Albania and not speaking Dutch..

 Well I started out early to make sure I was not late for this tour.  When I got to the pick up point there was absolutely no one in sight.  Maybe Dutch people don't arrive early like me.  Finally a bus pulled up and the driver alighted.  I asked if this bus was going to Albania, "Yes." Lale tours "Yes." "Wait here".  So at least I know I am in the right place.  He meandered to a close cafe, and I say meandered because I swear to God it looked like he just got off a horse, bandy legs, swagger and all.  He met with a fellow that I assumed was our guide and yes he was.   Once he spoke to me and I explained I didn't speak Dutch he actually did have some English, not a lot but a bit.  I am hopeful that some of the passengers will, as a lot of Dutch people do speak English.

The bus set off, with only me in it, we travelled outside the town to a little area and picked up a couple who were waiting there.  The driver told them I was Australian and if they wanted to practice their english they could do so on me.  They were actually really lovely and helped me throughout the day.

We then travelled back into town and I was wondering if there was a hotel full of Dutch people somewhere or how we were gunna fill up this bus in a timely manner.  Well apparently there is a car park full of Dutch folk and we finally got the bus filled and off we went.

The Albanian countryside is beautiful.  We first went to Pogradec where we saw the diference between the soviet built buildings and the modern day ones.  It was rather a poor town and it makes you feel a little uncomfortable.  We stopped for a coffee or tea that was included in the tour, which surprised me.  I wasn't told that was included when I booked.  Me and one other lady ordered hot tea.  Well we got a cup of hot water and a satchet, with some kind of cranules in it.  Turned out it was a lemon drink.  The guide spoke to the waiter and he came over with a Dalmah teabag and I nodded, off he went and we never saw him again... So so much for black hot tea... 

Building on left is modern the one on the right was built in soviet times

Does this mean they are a good buy or not?

Part of the market and our cowboy on the right

Need shoes? 

We walked around the town and everytime the guide stopped and spoke to the group, someone would come up to me to explain  what he had just said, the group was really amazing, so kind and inclusive, most of them spoke english.  The guide kept promising to tell me later, but he rarely did. We walked through a market and the stuff they were selling was so random.  A stall would have clothes and then the woven tape you use to recover chairs??  It was interesting, they do have a lot of stalls of really fresh vegetables, the colours were really vibrant.  They also have a huge amount of plant stalls with all kinds of plants and they sell really well by the amount of people walking around with bags of plants.

Another soviet buitd building with some of the group

So much for Eward and Jacob, another team is in the running, the Scots have got involved.

We then travelled to Korca, this is a very modern city, all of the shops and restaurants are modern and exellent, you could be in any city in the world really.  Albania is really progressing at an alarming rate.  They are doing very well.. We had lunch in a restaurant that the guide took us to and this was also included in the tour, so win, win.  But you did not get to choose your meal, it was all already ordered. But that did make me try some local dishes that I probably wouldn't have.  And to be honest wouldn't have again.  The appetiser was bread and three kinds of dip.  Tzatziki, which I like.  Some kind of homemade humas and a white bean concoction that was too hot for me.  The main meal was chips, a weird rissole thing that was awful, a sausage that was okay and a chicken skewer.  So not too terrible. 

Just a normal modern city

Fritz with one of the large masks, there is a festival held each year. 

Check the difference between the bottom and top of the building. Which puts a lie to the fact we were told they do not have a word for maintenance in their language so they don't do any. Just build and let things eventually fall down. Someone has fixed the bottom of this up, it's lovely.

Restaurants line the streets

We then visited another bloody church, this one had chairs instead of pews and the walls were covered in bright paintings and it was all too busy for me.  But probably enjoyed by the locals.

The church

We then went on to little village.  No idea what it was called. There was another church and then they took us to a local home, which has a house museam in the garden.  It was pretty much like all the house museums you see everywhere.  Interesting but hardly worth the walk to get there.  One thing I did find interesting was the grandfather of the man who once lived there used to do all the weather records for the village and send them off by morse code back in the day.  Apparently he was paid, but they kind of forgot about him and so they never retired him.  He just kept doing it until he died at 93.  Now nobody does it, but they still have the weather station there and they show it to you....

A donkey earning his keep.

The three countries seen from the below spot. Greece, Albania and Macedonia

We then headed back to Ohrid and I had a lovely dinner with two of the folk from the bus.  By the time Fritz decided on a restaurant we were almost back at my accommodation, so after diner instead of going back down town and getting a taxi, I decided to walk home.  My legs were dying by this time , but it was only about 15 minutes walk and I was home by about 10pm.  It was a good day overall.  

This morning I am catching a bus to Skopje and then hopefully a bus to Sofia in Bulgaria.  I will need to find some accommodaton at some stage today.

I am looking at heading home next week I think, I will let you know.

The red poppies are everywhere. Reminded me of Flanders field..