Sweating in Sarande (Albania)

As we move north the travel has stepped up a gear. We have a date to keep and we are trying to squeeze in countrys left, right and centre. We must be in Dubrovnik by the 26th Aug to meet Ray, Rach, and Adam, all friends from Uni. The original plan was to travel overland up through Albania and Montenegro to Croatia. But then we started talking about Bosnia Herzegovina. Steeped in modern history Kel’s favourite kind), its seems criminal not to visit Sarajevo when we go so close. That means a few more 2 night stopovers, where you’re forced to get to know a place in just one day.




From Corfu we caught the early ferry the 25kms to the Albanian seaside resort of Sarande. The differences from Greece become immediately obvious as you step off the ferry. Rubbish collection has yet to arrive in Albania it seems, and unfortunately the streets are full of it. The roads are also in dire need of a bit of work, and coupled with novice Albanian drivers (most learnt to drive in the last 10 years) make for a pretty hair-raising transport experience. Natural beauty though is not lacking. The place has heaps of it (such an Australian way to put it we’ve discovered), and it’s as yet pretty, much undiscovered by non-Albanians. The beach at Ksamili is an especially stunning bay dotted with small islands close enough to swim or wade to. You can enjoy your own private little beach cove then swim back to the main beach for lunch. Lunch, of course, costs about five Australian dollars, in a picture perfect location overlooking the water. It is a truly affordable beach holiday (minus the few thousand it costs to get here).

A quick mention for our hostel in Sarande, The Hairy Lemon. Ran by an Irish woman and often helped by a few backpackers keen to stay still for a while, the hostel is an apartment on the 8th floor of a building overlooking the beach. With pancakes for breakfast, free internet, 3 Euro a load washing and a fantastic host the place is hard to beat.