Gozo!

On my second day in Malta - I had two options of how to spend the day - Visit the Island of Gozo or Visit Popeye village. It was not an easy decision, and no matter which one won out, it would be at the expense of another incredible trip. Ultimately, I chose Gozo. Here is everything you need to know about planning a trip to the Island in the Mediterranean.

GETTING THERE. I was staying in Sliema. The road to Gozo started with 1hr 10 mins bus ride to Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal. When I visited, it was Bus 222. The bus ride was 1.50 euro paid to the bus driver. Depending on what time of the year you are visiting, you may have to wait a little bit for a bus with availability, so if you can - start early. When you arrive at the Ferry terminal, join the queue to get on board. When I visited, you did not need a ticket to board the ferry in Malta; you pay the fee on your return trip from Gozo. The ferry also takes cars, so if you have a ren’t want to bother with the bus - you can drive yourself to the terminal. The ferry ride from the terminal to Gozo takes about a half-hour, and a one-way ferry ticket cost about 5 euros. The ferry runs every 45 minutes. Due to some misinformation I though the ferries stop at 6 p.m. - it does not ! Visit the ferry website here for the schedule.

RETURNING TO MALTA. There are several hotels on the Island; if you time in your schedule, you might want to treat yourself more than a day. However, if a day is all you can manage, thought the ferry departed at 6 p.m. so I rushed back; but they leave every 45 mins so allow yourself enough time to buy your ferry ticket; if you can leave the Island early, do that. I visited in April, and trying to get a bus back into the city from Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal was a pain.

Once you arrive on the Island, there are several things to fill your itinerary - historical sights, beaches, scuba diving, etc. Here are my picks:

• Visit Victoria (Rabat). Victoria (or Rabat) is the capital city of the Island, and the Citadel is located right in the city's heart. If you are taking a bus or a tour bus, you will likely get dropped off in the city center by the main square (It-Tokk); lined shops; restaurants and a market with local good; local food and antiques.

• Explore the Citadel. Across the street for the main square and uphill, you will find the Citadel. It is the highest point on the Island and visible from most places on the Island. Until 1637, it was a requirement for the citizens of Gozo to spend the night in the Citadel for safety. A few families still live within the Citadel; you will also find Gozo's beautiful cathedral, the Bishop's Palace, and several museums. Take your time at the Citadel; there is much history here. Entrance Tickets cost 5 Euro.

• Head to the Beach. The Island of Gozo has a few beaches. I chose to visit Rambla bay because it is a red sand beach, and it was quite lovely - it just a bit challenging to get to; the trek from the drop off point to the beach is about 20 minutes, and there were delays with the buses/tour. It is the farthest points from the ferry stop, take that in account when making plans as the last ferry departs Gozo at 6 p.m.

• Visit Dwejra. Dwejra is home to the Azure Window, and while a storm damaged the azure window in 2017, the site where it stood is still the main attraction and check out the fungus rock. You will also find the inland sea. The inland sea s a rarity, so all the more special I got to see it ( I did not go swimming). You can also go scuba diving at the blue hole.

• Ta'Pinu Basilica. This structure's first records date back to 1534; the architecture is stunning and has an incredible history. That is reason enough to visit, no?

• Visit Comino. If you have time, you should make a trip to Comino for the blue lagoon for the crystal clear; azure-color water. Not visiting Camino is my one regret from my planned itinerary because I did not plan it with enough time to get to Camino Island - home of the blue lagoon. Suppose you are going in peak period. It gets very crowded, so keep that in mind when planning. You can do this at the start of your day by taking the ferry from Cirkewwa, or if you start in Gozo, you can take the ferry from Mgarr harbor to Camino.