Last week, I woke up to sad news that The Azure Window of Gozo was swallowed by the sea. Created by the sea thousands of years ago and destroyed by the sea in a powerful storm. While experts had said it was fragile, I hadn’t realized its days were numbered. I visited this tiny island of Malta a few years ago during my sabbatical, spending three weeks exploring the island and meeting locals. The loss of the Azure Window is Goitian & Maltese history vanished in an instant, I’m not sure there is a natural attraction in the U.S. that would be lost in the same way.
When I visited the Azure Window, I stopped for a moment to take it all in – there have been a few places on my travels that have made me stop and be thankful for the stunning beauty of nature. It’s when I know I’m not that jaded yet from all of the travel. The summer sun of June was shining strong and the waters inviting many to enjoy a swim while yet others perused the souvenir and ice cream stands on the periphery of the visitors area.
Visiting the Azure Window
Once I walked around to soak in the otherworldly landscapes (familiar to Game of Thrones fans from the wedding in the first season), I then began taking photos (a lot of photos). A few tourists ignored the signs not to climb the Azure Window but alas for that photo they did and I photographed their dangerous decision.
The Inland Sea Tour
We then boarded a small fishing boat to visit the Inland Sea and see the Azure Window from behind. With viewpoints from both land and sea, The Azure Window projected different impressions.
My Favorite Photo
One photo in particular stands out for the boy would stood in the frame the whole time. He was swimming with friends in the water below but stood for about twenty minutes and wouldn’t leave the frame of my photo so I gave up and took it with him in it. I wanted the shot clean to look like all of the magazine photos I had seen without interference but later when I viewed the photo, I was actually happy he stayed in the frame because it gave perspective to how massive the Azure Window really was and how the view through the window didn’t change but in this case someone was standing in front of the window.
But now the window is no longer. This wasn’t a door closing with another door open for opportunity (or maybe it was and is yet to be seen), this was a window slamming shut for good. The view has changed but maybe that’s the point – nature, just like life, is fragile and peeking through the window is fleeting.
4 thoughts on “Photo Memories of the Azure Window of Gozo”
It happens and these are great pictures, thank you. But erosion happens over time, this one just happened during our lifetime.
Kerwin – very true erosion does happen, its the first that I can remember happening during my lifetime of travels. I’ve seen the Apostles along the Great Ocean Road after a few had fallen so to me, I only know them as they are now. For visitors to Gozo, this location will be as it is now – still beautiful to visit but they won’t know what they have missed –
I was also sad when I heard about the Azure Window collapse. 🙁 I went to Malta last summer and loved it so much!
Soooo heartbreaking! Awesome you got to see it too (I saw it last year and it was prob my fav sight in Malta). RIP Azure Window 🙂
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