on Gozo. There are many beautiful farmhouses on Gozo where you can enjoy a longer stay if pleased. I visited the Village Tal Fanal, which is such a place where you can enjoy the calm countryside.
Azure Window
In order to arrive to the most amazing tourist attraction of the bay Dwerja in Gozo you have to walk over a few rocks where wind and water erosion formed the beautiful Azure Window. This hole in the cliffs lets the wild sea come close by in a impressive way and gives the opportunity to take fascinating pictures.
Nearby the Azure Window you will find the Fungus Rock. This rock formation is a small rocky island where a plant grows which was believed to be some kind of mushroom and was used for its secret healing. Nowadays the Fungus Rock is a nature reserve.
Are you looking for nice cozy places where you can drink a cup of coffee? Visit the old port of Xlendi where you can overlook the natural wave pool while enjoying the local hospitality.
A rough sea at the Azure Window
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About Renate Rigters
Ever since I left my home country I felt at home at any other place I went to. I enjoy getting to know more cultures by talking to strangers and hearing their philosophy about life. Speaking with gestures when you can not find a shared language, finding places only the locals go to and learn about their customs and values. Hanging out with local people makes me happy. The experience of every new place is a step out of your comfort zone where I like to wander around until it feels like a second home.
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