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Published: October 31st 2008
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At the bus station in Saranda, there was a bus going for Tirana so i decided to take it, so much for Gjirokaster, I really wanted to see the town it looks interesting from the main road when we passed it from Berat but there is also a part of me that wants to get to Montenegro as soon as possible. It will be 8 hours bus journey and I knew we are passing through the zigzag mountains when the conductor started handing out plastic bags to the locals, puke bags!! Luckily none did though got a bit dizzy once again. We stopped again in Gjirokaster, and saw the tower from a distance, maybe I was not meant to visit it at this time..
Stopped for lunch somewhere, and when we arrived in Tirana heavy traffic greeted us, i remember the roads from when i just arrived here, this was where i took the Berat bus, went through my LP to orient myslf as we sat in traffic but cannot find a street sign, eventually the driver told me to get off, when I ask hin where is the Skenderberg statue he pointed to my left so I just went
that direction. The direction to the Tirana Backpackers hostel says follow the road behind the statue, and as I walk there i noticed the statue's back was facing me so made a 360 degree turn, now i ralized am on the right way, 5 minutes later i found the hostel, quite easy, next to some embassies.
The hostel was alright, and I can cook! so rushed to the grocery store to buy food, I am starving at this time, I only had an apple and an empanada type bread from Saranda. Not much to choose from on the veggie aisle so bought some zucchini and tomatoes and did a veggie pasta. Had a conversation with a few of the guests, A German fellow gave me tips on hotels in Shkodar and i saw on the Albanian book by Bradt there is a spectacular boat ride near Shkodra to this lake, studied it for almost an hour then decided againsts it as the way back is not easy and if I go forward I have to cross into Kosovo again, this will be for next time once again.
Went on a quick sight see of Tirana, need to get
the bus to Shkodra by noon time. Started walking towards the Skenderbeg equestrian statue and it started to rain so i rushed, luckily it quickly fizzled, there was a mosque near the square so i had a look, the guy there let me in and showed me around , he spoke no English and to explain to me how old the paintings etc. he had it written at the back of the entrance ticket, and just point it to me, very informative, i thank him and left then this street urchin started tagging on me, cant get rid of this kid, she was pulling my backpack and i got ticked off and told her to sod off in a loud voice people looked at me startled, but it worked, she left me in peace then walked towards the train station so i have an idea how far it is, it is quite far and my pack is a bit heavy so i decided i will taxi it.
The taxi driver I hailed have family in Boston and have visited 3 times before so we had a good conversation about life in his country and how he still have
no ambition to live with his parents in America, he hopes Obama wins. The Shkodra bus took a good 2 hours including delays due to bad traffic accident. When I arrived in Shkodra, taxi drivers immediately took notice of me and offering to take me to Ulcinj in Montenegro from 20 to 30 Euros, I pretended to be sight seeing and said will be back i have to think it over, these guys told me no bus goes to Ulcinj from Shkodra, i should have known better, i arrived at 230ish pm and the bus according to Ilir from Tirana backpackers, it leaves around 3pm, I could not see a bus and no porper station just got dropped off at the roundabout close to a big mosque, so i decided to go in the Rozafa Hotel and ask the receptionist guy and he said he does not know about buses to Montenegro, doesnt it leave just outside your hotel according to guidebooks, he said yes but i dont know if they still run, for sure he worked in cahoots with the taxi drivers, as one taxi guy was there hanging out in the corridor as well, fraking pain in the
neck these taxi drivers. Anyway somehow i got convinced there was no bus i should have waited for 3pm and see what happens before i committed to a taxi ride, but that what happens, off i go on a taxi to Ulcinj, Montenegro, for 20 Euros, the driver said it is ok to pay in Albanian dibdobs.
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