At the bus station a few days ago, to go back to Tirana.
After nearly six months in Albania, I've decided to move on, by the way. Since traveling during Covid is filled with uncertainties, I won't believe I'm going anywhere until I'm in a room at my new destination.
My home in two weeks should give me plenty to write about. A contact there did give me this gentle warning:
I'm glad to hear that you may have found something suitable. I'm also sure that you're an old hand at working out how to get around. Alas, as an old dog who's grown up around ****, and having seen what this captured country's become, I go nowhere on foot anymore; so I'm of no use to you regarding such an m.o. Needless to say, I can't wait to see what you pen after all of your reconnaissance has come to an end.
My wife liked the **** Street area. At least she did when we visited a friend there many years ago. **** has not been spared change for the worse. I can't help thinking that you may be taking your life into your own hands in deciding to go walk-about though. I pray to God that I'm wrong.
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18 comments:
Hi Linh, Made the Force be with you to guide and protect you! Cheers, Tom (from France)
What madness we're going through, Tom.
Yo, Linh! Safe travelling and solace where you find it! McGlinchey Joe
Hi Linh, Tuesday we are driving back to France from Latvia (which is pretty close to becoming another failed state like the USA ! After checking on our house and doing a few things, we are getting the fuck out of there as France wants to be the leader of all the Gestapo countries! I can't believe we picked France back in 2018 to be our permanent home! We are leaving to drive to Spain (which appears to be one of few remaining EU countries which has not gone Batshit! We will wait there to see how the dust settles in France before deciding what the fuck to do next! Maybe jump off a bridge? The world is going to hell in a hand basket.......I wish we did not own any house and then could easily change countries as they go to hell.I think this is the most screwed up perion in the last 1000 years. Be extra careful during these times as you travel and tell your amazing stories. One hour to go before whiskey time! Cheers, Tom (from france or maybe Spain next)
Hi Tom,
You should seriously consider getting an airbnb room in Albania for a month or so. Life is 98% normal here. Same in Montenegro, though it's pricier there, but still cheap, and you'll get better food options than in Albania. It has a more spectacular coast too.
Linh
Hi Linh,
I was in Albanian for a month. Really enjoyed the break from dystopia land UK.
Now I am back just as things tighten. I wonder why I left. Though of course the future remains uncertain everywhere.
I was considering going back out and living between NM/Albania and where you are now for a while.
How long do you plan to stay in Montenegro?
Hi Zep,
I'm back in Tirana, but will fly out of here in less than two weeks. Albania is cheaper than Montenegro. The food variety in Tirana is not great, but if you know where to go, you'll be fine. For really cheap yet excellent seafood, go to Detari Fish on Mine Peza. For Chinese cooked by a real Chinese, eat at Chinese Garden by the Ottoman foot bridge.
Linh
Sounds good, Linh. Thanks.
Out of interest, where is your next destination? And what made you feel you'd had enough of Tirana?
From my stay there, I agree with you there wasn't much variety of food. I also can't say I loved the pollution.
It also got pretty relentlessly hot towards the end of my stay (I arrived in June and left in July). Still, it was a glorious escape from the current situation in England.
Check back on August 6th, man, for photos from my new city...
Serendipity Mexican Restaurant in Tirana is crap yet pricey. Stay away! Tymi on Kavaja is very good and affordable.
P.S. I haven't had enough of Tirana, but I've been here nearly six months, man. For the sake of my writing, I need to move on.
P.P.S. Shkoder is a pretty nice city, and right next to Montenegro. That wouldn't be a bad place to stay if you want to get out of Tirana. Gjirokaster and Korce are also very pleasant and interesting.
Nice man. I didn't travel around Albania as much as I could have, so I will check those places out if I return.
Out of interest, do you have an end destination in mind or are you OK to stay on the road?
For me, even though I stayed in Albania, changing apartments every few weeks got a bit tiring. So I do wonder if I am cut out for changing countries constantly if I try to stay on the run from 'the new normal' indefinitely.
When I left Hanoi in late February of 2020, I thought I would be back in Vietnam within a month or so. I'm only drifting like this because nearly all of East Asia is still closed off.
To see Albania, man, you have to get on those mini buses. They're dirt cheap.
Berat is a gem of a city. Fier is pretty ugly but very lively, and actually one of my favorites.
Funny you mention Berat because that is a place I visited by bus. Great place!
The heat was intense though. Got a heat headache after walking around the castle.
I heard Vietnam was open-ish for long periods of this year but went draconian recently. Looks like all of SEA has tightened things up after loosening things for a good chunk of this year.
P.S. Do you tend to book on airbnb or find places locally? I find staying 2-3 months to be pretty expensive even on airbnb.
Hi Zep,
I found my place on booking. After my first month, I got a discount since I booked directly with my landlady. I pay 325 euros a month for my last five.
I have access to a washing machine. My landlady dries and even folds my clothes for me.
I've also booked through airbnb. Last year, I booked an entire apartment in Belgrade for $286 for my first month. For my second month, I got a discount from my landlord.
These rates are pretty damn good, man.
I'd suggest booking a place for a month, then get a discount directly from your landlord for subsequent months. Since you've been to Tirana, you're familiar with some of its neighborhoods. You don't have to stay right in the center. I'm only a seven minute walk from Skanderbeg Square, though.
Linh
I am thinking of going to Albania and live there for a month or two. Before Covid I was living in Belgrade for 3 months and had a wonderful time.
Can you be more specific about the 98% no restrictions? Is Bars and nightclubs open as well? (These two seems to be the last brigade so to speak, if they are open it pretty much means no restrictions)
Wish you goodluck in your new country, Linh.
Everything is open, up until midnight.
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