The grandeur of nature in Gozo competes for attention with the rich purple and red velvets, the intricate limestone carvings and the colored marble pillars inside churches. An added attraction during Easter are the oarade statues on display - we chanced upon a prayer service with a little rosy cheeked alter boy giving our hymn books, this was a land of passion plays and grand Easter parades.

A lot of the organic mediterranean salt comes from the salt pans of Gozo - which is to the north of the Island. These salt pans stretch for miles along the rocky ocean shore where the sea water in let in - amd then they dry in the hot Mediterranean sun leaving behind the salt. Thee is a tiny shop on the cliffside where you can buy this salt.

A visit to Gozo is incomplete without a brief stop at Calypso Caves. Although now a pile of ancient rocks - to think of the history here is enough to give one goosebumps. Amd it was one of the views of Ramla Bay (other than the Ta Misra caves that we did not go to because of a time crunch ).

Now here is where my plan kind of really falls apart. Ramla Bay is billed as one of the most beautiful beaches of the world. We had shopped for bathing suits that would stand out afaist tye blue waters. I had envisioned the warm afternoon sun casting a soft golden hue, the gentle Mediterranean breeze caressing my hair while I waded into the ocean in slo-mo, fully expecting Daniel Craig to emerge.

Instead it was cold, and damp and the winds were howling like banshees and tugging at my hair like a witch with sharp nails! But the Imdian in me had decided in me refused to cower down - walking barefoot in the soft golden sand buffetted by the wind, I imagined a balmy 80 degrees with a zhefyr carrying the salty scent of the sea.

The old fortified center of Gozo - the Citadella was our lasr stop for the day. As the sun set over its ramparts and the sleepy little town was preparing for dinner, we walked around the fort, its narrow walked streets, hidden stairways, and tall watch towers keeping vigil - lest the strangers seated tye peace. We chanced upon a small half-closed Cafe on the top of the fort - a couple of glasses of wine and fresh lemon juice (which these America raised kids grimaced at as it had no sugar) with the evening skies and the medieval cannons as our backdrop served for a perfect interlude before the serious business of dinner.

After ambling through the streets of the fort and soaking in the silence of guardian walls and thep comfort of being protected against the sea marauders and any unknown enemy nightfall may being - we strolled down to lhe main plaza in Victoria (the main city in Gozo - St George's Square with a beautiful Cathedral and cafes lining the square. The Gozitano pizza with Maltese sausage and potato wedges was savory, and the local wines and cheesecake - a foodies dream. But to be served by a student from Hyderabad who was a student in Italy and was in Gozo to earn during Eastr break was priceless. The code switching between South Indian English and perfect Italian was fascinating.

Exhausted from a long day, a quick taxi ride took us to our bed and breakfast, where we spent under the shadow of the Rotunda St. John the Baptist Cathedral.