Fifth Journey Day 174: Sound of Dissolving Edges

Date: October 29, 2025
Location: Gozo, Malta

On Gozo in Malta, I wandered the historic Marsalforn salt pans, a honeyed grid cut into limestone where families have harvested sea salt for generations. The mild Mediterranean light, the fennel-scented breeze, and the hush of distant surf shaped both the afternoon and the painting that followed.

The Atmosphere of the Salt Pans

I spent most of the day near the salt pans in Marsalforn. The walk there was long but slow. There was pale stone on both sides of the path, which widened into a quiet area with a patterned ground. The air felt very still, like you would expect on an island. It felt like time moved more slowly there. I sat by a pool where the salt was beginning to form crystals, watching the wind make faint ripples that never quite reached the edges. The sound of the sea was nearby but you couldn't see it, like a steady beat beneath the surface of everything.

Choosing Stillness Over Sketching

I tried drawing, but the lines came out too perfect. The space didn't need to be depicted; it needed to be quiet. So I put the pencil away and stayed. The longer I looked, the more I noticed how subtle the colors were — soft ochres against pale greys, with patches of shadow shifting as the clouds moved. Even the pools that looked empty were full of movement if I waited long enough.

Gathering Elements: Salt, Light, Silence

I thought about how gathering things like salt, light, and silence is similar to painting. Both require patience, repetition, and the willingness to stop before the result feels complete. The wind picked up near sunset, and it felt a little cold. I realized that I hadn't said a word all afternoon. It felt right — as if sound would have broken something delicate.

On the Walk Back

As I walked back, I passed an elderly man tending to one of the salt pans. He nodded but didn't say anything. I remember how simple that exchange was. Some days don't need a lot of words. Just pay attention and be aware of the wind.

Travel Notes

• Weather: Mild sun filtered through thin clouds; 22°C. A light sea wind brushed the cliffs and cooled quickly toward sunset.
• Scents: Sea salt and wild fennel, with the mineral tang of evaporating pools and damp limestone.
• Sounds: Distant surf like a steady heartbeat, faint wind skimming the pans, and soft ripples that never reached the edges.
• Reflection: Both painting and salt gathering ask for patience and restraint — the courage to stop before the moment feels complete.

Continue the Journey

You may also enjoy reading about yesterday’s quiet reflections along Malta’s north coast or another moment from the Gozo salt pans — small entries where wind and water set the rhythm. Previous day · Another Malta entry