The next
morning, I woke up around 8 am and went to eat this nice breakfast. We left with
them boys at 10 am to wander to find a public bus going close to the bus
terminal. The local bus cost 40 albanian money and took maybe 15-20 minutes to
get there. The “bus station” was this tiny area with like 20 normal big buses
and 30 minibuses and 100 men shouting different places in Albania. We had been
told that there is a minibus to Himara (or again could be spelled Himare) at
11.00. Well there was only one big bus to Himare at 13.00. No way we would have
waited for that. After 15 minutes of different game plans and people walking
behind us we took this offer for 40€ private car to Himare.
The roads were okey
but the man drove like a maniac! Almost one collision with another car and I
was sat in the middle of the back seat without seatbelt (the car didn’t have one).
The first two hours were crazy and our driver looked so tired that I was sure
he was gonna fall asleep so I kept staring at his eyes through the mirror to
make sure he was awake. After two hours (in Vlora at the time) we stopped and he
tried to call to different people.. Then he stopped in front of this bus. We
were all like oh no. So I eventually that was as far as he took us and he
claimed it as a misunderstanding through this women on the phone cause he
himself didn’t speak any English. The timing was perfect tho since the bus left
within 5 minutes and he agreed on paying the ticket for 200 LEK. So I paid my
4,5 hour trip from Tirana to Himare 1250 LEK. The rest of the trip so 2,5 hours
bus going through this crazy high mountain road! I understood from the guys
that it was only like 78 kilometers but took 2,5 hours.. Next to the mountain
roads they sold everywhere the Llogara honey which was the local specialty.
So we
arrived to Himare around 15.30 and it was pissing down. Again. This hostel I
had searched was just around the corner and I paid 10€ for one night. I left to
this Greek Souvlaki place when the rain stopped for a bit. Then I went to
wander around the one tiny street and went to this club / bar which had a nice
terrace and ordered the first frappe for 150 LEK. I worked there for couple of
hours overlooking this nice nice view. At night I went to eat and then for a
coke while watching some football. I had to leave to the hostel since I was so
cold and I was freezing.
On 17th
of June I woke up at 7.45 even tho I was on my phone for quite late. Went to
eat this nice breakfast and then headed out to wait for the bus to Saranda at
11.00. I was chatting with these Italian guys while waiting for the bus on the
road (no bus stops). The minibus came 11.20, cost 500 LEK and took 1,5 hours to
get to Saranda.
On the bus
I realized that I hadn’t taken any screen shot of the potential places to stay!
Damn. I remembered the names of the two I had searched for so I just thought
I’m gonna go somewhere for a coffee to get wifi and check them out from a map. Then I
closed my eyes for maybe 15 minutes and when I opened them I saw a sign Dolphin
hostel. :D Lucky! Then on the crossroads waiting for the bus to move I tried to
memorize all the shops around so I would remember how to walk there. Then the bus
turned left and stopped and we were there. :D I walked to the hostel, door was
open but there was no one anywhere. Soon the owner came and I booked in for two
nights, 10€ / night.
I left to
wander and to find mom and dad’s hotel since they were going there in three
weeks. I found it and it had a nice swimming pool, so I went in and asked if I
could use it. I laid there by the pool maybe 20 minutes, dipped in and changed
my spot to face the sea and ordered a frappe. Frappe came, and a massive storm
rose. Perfect. I walked all the way to the other end of the beach and worked
there again for couple of hours until it was like seven o’clock and I started
to be cold.
I left out to eat around eight thirty and had wine at this nice
place while looking this little girl making new friends. Wine was 2,5€ on the
average.
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