Yogataveller, Gozo, Malta - 22nd February 2009 - By: Aubrey Lampkin

With Lizanne Joubert, Helen Willis and Gillian Orrell.

 
Last I spoke to you all (last month) I was up to my knees in fresh powder in the Swiss Alps putting our balancing skills to the ultimate test - on and off the yoga mat. After our wintery wonderland retreat had come to a close, I was beckoned by Yogatraveller to yet ANOTHER magical vacation spot I had never been to before... to which I was compelled to answer a prompt: 'Yes'. (If only every life decision was so easy.) A few trains, a plane and a ferry ride later, I was transported onto the Mediterranean island of Gozo (just 5 km north of Malta) where I would spend my foreseeable future involved in more treacherous activities like yoga, scuba diving, hiking and rock-climbing with my students under the balmy sun. (Excuse the sarcasm - I know it's not very yogic.)


 


Ferry from Malta to Gozo.

 


Ta Sbejha resort.

 


 

My first week in Gozo was spent doing the following:
-making local friends (always a first must-do!)
-exploring every nook, cranny and cave I could access on this beautiful film-set inspiring island (note: scenes from, Troy, The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexander and Gladiator, among many others, were all shot here).
-eating enormous amounts of fresh pasta with local vegetables, cheese and wine
-getting used to the fact no stores are open during 'siesta' time, 12pm-4pm
-negotiating the delicate art of driving down 2-way roads narrower than a city sidewalk, whilst dodging oncoming vehicles flying towards you as if on 4 lane motorway
-getting pampered by Martin at the best spa in Gozo, freespirit. (And trying to figure out how I can live there without anyone noticing.)
-celebrating the year-round anticipated Gozotan Carnivale!


 


Gharb center church.

 


Aubrey (that's me) at Azure's window.

 


The beautiful Erinbell Fanore, my Yogatraveller Gozo predecessor, and her little angels.

 


Carnivale in Nadur!

 


Freespirit spa's own Martin Rorris in costume.
 

After experiencing these local essentials, I was ready to host my first yoga group in Gozo - 3 lovely ladies living in England: Lizanne, Helen and Gillian.


 


Lizanne, Gillian and Helen.

 

Between the 21 hours spent learning yoga and meditation, we also managed to get around the rest of the island! We visited the 5,000 year-old megalithic Ggantija Temples in Xaghra, hiked to a 4,000 year-old cave temple hidden on a cliff's edge behind Victoria, biked and walked all around Gharb and the nearby towns, had a few dinners out on the town and saw some live music (cover music, albeit, but still live).

 


Dinner at D-Bar in Xala.

 

As we all know, so often the best memories happen spontaneously and close to home. I have to say my favorite night with my students happened on one of our first evenings together, when they invited me to join them in a little impromptu dinner 'party' in one of their rooms. And there I was with 3 women I had only met a few days' prior, cooking dinner and exchanging 'skeletons in the closet' stories (sans booze!) like we used to in middle-school sleep-overs. Absolutely brilliant... Proof best things in life are free.


 


Dinner over-looking the ferry harbor.
 

Thank you, Lizanne, Helen and Gillian for helping me set the tone for an exciting Yogatraveller year on Gozo! You are all hysterical and brilliant. Between 'flying crows' and political dinner banter you certainly won't be forgotten.