Albania #79
What a stunning welcome. Lake in the left and when we turn away from it the view across the plains is stunning and colourful. I have messaged Sonila to let her know I’m in the country!
At 1130 we pull into a cafe shop restaurant place. It’s pretty useless for most of us as we don’t have local money, but smokers are happy! I was to be in Elbasan by now but no worries. It’s a 15 minute stop and off again. I manage to find someone who can translate a bit for me and explains I’d like to get off at the castle in Elbasan. It appears everyone else will go to Tirana. I’ve messaged Sonila and she will meet me there..... all being well!!
It’s nice along the river while I watch maps for Elbasan approach! Again I see terraced hills like in Romania.
Arrival at the castle and a a lovely smiling blonde lady is waving as she approaches. It’s Sonila.
She takes me to a stunning place in the castle for coffee and catch up. Sonila explains that the reported liver of great Aunt Margaret has a new statue at the castle entrance, I inadvertently taken it in a picture. She tells me that her grand mother remembers that he was very in love with her. There’s a large bit of history about her dying away. She shows me photos of the kids, her daughter had very red hair, from her mother’s side while her son is like his father and totally Mediterranean looking!
It’s nice along the river while I watch maps for Elbasan approach! Again I see terraced hills like in Romania.
Arrival at the castle and a a lovely smiling blonde lady is waving as she approaches. It’s Sonila.
She takes me to a stunning place in the castle for coffee and catch up. Sonila explains that the reported liver of great Aunt Margaret has a new statue at the castle entrance, I inadvertently taken it in a picture. She tells me that her grand mother remembers that he was very in love with her. There’s a large bit of history about her dying away. She shows me photos of the kids, her daughter had very red hair, from her mother’s side while her son is like his father and totally Mediterranean looking!
At 1130 we pull into a cafe shop restaurant place. It’s pretty useless for most of us as we don’t have local money, but smokers are happy! I was to be in Elbasan by now but no worries. It’s a 15 minute stop and off again. I manage to find someone who can translate a bit for me and explains I’d like to get off at the castle in Elbasan. It appears everyone else will go to Tirana. I’ve messaged Sonila and she will meet me there..... all being well!!
It’s nice along the river while I watch maps for Elbasan approach! Again I see terraced hills like in Romania.
Arrival at the castle and a a lovely smiling blonde lady is waving as she approaches. It’s Sonila.
She takes me to a stunning place in the castle for coffee and catch up. Sonila explains that the reported liver of great Aunt Margaret has a new statue at the castle entrance, I inadvertently taken it in a picture. She tells me that her grand mother remembers that he was very in love with her. There’s a large bit of history about her dying away. She shows me photos of the kids, her daughter had very red hair, from her mother’s side while her son is like his father and totally Mediterranean looking!
It’s nice along the river while I watch maps for Elbasan approach! Again I see terraced hills like in Romania.
Arrival at the castle and a a lovely smiling blonde lady is waving as she approaches. It’s Sonila.
She takes me to a stunning place in the castle for coffee and catch up. Sonila explains that the reported liver of great Aunt Margaret has a new statue at the castle entrance, I inadvertently taken it in a picture. She tells me that her grand mother remembers that he was very in love with her. There’s a large bit of history about her dying away. She shows me photos of the kids, her daughter had very red hair, from her mother’s side while her son is like his father and totally Mediterranean looking!
We hit the ‘house of hope’ and there’s a new plaque there saying it’s Kuwait owned. Sonila is very confused as am I at first as I think that we are going somewhere else and had not realised this was it, she then becomes a little angry and I realise that something is not right. I take photos of it but as she points out, it’s not the original. It’s a holiday and so we can not get in. She asks the shop beside and the security man on the other house. and makes phone calls. Turns out they have destroyed and has been taken over by Kuwait person and been totally destroyed inside. Sonila is gutted. I send a picture to mum and they reply, not at the wedding yet, so I call Home so they can get information directly from Sonila. She will meet the old director in the week to find out more. The more we walk the more she becomes annoyed about it. I suggest we make a plan for a statue to her instead!!
We head off to a restaurant for lunch which is new and produces excellent local food. As we wander along we pass her new apartment where she moves tomorrow, bless her, she has made time to meet me today while missing a women’s protest and packing to move and now she is back helping us to re-sort the house!!
We take a taxi back out of town and hit a lovely open popular restaurant who know her well. I am unsure whether to order chicken or lamb so I’m taken into the kitchen to see the lamb on a spit. It looks amazing so I go with that.
Good arrives and just when I think it’s all there I’m sure 1/2 a sheep appears on plates. There’s so much food and so tasty, beautifully cooked and not too fatty.
We sit and chat.... We try to google the ‘house of hope’ and find evidence it was being used 2014 still but then nothing much more except when Sonila ‘Facebook stalks’ one of the people involved in the plaque ceremony a ‘Sue Lee’ comes up but I’m not sure that’s of any relevance to the family.. Sonila and I suspect corruption etc involved but we shall research as she felt very proud of it all having been involved 8 years ago. Mum has promised to come and see Sonila it appears so I’ll be back! We discuss the relevance in respect to the work on women’s recognition in public service and Great Aunt Margaret again losing recognition for her hard work. It’s becoming an interesting concept for us both!
