DISCOVER GOZO

Facebook Competition!

Hello again! Our team at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz has been thinking long and hard about our next competition, and today it’s a go, finally! All my facebook friends (and only them!) can participate:

YOU HAVE TWO WEEKS TO…

• …add Renzo, Knight of Gozo, as a friend on facebook, if you haven’t already; you can do so here.
• …take a photo of any place in Gozo and include me in the picture. There’s a large pic of me on page 2 of our competition details that you can cut out! So your photo could look something like this:
  
  
  
  
  
  However, I do understand that you might not be able to be in Gozo within the next couple of weeks. So if you have a nice photo of Gozo and are able to do some basic photo editing, a digital version of me will be accepted. You can download my picture on a transparent background here. In this case your photo would look like this:
  
  
  





• …upload your photo to your Facebook wall and tag me, by not later than April 24, 2010.

THE BEST ENTRIES…

• …will be published on this blog, discover-gozo.com.

AND THE VERY BEST ONE…

• …wins a t-shirt of Renzo, Knight of Gozo!

SO… GET SHOOTING & TAGGING!

Gozo – the magnificent winter hideaway

Last but not least, here is the post by Lianne Debono, participant in the blog competition of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, and contender for the prize of a weekend break. Stay tuned for the prize draw!

Gozo – the magnificent city

Visiting Gozo, even if for a short stay, is like a breath of fresh air.

For me the best time to visit Gozo is in winter when everywhere is very peaceful and quiet, so quiet that you can almost hear a pin drop while relaxing in some of the many countryside spots. Gozo is adorned with many must-see historical sites, and one of my favourite things to do in Gozo is going for a long walk and stopping by some of these places every now and then.

As for my favourite town in Gozo, it is the sleepy village of San Lawrenz and the surrounding countryside.

But all in all a visit to Gozo is always splendid, and a different experience awaits you every time you visit, no matter how rare or frequent a visitor you are.

Going to Gozo: vacation within a vacation

Post by Michael Carøe Andersen, participant in the blog competition of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, and contender for the prize of a weekend break:

Two years ago I met my girlfriend from Malta and thanks to her I have now visited these Mediterranean gems five times, a treat every time. Whenever my girlfriend comes across a map of Europe she always has to check if Malta is there – and sadly sometimes it’s not. Like a precious stone it can seem tiny almost hidden until you get closer and then you will notice its beauty in the detail.

Stepping off the plane in Malta I am usually met by a warm breeze and it always puts a big smile on my pale Northerner’s face. Spending time on the main island of Malta is great. There is the hustle and bustle of Valletta, with museums, sights, cafes and restaurants. Malta is where a lot of things happen and where my girlfriend’s friends and family is. We visit aunts and uncles – usually over delicious meals made with fresh produce, we meet friends and help out at home. Malta is densely populated and my girlfriend has a big family so it can be quite busy. And this is where Gozo come in. It’s the vacation in the vacation.

Usually we head up to Gozo for a day or two in the middle of the stay in Malta. It starts on the ferry across the straight that separates Gozo from Malta. The boat ride across takes about an hour and is a perfect interlude for putting the mind at ease and slow down a notch.

Last time I crossed it was when we went to Gozo to celebrate New Year’s Eve. It was an almost clear evening with just a dash of clouds on the horizon – enough to give the sunset a beautiful golden glare. There was a fresh breeze but the sea was calm so it was great standing on the deck as the boat made its way.

Approaching Gozo you are met by the silhouette of Mgarr, the ferry town of Gozo that is winding its way up the rock from the port to the towering belfry of Ghajnsielem’s Parish Church.

As soon as you start moving into Gozo you can feel the difference from Malta. There are fewer people, it is greener and quieter. That is how it feels to me. More relaxed, more rural and more friendly. It is like the water between Gozo and Malta has kept parts of the frenzy of modern European life at an arm’s length and things here are more like they have been in a long time.

I enjoy the fact that Gozo is small enough that you can walk most places. Although small, once you go to the countryside you will feel that you are alone on the island while taking in the facets of this gem; the saltpans, the golden beaches and the lush green valleys.

Getting back from Gozo I always feel refreshed and relaxed. Ready to enjoy another round of friends, family and good food.

Looking forward to retiring in Gozo, too!

Post by Dee’s husband Michael Owen, participant in the blog competition of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, and contender for the prize of a weekend break (photos added by us):

Visiting Gozo and the big island was one of the best holidays ever. Even though it took three days to get there from Panama, Central America, and considerable cash, it was well worth the trip. Having rented a car, we were able to explore the whole island and take in the breathtaking views and buildings.

