Possibly the best day of trip so far
Began amid peaks and clouds of Thethi
My arms still somewhat scratched and somewhat sore
From sliding down those rocks just yesterday
A very squashed and crowded hot mini-
Bus ride back down that awful rocky road
Dropped off in Shkoder, ate lunch at Puri
(A second time), then a quick taxi ride
To Ulcinj, home to the Albanian hordes
A cute resort, beach very popular
Fine sand, warm sea, bathed in it happily
Though the salt hurt my scratches, nice reward
For that long Thethi bus ride, blue water
Cleansing. Then, Albania lost at footy...
about Mon 7 Sept
Thursday, 10 September 2015
Wednesday, 9 September 2015
3307 - Balkan Saga 6
Had headache last night, but still slept okay
Despite having a hard bed to sleep on
In the Hostel Gjicaj in Thethi, a
Thunderstorm during the night, on and on
But I still slept, just as well, for the morn
Was time to set out for walking the hills
All went well, great scenery, walked with John
While Gareth stayed behind in the hostel
We went the wrong way though, we couldn't tell
How to reach the two small lakes, lost our way
Climbed boulder after boulder, a sudden
Lack of strength in legs and arms, a struggle
To survive sliding down. John helped me stay
Alive, headed back in one piece, stiff, worn...
about Sun 6 Sept
Despite having a hard bed to sleep on
In the Hostel Gjicaj in Thethi, a
Thunderstorm during the night, on and on
But I still slept, just as well, for the morn
Was time to set out for walking the hills
All went well, great scenery, walked with John
While Gareth stayed behind in the hostel
We went the wrong way though, we couldn't tell
How to reach the two small lakes, lost our way
Climbed boulder after boulder, a sudden
Lack of strength in legs and arms, a struggle
To survive sliding down. John helped me stay
Alive, headed back in one piece, stiff, worn...
about Sun 6 Sept
3306 - Balkan Saga 5
One last night, Hotel Comfort, Tirana
Then a helpful hotel receptionist
She gave advice and called a taxi for
The bus-stop to Shkoder, but first I messed
Up buying cheap t-shirts (NOT cheap t-shirts!)
So I returned them, gangster price, too high
And next, hot and crowded bus, two hour shift
And had lunch in Shkoder. We met 'Freddie'
The most talkative taxi driver I
Have ever met. Learnt more 'bout Albania
And how Albanians treated with mistrust
By Greeks and Serbs. Freddie dropped us halfway
Then the biggest and scariest ride ever
To Thethi, stuck in the Balkans' highest
about Sat 5 Sept
Then a helpful hotel receptionist
She gave advice and called a taxi for
The bus-stop to Shkoder, but first I messed
Up buying cheap t-shirts (NOT cheap t-shirts!)
So I returned them, gangster price, too high
And next, hot and crowded bus, two hour shift
And had lunch in Shkoder. We met 'Freddie'
The most talkative taxi driver I
Have ever met. Learnt more 'bout Albania
And how Albanians treated with mistrust
By Greeks and Serbs. Freddie dropped us halfway
Then the biggest and scariest ride ever
To Thethi, stuck in the Balkans' highest
about Sat 5 Sept
3305 - Balkan Saga 4
Hotel Comfort is well-named, a room each
Slept well, no disturbance, but no breakfast
So bought a pastry and a drink that reeks
Of cheese which took an hour to drink, at least
Taxi to cable car up mountain, best
View of Tirana, and a good meal too
Walked back to town centre and then a fest
Of Albanian history for just two
Hundred leks at the museum, but phew!
One of us (Gareth) went missing - can't reach
Him cos he had no phone. Me and John passed
Time eating and watching football in two
Places. Albania and Denmark. Was such
Fun watching the locals support their lads
about Fri 4 Sept
Slept well, no disturbance, but no breakfast
So bought a pastry and a drink that reeks
Of cheese which took an hour to drink, at least
Taxi to cable car up mountain, best
View of Tirana, and a good meal too
Walked back to town centre and then a fest
Of Albanian history for just two
Hundred leks at the museum, but phew!
One of us (Gareth) went missing - can't reach
Him cos he had no phone. Me and John passed
Time eating and watching football in two
Places. Albania and Denmark. Was such
Fun watching the locals support their lads
about Fri 4 Sept
3304 - Balkan Saga 3
Left the Skopje apartment for station
Caught the 9.30 bus to Tirana
An almost nine hour journey til it's done
But exciting back in Albania!
The bus stopped often in Macedonia
Some cute girls in the bus made it lively
Also met Marco, Italian traveller
He's been everywhere in the world to see
Hot day with bags so we caught a taxi
From Skanderbeg Square to hotel and then
Quick as we could, hopped out for meal and beer
Made a late night of it, predictably
Watching football in a sports bar was fun
Then at another small bar, beer encore
about Thur 3 Sept
Caught the 9.30 bus to Tirana
An almost nine hour journey til it's done
But exciting back in Albania!
The bus stopped often in Macedonia
Some cute girls in the bus made it lively
Also met Marco, Italian traveller
He's been everywhere in the world to see
Hot day with bags so we caught a taxi
From Skanderbeg Square to hotel and then
Quick as we could, hopped out for meal and beer
Made a late night of it, predictably
Watching football in a sports bar was fun
Then at another small bar, beer encore
about Thur 3 Sept
3303 - Balkan Saga 2
Today, oh friends, we had a good breakfast
Lots of eggs and beans, all that you could need
This was at the Sveti Sofia, the first
Good breakfast I've had for a while, indeed
The next task was to catch the bus, we did
And headed for Macedonia, but wait!
At the border, long delays, was a dude
On the bus from Tunisia, Customs bait
Eventually we got to Skopje, bought
Tickets to Tirana, sorted out fast
Then with taxi driver's help, located
The apartment in some old Commie flats
It's nice though. Very hot. Had a repast
In Skopje, and now wine, we'll take no heed...
about Wed 2 Sept
Lots of eggs and beans, all that you could need
This was at the Sveti Sofia, the first
Good breakfast I've had for a while, indeed
The next task was to catch the bus, we did
And headed for Macedonia, but wait!
At the border, long delays, was a dude
On the bus from Tunisia, Customs bait
Eventually we got to Skopje, bought
Tickets to Tirana, sorted out fast
Then with taxi driver's help, located
The apartment in some old Commie flats
It's nice though. Very hot. Had a repast
In Skopje, and now wine, we'll take no heed...
about Wed 2 Sept
3302 - Balkan Saga 1
Approximately three hours' sleep and then
A taxi from John's to the airport, then
A plane ride to Sofia, Bulgaria, then
A bus ride to Sofia centre, then
In extreme heat, taxi to hotel, then
Having dumped bags and donned shorts, better, then
Looked for a supermarket (razors), then
Walked to the bus station, got nowhere, then
Tried another bus station next door, then
Having found tomorrow's bus-stop, well, then
A few lagers and a meal were had, then
We moved on to Adam's Pub, more beers, then
We found an off-licence near hotel, then
We made for our hotel room and drank. Then...
about Tue 1 Sept
A taxi from John's to the airport, then
A plane ride to Sofia, Bulgaria, then
A bus ride to Sofia centre, then
In extreme heat, taxi to hotel, then
Having dumped bags and donned shorts, better, then
Looked for a supermarket (razors), then
Walked to the bus station, got nowhere, then
Tried another bus station next door, then
Having found tomorrow's bus-stop, well, then
A few lagers and a meal were had, then
We moved on to Adam's Pub, more beers, then
We found an off-licence near hotel, then
We made for our hotel room and drank. Then...
about Tue 1 Sept
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