DISCOVER GOZO

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.

A handsome young man named Charlie…

Hey there! The guys at Sales & Marketing thought if I live for free in a five-star luxury resort, then I should at least give my two cents’ worth to Discover Gozo. So I guess that’s what I’m going to do today, lest they put a stop to the culinary deliveries that come my way every so often. And let’s face it: I really don’t have much else to do now, do I?

Oops, where are my manners? Totally forgot to introduce myself. Well, I’m Charlie. At least that’s what they call me at home; sometimes I’m baptized all over again by nice people who visit the hotel. Honestly, I’ve lost track how many names I have under my belt by now!

I am a permanent resident in the gardens of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, and boy, was I glad they didn’t kick me out with the last departures when they closed down the place a few days after New Year’s. On the other hand, when they started tearing the spa apart, things got so scary that I made off for a couple of weeks. I’m not sure you humans know this, but January is Valentine’s month for us felines, so the timing for my vacation was rather convenient!

Obviously, Gozo being what it is, I didn’t have to travel all too far to arrive in peaceful and quiet venues for my romantic tête-à-têtes with the girls. You just follow the road that circles the hotel grounds, then continue either left or right. This time I took the right fork and within minutes the hammering, sawing and generator noises subsided. That road eventually leads to Santa Lucija and Kercem, and if you are equipped with four legs and an extremely good sense of balance you can even criss-cross the fields and head down for Dwejra. OK, I can see that’s hardly your thing, so let’s just stay on the beaten track and take in the beauty of the countryside…

The road also passes by a huge quarry; that’s where they cut all those perfectly shaped blocks of limestone, which most houses in Gozo are built of. Mind you, personally I find that place a bit intimidating too, but the ready cut blocks waiting to be loaded onto lorries are a somewhat fascinating sight to behold.

Time flies when you’re having fun… and so a couple of weeks ago my holiday came to an end and I returned home. The place was still pretty much messed up, but they had made good progress with the works. It’s a good thing they didn’t touch the garden: it is still quite peaceful there, even too quiet at times.

I’m really glad the hotel opens again next week and starts filling up with people once more. I miss all the cuddles and treats that are usually forthcoming from human girlfriends on vacation. Alright, alright, I’ll be honest. Tanja and Nicole do take some time out from their busy schedules, to keep me happy and well-fed; even Sabine has paid me a couple of visits with her paparazzi equipment (she does cuddles, but never brings me food – someone ought to give her a hint!!). But the empty spaces are just plain boring and a little lonely; I’m really looking forward to some action!

By the way, there’s a little video of me on the Kempinski’s Facebook page!

Gozo’s amazing cultural diversity

Do you think laid-back Gozo is not for you because you tend to get bored with total relaxation and a daily beach or poolside routine? Then this post is for you!

The cultural scene on Gozo might come as a surprise to you, given the size of the island, and the variety of tastes and ages it caters for is truly astonishing. We illustrate for you a case in point: this weekend, the last one of October.

Glamour

Opera lovers were treated to an outstanding performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Astra Theatre, featuring both local and international stars. By the way, little  Gozo has not only one, but two opera houses vying for music lovers’ attention year after year! In fact, bookings are already open for George Bizet’s Carmen, which will be offered in October 2010 by the Aurora Theatre!

Some of the staff of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz joined hundreds of enthusiasts, who welcomed the opportunity to enjoy a glamorous musical night out.

Here is what some of them had to say:

Cindy, HR & Training Manager at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz: “Outstanding performance, impressive setting and very emotional! Very much looking forward to next year…!”

Tanja: “It was a perfect evening! The Astra Theater with more than 1.000 seats is something you wouldn’t expect on such a tiny island. The atmosphere was outstanding and the opera itself simply breathtaking. Once more the proof that Gozo has a thousand facets, and every day you can discover something new!”

Stephanie: “I was amazed by the performance of the artists and just got goose bumps when Antonino Interisano alias “the Duke” started the first strophe of “La Donna e mobile”… I was still singing it when going to bed! Two hours of completely drifting away in the tragical world of Rigoletto and Gilda… Unforgettable!”

Events for all ages

Those holidaying with their kids might not be particularly keen on theatre or opera visits. Families (though children in tow are not a necessity!) will enjoy the numerous cultural events that are frequently organised all the year round by the various villages of Gozo and are usually free of charge . The local council of San Lawrenz is particularly active in this respect, and for guests staying at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz it doesn’t take more than a few minutes’ walk to be part of the crowd! Last night’s D Link event, staged in the beautiful church square of San Lawrenz, was organised in the context of the European Year for Creativity and Innovation.

Pop Music

Live music performances always plays an essential role in these activities. Last night Ruth Sammut Casingena vowed the audience by offering a thrilling melange of her impeccable soprano voice with pop as well as traditional songs.  Enchanting!

Alternative Music

And then there is one of Gozo’s finest ‘exports’… Chasing Pandora have begun their career a few years ago in their home island, but their fame has reached far beyond Gozo’s shores and they are currently becoming a household name even in the UK! Appealing to a wide audience, Chasing Pandora’s music is an amazing treat, and especially so when enjoyed under a starlit sky!

Gozo welcomes its guests with open arms, 365 days a year. With this post we gave you a cursory glimpse of one autumn weekend, a time when much of Europe is steeped in drab, wet weather… Have we succeeded in setting your mood for your next Mediterranean vacation?

We’re blogging!

Welcome to the brand-new blog of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Gozo. More accurately, this is the blog of the Sales & Marketing Team of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, the team members being:

• Tanja Mueller – Director of Sales
• Deryk Sacco – Sales & Marketing Manager
• Sabine Cassar-Alpert – E-Commerce & Marketing Manager
• Mazen Dreik – Reservations Manager
• Mary Cassar – Reservations Agent
• Stephanie Potente – Trainee Sales & Marketing

You will hear from each of us from time to time. The intention is to give our readers a good idea about the island of Gozo from pretty different perspectives, and we hope you’ll like it!