We rented a third floor flat in Marsalforn and it served as a good base to explore. The bay and coastline were incredible. A little windy but this only made for spectacular wave action crashing against the rocks and depositing salt in the pans.

We watched a local band performing down at the seafront and they were as good as any we had heard in the past. (Maybe with the exception of Pink Floyd.)

The people of Gozo are so friendly and helpful giving good advice and directions when we got just a little lost (kind of hard to do). We met Gozo Mark and attended a huge boot sale. The rest of the time just visiting churches, landmarks and just about every tourist attraction.

We hope to return soon and experience a different time of year to give us an idea of what to expect when we finally re-locate to Malta.

Looking forward to retiring… in Gozo

Post by Dee Owen, participant in the blog competition of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, and contender for the prize of a weekend break (photo added by us):

I have only had the privilege of visiting Gozo once, that was in September of 2008. The trip to Malta and Gozo was my first and I fell in love with both islands. Although, Gozo was my favorite. The journey to Malta, from my current home, took three days. Every day and hour of that stressful trip, it’s really no fun to travel now, was worth it.

Marsalforn was the place that my husband and I stayed. We had a rental car and explored the whole Island. Probably went places that the average tourist wouldn’t, off-road both by vehicle and foot.

We went to Gozo to see if it was a place we could live, enjoy retirement but still be active. Yes, it met all of those criteria. Each village or area has its own charm and uniqueness. The beauty and diversity of the sea, the hills, rocks makes you want to never leave. We will be back…very soon.

From Qbajjar over Zebbug to Rabat

Post by Ann Fenech, participant in the blog competition of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, and contender for the prize of a weekend break (photos added by us):

Living abroad, I cannot make it there as often as I would like. However, I still make sure to skip over to Gozo whenever I am visiting the islands.

Spring in Gozo is particularly gorgeous… particularly the peace and quiet away from the summer crowds. The season is also perfect for walking. My favourite trek is from Qbajjar, where my aunt has an apartment at our disposal.

From then on to Zebbug by walking along the coast and up a (steep, steep!) hill – but there are so many good vantage points on the land beneath you that no one will mind stopping for ‘a few photos’ on the way

And then on to Rabat, approaching the Citadel from behind. What wonderful views! From the blue sea and saltpans, to green landscapes with people working in their fields and on to the majestic limestone bastions of Citadel rising in front of you: a veritable kaleidoscope of colours that will truly soothe your senses.

By the end of the trek you definitely deserve some pastizzi (ricotta is my favourite ) and a refreshing bottle of Kinnie (beer wouldn’t go amiss either). After a relaxing sit-down watching life go by you in some tiny bar or other, the last leg of the journey is a trip back home on one of the iconic grey and red buses.

The question should not be what I like about Gozo, but why ever don’t I spend more time there!

Exclusively for our blog readers & facebook fans

1. Win a 2-nights’ stay at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz

While writing the posts for our blog, we have been wondering what you might particularly like about Gozo. In order to find out, we have come up with our latest competition. There is one snag: it is open only to facebook fans of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz. What, you aren’t a fan yet? Then you are cordially invited to join us here (it’s completely pain-free!).

All you have to do to enter the competition, is tell us what you like about Gozo, in up to 500 words. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• why do you come to Gozo?
• which is your favourite place in Gozo?
• which season do you prefer for a visit to Gozo, and why?
• what do you do during your stay in Gozo?
• if you have not been to Gozo yet but are planning a visit, what are your expectations?

So get the keyboard going, and submit your post not later than 10th February 2010 to competition1@discover-gozo.com (this e-mail address will cease to be valid on 11th February 2010). Please include your name and surname, e-mail address and telephone number.

The best entries will be published on Discover Gozo, and the prize, a 2-nights’ stay for 2 persons at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz including breakfast, will be raffled among the finalists, which are made up of all published entries. If you have a nice photo to accompany your text, we’ll be happy to publish that too, but it will not affect your chances to be accepted for publication.

The prize draw will be take place on 18th February 2010, and a video of the draw will be published on our facebook page. The Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz reserves the right to decide which entries and/or photographs are published, and to edit posts for clarity and/or length. Participants who submit photographs declare that they own the copyright of the submitted material. Photographs that are chosen for publication will be resized to a width of 550 px and published in low resolution.

2. Free Download

The destination blog of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz is only 3 months old, but already has gathered a nice little crowd of readers from near and far. As a little thank-you in return, we have put the photos of our latest post into a slide-show, which is available for download. If you like it, please let us know. We might build up a collection of Gozo landscapes on a regular basis, for you to enjoy.

Download Gozo in January (4.09 MB)