As every year, even this year, on the 23rd of September, Autumn has arrived. And while in the northern countries trees have started shedding their leaves and the streets has started filling with carpets of crunchy golden leaves, Gozo has barely changed.

At first glance we could almost say it’s still summer: the sun is still warm and the tourist still cram the morning ferries and eventually flock to Dwejra, Ramla, Marsalforn or Xlendi to have a glance of Gozo’s treasures and take away with them some of its of sea, sun or legends.

Yet, the changes are there. Autumn has crept beneath the dry surface of the land. The long evenings are gone, the wind that up to few weeks ago was the only relieve from the hot, humid summer nights ( that’s obviously beside the fan!), has now cooled and its howling noise can be heard gliding through the alleys.

On the 26th of September, the first rain in months has fallen; and it was not just a simple rain. It was an all day long thunderstorm with raindrops the size of pebbles and thunders as loud as the mighty fireworks of Sannat.

Then, today, after almost 10 days, the rain, has bear its fruits. Small, deeply green spiklets of grass have made their appearance all over the island. The dry land is slowly tingeing of green and coming to life. Soon, while the northern countries will loose all their colours and eventually fade to white, Gozo and its hills will turn into its lush green winter clothes and its hills will remember once again the ones of the Scottish highlands.