Xsamil

 It’s pronounced Xsamil but written as Ksamil and it is BEAUTIFUL. This, our final place in Albania, was included as a “rest stop”. Somewhere to chill and relax prior to moving on. The past week has been busy but due to the laid back nature of Albania and it’s people it has been nothing but a pleasure to travel here. Nothing has been stressful or a trauma. Crispy is definitely a fan. She was a little anxious about our time in Albania but is now a fully committed ambassador for this amazing country. It must rank as one of the nicest places we have been. Not only because of the outstanding landscape but more the friendliness and hospitality of the Albanian people. Everyone we have met has been kindness personified. I know I’m going on about it but this country is fantastic. Do yourselves a big favour and get here before the package tours wise up and start flying in the masses. At the minute it is still early in the season and the town is very quiet. I believe in high season it gets incredibly busy with Albanian tourists on their summer jollies. This quieter time suits us as we prefer it. I’m not good with people as a rule.

Today we have been very lazy. We were Late out of bed. A quiet Morning on the beach and lunch in a taverna. This part of Albania is much more Greek in feeling.  Possibly because we are only a few kilometres from the Greek border. The two cultures are mixed this far south. The food is similar, the music more Greek sounding and the bars more taverna in nature. Whilst having lunch the sky clouded over and the heavens opened. It’s been threatening a thunderstorm for the past few days but we haven’t seen a real cloud since leaving dear old Blighty. The sky’s darkened and It poured down in a torrent. Not just rain but rain with attitude and it wasn’t messing about. It was like a tropical monsoon of the type you get in places like Singapore or Vietnam. We have been caught in few of these before on our travels and Crispy wasn’t perturbed. We braved the elements and walked back to the accommodation to have a rest as I didn’t sleep too well last night for some reason and had disturbed Crispy into the wee small hours.

After a couple of hours we awoke to brilliant blue skies and already the ground was dry. There was no evidence of the passing storm other than our damp clothes on the maiden outside the room.

We chilled then went out to eat. I was going to get something from the market for tea but we decided to eat out again. To be honest it costs about the same due to the really cheap prices of the restaurants here.

I didn’t take the eyepod again this evening so we are limited on the picture department. I shall rectify this tomorrow as we intend to catch a bus to Butrint. It’s only a short way further south and a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s a huge archeological site and Crispy may again have trouble sleeping due her excitement at the prospect of more rubble to explore. I believe there is a marker stone left by one of my mate Trajans legions on a hill somewhere close by and dear old Crispy is determined to find it. 

We were going to hire bicycles to get there but will probably take the bus as we intend to kayak around the islands in the bay tomorrow afternoon. The sea is pristine and the kayaks are clear plastic. She has always wanted to go on a glass bottomed boat and this is the perfect opportunity to fulfil that want without the unnecessary expense. 

Bare and Crispy, Still up a dark back alley,  Xsamil, Southern Albania

Not sure what the feck this is but it’s pretty cool!