Blogs from Sarandë, South, Albania, Europe

I am up stretched and showered in plenty of time thanks to the sun waking me again. I head down the hill to Friends. The owner is helping with breakfast and a Dutch guy is checking out so I offer him room in my lift. The owner asks if we can fit another girl in, I say I don’t mind but I’m sure she is travelling with someone and the car only fits three and sure enough I’m right. Plus she has three cases. He ends up doing two runs but the Dutch guy and I go first. At the bus station we find the bus, put our bags on and then go for coffee which he very kindly buys for me towards the lift. The bus leaves on time. It is an air conditioned, posh ... read more

Bonjour à tous, Tous les ans , chaque voyage il y à une journée problème, une journée de M..... c'était aujourd'hui, en espérant que ce soit la seule. Comme vous le constaté, je suis encore en Albanie. Le matin en arrivant à Sarandë, j'étais contant, j'avais vu pas mal de restos, et que j'allais enfin pouvoir changer de menu, ou d'avoir du choix, que nenni, comme en Italie, pâte ou pizza. Celui dans lequel je suie entré, les pizzas avaient l'air plus tôt bien. Ok. Comme pratiquement partout ici les commerçants ne veulent que cash, et je galère pour en trouver, très peu de distributeur, et ceux que je trouve, ne prennent que Mastercard. je n'ai l'équivalent de 6e en poche, et la note en fait 8. Le gars m'a laissé partir, allé retirer à 200m, ... read more

In Albania under for Communists everything was under state control. Factories that had manufactured parts for farm equipment were closed and farmers had to buy from the Soviet Union. That industry has never recovered. Agricultural production was determined the state and products were exported with little left for the population. The main allies for Albania were Mao’s Red China and the Soviets. When the dictator died there were tears. Our tour guide remembers her grandparents and parents sobbing, and so she did too. It wasn’t until later that she understood that they were tears of joy. Life is still not easy in Albania but in one little corner of the country, the town of Sarenda has boomed. Located on the Adriatic with beaches, cafes and nightclubs, it is a holiday of choice for Greeks. New hotels ... read more

Albania Day 8. Friday 28 June. Gjirokaster to Sarande. Last night saw my hip improving and able to hobble across the room without crutches. Therefore looking forward to riding the bike again before too long. We went to a restaurant up the hill from our hotel for another excellent meal followed by yet another red wine at a nearby bar in the moonlight. I am of the opinion that red wine has a healing effect on my hip. Correct me if I am deluded in this matter. The crutches were a godsend and I never fell over once on the way down the hill. Nearly 11pm by the time we got back, I must remember to keep better company from now on. I am being lead astray. The breakfast today was on the top floor with ... read more

We wake up this morning with the ship in the process of anchoring off Sarande, Albania. Our first port of call was supposed to be Ephesus, Turkey, but the political unrest in that country prompted Holland America to switch to Sarande. Sarande is actually just across the bay from Corfu, Greece. The town (and Albania as a whole) is still transitioning to a democracy from the tight-fisted communist rule that ended in 1990. Sarande would dearly love to become the next Corfu. It boasts a rich cultural history and beautiful beaches and natural settings. What is lacking are the facilities and culture shift needed to support rich North American tourists such as ourselves in the style to which we are accustomed. We have selected a tour that focuses on the archeological history of the area. After ... read more