We take a taxi back out of town and hit a lovely open popular restaurant who know her well. I am unsure whether to order chicken or lamb so I’m taken into the kitchen to see the lamb on a spit. It looks amazing so I go with that.
Good arrives and just when I think it’s all there I’m sure 1/2 a sheep appears on plates. There’s so much food and so tasty, beautifully cooked and not too fatty.
We sit and chat.... We try to google the ‘house of hope’ and find evidence it was being used 2014 still but then nothing much more except when Sonila ‘Facebook stalks’ one of the people involved in the plaque ceremony a ‘Sue Lee’ comes up but I’m not sure that’s of any relevance to the family.. Sonila and I suspect corruption etc involved but we shall research as she felt very proud of it all having been involved 8 years ago. Mum has promised to come and see Sonila it appears so I’ll be back! We discuss the relevance in respect to the work on women’s recognition in public service and Great Aunt Margaret again losing recognition for her hard work. It’s becoming an interesting concept for us both!
Taxi back to the centre and just outside the apartment of her mother we go for ice cream and because the server is one of her ex-students he does not allow her to pay. Just over the road and onto a bar for coffee to finish then it’s a wander back, past Lef Nosi to the bus station via the stunning revisit to see the other side of where we had our first coffee in the castle. We pass the national theatre and Sonila explains that this time Monday day she will be watching her daughter take part in a semi final for singing. She is obviously very proud!
The bus will leave in 5 minutes and Sonila checks that he will show me where to go when I get off. So lovely. I give her some bits from UK, including some rather disfigured chocolate which is on s again softened significantly by the 30+ degrees heat! Oooops not been a good idea retrospectively
It’s off back down the beautifully hilly countryside to Tirana I go!
It’s off back down the beautifully hilly countryside to Tirana I go!
I decide to head round some of the central sights as tonight’s hotel is in the middle of them all. The guy, as promised, points me in the correct direction and I head off. I turn off the Main Street to go towards the university and the historic check point and there are some cherries on sale so I stop to buy a bag....(you have to stop the guy filling it!!). On ordering a guy beside me watching 3 bikes appears to be surprised that I’m ‘English’, he is too and is cycling from uk to Australia he hopes.... his mates arrive out. They are on their way to Elbasan then Greece, and, like myself and Mark years ago, can not get over the kindness of the people and their hospitality. We chat for a while as the other 2 sort them selves out and then part ways, I wish them luck on the climb to their next destination!!
I wander round the sights in the central area, the check point, the pyramid etc and just enjoy the relaxed feel.
I wander round the sights in the central area, the check point, the pyramid etc and just enjoy the relaxed feel.
My hotel is on one of the main streets and when I check in the guy apologises for the basic room, I explain I am not wanting more than a bed, shower and loo!! It’s a very nice room, I’ve been in more compact, and the bed is comfy and it’s warm so better than the last couple of nights!!! It’s 1830 and I need fluids so I ask the guy on reception where to go. He suggests the park are so off I head. It’s basically straight across the way from the hotel.
I stop for a fresh juice then wander on drinking it. I pass a small music festival and head up to the main square. Sonila was not impressed with what they have done to it, and she’s not the first person I have had say it’s not good change, they are placing loads of park area and trees around it. I had had reports of lots of modern buildings surrounding it, but it’s not so obvious as I expect.
I stop for a fresh juice then wander on drinking it. I pass a small music festival and head up to the main square. Sonila was not impressed with what they have done to it, and she’s not the first person I have had say it’s not good change, they are placing loads of park area and trees around it. I had had reports of lots of modern buildings surrounding it, but it’s not so obvious as I expect.
On to the park area and I find ‘taiwan’ bar. Well I have to go there. They are playing 80s music on a big screen, kids are playing in the park and I enjoy a beer while mosquitos enjoy me!! I’m getting very intrigued with my heritage here and my trip as it’s coming to an end has sparked a wish to find out more about this amazing person and a wish to link her pictures with appropriate people if it’s possible as I think they must be fascinating having met people here. Any living memory of that time is fast going so I wonder how much there is out there!
As Rod Stewart starts singing ‘Baby Jane’ I think it’s time to head off!! I really need to message some of my contacts from last couple of days. As I walk back I notice plenty of English being spoken!!
Arrival at the hotel and there’s a Turkish something going on, so if I was into this I’m getting my own personal concert, and it’s being televised. Looks important, none the wiser. I’m ready to sleep now!!
I’m wondering how the wedding is going but no pictures on Facebook yet so I’ll stalk T&T tomorrow!!
Arrival at the hotel and there’s a Turkish something going on, so if I was into this I’m getting my own personal concert, and it’s being televised. Looks important, none the wiser. I’m ready to sleep now!!
I’m wondering how the wedding is going but no pictures on Facebook yet so I’ll stalk T&T tomorrow!!