Go slow in Gozo

..dateline Gozo 13:28...NZ 01:38...

Well we're spending our penultimate day on the Island of Gozo.....and while we wait for the Gozonian's? Gozotian's ... to reopen after their siesta we're checking our emails on some machines in the Opera House...Gozo is small, it also has a bar and pool hall.
The weather has been muggy, rain and sun..but warm throughout. (A little weather report for you English folk out there)...a low of 20 expected tomorrow. Meanwhile, in sport....
Anyway we visited Valletta on Monday - where we got an overview on how many different cultures have come barging through Malta at one time and another....for a place that doesn't have much to bless itself with, its excited a lot of interest. Fort St Elmo for instance, was destroyed by the Turks (31 days of pain...) and then suffered the first casualties during WWII when the Italians bombed it.
We visited a limestone exhibition and you start to realize that Malta is just one big rock - which they've burrowed into at different times when the going gets tough.
Also not to be missed (breathless tone) is the Tarxien (pronounced Tarshen - no, its not a Star Wars base) Temples. Older than Stonehenge these particular slabs and carvings have been around for over 4000 years...which I shouldn't have to remind you is a hang of a long time. Its arresting to look at structure that has just been around for so long...your insignificance is highlighted.
We also visited the arts and crafts, where we watched Maltese craftsman blow glass and worry tin into interesting shapes. I found some wonderful miniatures, only 1 third of the price of the exact same ones I bought in Venice. Mutter mutter.
Then we visited a water park. For the sheer visceral thrill of throwing ourselves down a slide at top speed - it was very refreshing, but the staff were universally grumpy. It was the end of the season, so I suppose they feel over tourists, but given that my Euro's are as good as everyone else - I would have appreciated a better attitude. The girl blowing up the rubber rings (don't ask) looked as though her boyfriend had just run off with the neighbor, maybe he had. I would if she was that grumpy. Otherwise it was good to see a smallish crowd, no waiting for rides, and lots of Germans and English running around as pale as ghosts.
We plan to go snorkeling today if we can find a good place....ah, to swim in the same place that Nelson dropped anchor.

Useless fact: Gozo is about the same size and Manhattan - a few less people and no United Nations...