2016 SEPTEMBER

Friday 02/Sep/2016

Fortunately, I had decided to stay only the one night in Podgorica – which was enough to be honest – although I had selected to depart on the later bus at 10:45 rather than the early bus at 08:00 – thinking (wrongly!) that there may be other sights I wished to visit before departing. However, the later start gave me a little more time checking on travel jobs and preparing for my day ahead. I checked out of the hotel a few minutes after 10:00 and after I had crossed the road to the bus station again a taxi driver was trying to get me to hire his services. I waved my bus ticket at him – and again we both laughed at his enthusiasm.

My bus arrived a little early – as it has left another city and Podgorica was another stopping place en route to my next destination – Tirana in Albania. I was soon on board and we were soon leaving the streets of Podgorica behind. The journey was to be just under 4 hours. After around 45 minutes we approached the border between Montenegro and Albania. We were soon through the Montenegro side but on approaching the Albania side an immigration officer got on board, scanned our documents in his hand held scanner, passed them to the driver – who was basically collecting them for him – and then went off into an ‘office’ – where it took around 30 minutes to do what had to be done! I wasn’t sure what was happening to any other vehicles behind us – I didn’t see any pass! However, once all the formalities were completed we were allowed on our way once again.

After around an hour, we stopped at another city en route for a short break and to drop and collect passengers. As we approached the centre I had a severe case of deja vu – it was almost like a weird dream thinking I had been there before – when I slowly realised I had – that I had visited the same mosque that I was looking at some seven years previous when I had visited the area. 

After a short break we were soon on our way again and another hour or so later arrived in the centre of Tirana. Again I recognised some of the buildings and statues from my previous visit. I was soon off the bus and changing a little money before getting a taxi to take me to my hotel. I soon checked in but was keen to be out on the streets seeing more of Tirana than I did on my previous visit.

I was immediately somewhat surprised at the difference from my previous visit. Where previously there had been a clear indication of the communist regime the country had lived through, now there was an affluence comparable with most European cities. Many of the cars in the traffic jams I saw included BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Jaguar, Range Rovers etc. I even saw a Bentley! Oh.. and many of these cars were higher spec versions.

I stopped for coffee – and to watch the Tirana people. Their clothes were often from the city’s higher class fashion stores. It was somewhat of a revelation. I enjoyed walking the streets and seeing so much of the progress the city had made before returning to my hotel, showering and changing – before out into the evening social life – with busy restaurants, bars and coffee shops. I enjoyed local food as I walked around the centre, watching the busy Albanian nightlife – before returning to my hotel (which also was very impressive – especially for the cost) for the night.

Saturday 03/Sep/2016

I enjoyed breakfast in the hotel before setting off on a mission. I needed to get from Tirana to Saranda the following day. From researching this on the web it appeared it could be done – but the information wasn’t as informative or detailed as I would have liked. I had asked the young lady on reception at the hotel on my arrival the previous day and she made some enquiries and gave me some hope. I’d also been checking travel agents for leads – but not too successfully. So after finishing breakfast I headed for one of the long distance bus stations as advised by the staff in the hotel. It took me about an hour to walk from the hotel – but also gave me insight into more of the city.

Once I arrived at the Dogana bus station there were the usual throng of guys trying to get you on their bus. I approached a couple of them asking if there would be a bus to Saranda the following day – and after several guys consulted with each other, one approached me telling me of a departure at 05:30 the following morning – and where to book my ticket at the station. I thanked him – but was unable to find the ticket office he told me about. However, I saw another small ticket booth with my destination showing. I enquired there, was told the departure was 06:15 the following morning – arriving around 2 in the afternoon. This was what I had wanted and so I booked whilst I was there.

I was now reassured that my plans were going to be completed as I wanted – and celebrated with a couple of coffees on my walk back towards the centre. It was also time to do some more serious sightseeing and photograph taking in the afternoon heat. Again I continued to be surprised at how much the city had changed – and how impressed I was with it.

The afternoon soon passed – and the miles were being clocked up as I walked around. Late afternoon I bought a couple of cold drinks whilst I returned to the hotel to pack my bags and shower and change ready for another evening in the city.

I realised I would have to try to get to bed a little earlier than usual due to my early start and so found a restaurant near the centre where I had chicken, potatoes, salad and bread for around £3 – excellent value! I then decided to allow myself another hour looking around the centre and taking photographs of floodlit statues and buildings etc. before returning to my hotel. On my walk back I reflected on how much I had enjoyed this visit to Tirana – when I hadn’t been sure what to expect.

I booked my taxi with the hotel for 05:30 the following morning before heading off to my room for shower and bed after a good days walking around a city I had enjoyed visiting.

Sunday 04/Sep/2016

My alarm awoke me a little before 05:00 and after a quick shower and final packing, I was down in reception just before 05:30 to check-out. My taxi also arrived – and soon I was on my way to the Dogara bus station. Although the streets were dark and almost deserted, there were a number of pavement cafes open – with people sitting outside. Whether these were people still out from the previous night – or early morning coffee drinkers, I wasn’t sure.

Around 05:45 the taxi pulled into the bus station and the taxi driver took me alongside my bus – ensuring it was the bus I needed. I paid and thanked him – whilst I was asked my destination and shown to my seat on the bus. The skies were brightening as dawn approached – and the streets soon became much busier. By 06:15 the bus was partially full and I had a lady sitting next to me who spoke good English – but also Albanian and Greek and we began chatting a little. The bus departed on time for the long journey and several more passengers were collected en route just outside the city.

The bus did appear to be going rather slowly for the first hour – but maybe it had a schedule to adhere to for collecting other passengers – as well as what looked like relatively low speed limits. After around two hours, we stopped for around 20 minutes for a break – and to give the passengers the opportunity for refreshments etc.

As we set off on the next leg of our journey the lady sat beside me began talking more and we had a number of short conversation on various topics as we travelled along – which made the long journey appear a little shorter. We had a second stop at a hillside restaurant which allowed me to take some pictures of the scenery – as we were getting to a more picturesque area of Albania. We made several more short stops for passengers to either join or leave the bus before eventually reaching Saranda around 14:15.

This allowed me to collect my bag from the storage compartment under the bus and head off to the waters edge – to find the ferry I wanted which set sail at 16:00. Thankfully it was a short walk to the ferry terminal – where I bought my ticket – before enjoying my last coffee in Albania. Around 15:30 I went through immigration and boarded my boat ready for the hour plus crossing to Corfu (Greece).

A selection of 93 photographs (out of 286) taken on my travels in Albania.

The pictures are from the border with Montenegro by road to Tirana and onwards to Sarande for the ferry to Corfu. The pictures show both the scenery and also typical scenes of the local lifestyle.

Please note that the photographs are as originally taken and not enhanced by any means.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed both the scenery travelling through the country - and the capital Tirana. I was surprised how much Tirana had improved as a city since my previous visit there - and really enjoyed exploring the area.

[Please click on the thumbnail images to enlarge. Some maybe little blurred due to rushing the shot - or taking through a travelling bus window etc]