Evening car drive around San Martin, Golden Bay, and Mgarr

 The weather feels, once again, as hot as ever, so today we opted for a scenic car drive around the northern parts of the islands. 

The outing started by having a look at the San Martin area. So far this summer, the roads around the area have been a construction zone, particularly the route from Żebbiegh. In fact, we had planned to reach the Grotto of San Martin on foot, but discovered that the road leading from Żebbiegh was closed. Instead, we parked near the church and continued the rest of the way on foot.

It was a mess of dust, pipes, and construction netting. The Grotto turned out to be much further than planned, so we turned the walk into a circular route. This was how we found that a previously narrow country road had been turned to connect San Martin and Wardija. 

This time we drove straight through this one, and into the San Martin road, which also has little works in progress here and there but has not as yet been completely shut off. 

At the grotto, it was very quiet and peaceful.  A cat or two wandered about, and there were many roosters and chickens running loose in the nearby property. The grotto itself can be reached by opening a blue gate and following a short path to it, and is nice to see. From afar this time. Since our last visit a few years ago, the ground has become covered in bird droppings, making it too messy to step on. We will have to wait for the first autumn rains to wash it off. For now, here is a photo from behind the gate.

Entrance to the grotto

With that visit unexpectedly cut short, we hopped in the car again and drove to the next place. The road to was quite narrow and winding. Fortunately, we did not encounter other vehicles! This led into a main road, which I believe is actually called 'Ghajn Tuffieha' road. It is between Ghajn Tuffieha and Xemxija, although it is much closer to the latter in distance. 

We turned left as it was Golden Bay which we were looking to a pay a visit to. Both beaches Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha are very popular with tourists and Maltese alike in the summer. However, by the evening, the crowds were thinning out, and we were lucky to find the single parking spot. It had just been vacated by a beach-goer heading back home. 

The parking lot is near the Radisson Blu hotel. There is another one for Ghajn Tuffieha but this is equally hard, if not more challenging, to find a free spot. If both car parks are full, your best chance is along the roughly 500-metre road connecting the two beaches, where parking spaces line one side of the road.

Radisson Blu Hotel

We didn't go down all the way to the beach, but stayed near the stairway taking in the view from above. Down below, people were playing volleyball/football, swimming, and enjoying the last of the day's sunlight. These areas are favourite spots for watching the sun set. 

Golden Bay beach

Nature

We were at the boundaries of the Radisson Blu Hotel. This is a 5 star hotel overlooking the beach. There is also one at St.Julians. There is a ground-floor restaurant but also an other sort of dining place on the third floor, this to which I've never been. 

Radisson Blu Hotel

In the distance the little 'rocky points' mark the separation between the three neighbouring beaches of Golden Bay, Ghajn Tuffieha, and Gnejna Bay (in order). Gnejna Bay is furthest away and only just visible. Ġnejna Bay tends to attract more locals than tourists, perhaps because it is less accessible by public transport.

According to Google maps the beach seems to be served by route 101. There is, in fact, a bus stop marked on the map. The section is omitted on tallinja's site. It seems it has been cut to start from Mgarr, going to Ghajn Tuffieha/Golden Bay, then Mellieha, Popeye village and Cirkewwa. Quite a number of tourist spots covered here! I hear it gets quite overcrowded...

Ghajn Tuffieha tower in sight

That was all for today.