Travelling south, ksamil

 We have finally arrived in ksamil. Southern Albania. This is the last stop on our Albanian adventure prior to leaving and heading further south for Greece. I started the blob last night but we were both very tired after the travelling and I gave up the ghost. We are provisionally booked to stay here for 4 nights before catching the ferry to Corfu and then into Igoumenitsa to continue on to Parga. This morning we left the beautiful hotel Cosmos in Durres and caught the 10am bus to Tirana. No buses leave direct to Saranda from Durres other than a “special” and that sets off at 06.30. All the hounds in hell would not have dragged Crispy from her pit at that ungodly hour unless there was NO other option. Instead.we had a leisurely breakfast and walked for twenty minutes to the bus station. The bus was waiting and 45 minutes later we arrived at the central bus station in Tirana.  We have not heard one English voice since we arrived in Albania. There are a few German or Dutch backpackers (there always are) that look like they need a wash but very few other foreigners. 

On the bus from Durres a little boy was stood in the aisle next to us. I was reading his T shirt which was some kind of kids club uniform about being nice and courteous to people. His grandmother spotted me and gave me a look like I was about to abduct him and put him to work in the salt mines. I was smiling reassuringly at her when a Scouse voice said “ Hi, where you from”. It was a guy and his wife that had bought cheap flights to Tirana from Liverpool airport on a whim and were now travelling around the Balkans through Albania and Kosovo for 12 days. They had never “travelled” before and this was their first foray into adventuring. They didn’t look prepared for travelling, particularly his wife, and were dragging huge suitcases about with them. Good luck to them and hats off for having a go. It made us think, hmmm, Kosovo now there’s a thought. It might be next years little jaunt. If it’s anywhere being close to as nice as Albania we can’t wait. 

The bus for Saranda left from the same bus station as the Durres bus arrived into so it was no trauma finding it. We had time for a quick coffee after sorting the tickets before climbing on board for a long five and a half hour journey South to Saranda and onto Ksamil. The journey was comfortable, although the small bus was packed to capacity, and very interesting. We passed through many small towns and varied landscapes. The last 2 hours of the journey,following the comfort break at a cafe, was spectacular. A minor road that wound its way over high mountain passes and deep descents into forested valleys. At times it looked like the English Lake District and at others like the Swiss Alps. An amazing journey. 

We arrived in Saranda a little after the scheduled time and missed the last bus to Ksamil. We were forced to take a taxi for the final leg of our journey which cost 20 euros. the same as the complete five and a half hour bus journey here. We were both tired by this point and it was worth the expense just to get to our accommodation. A quick shower and freshen up and we were out for a bite to eat. The accommodation is perfect but tucked away down a dark little side street just out of the centre. It’s basic but should suffice for our needs. I think we have been spoilt by the standard of our accommodation thus far. Ksamil is small and very very touristy compared to what we have experienced so far. All modern hotels clustered around several small beaches.  I don’t know if it’s our thing or that there will be enough here to keep us busy. It’s also further away from the ferry port than I imagined. We may have to cut our time here short and head back to Saranda to be closer to the ferry port. That’s the beauty of travelling. The worlds our oyster.  I don’t want Crispy getting bored, she gets grumpy when she’s bored. No pics as it’s late and already dark plus we are tired and ready for bed.  We will make up for it tomorrow.  

Bare and Crispy signing off up a dark alley, ksamil, the Albanian Riviera.