Northern Greece, Albania & Macedonia: Ancient Lands of Alexander the Great Day 9

Day 09 - Wednesday, October 18, 2017 - Cross Into Albania; Explore Ruins of Butrint; Evening in Gjirokaster

This morning we said goodbye to our National Geographic award winning Aristi Mountain Resort. Anna reminded us that we needed to have our passports in our personal possession today. We left the European Union and crossed the border into Albania.

While we drove south-southeast Anna told us about the history of the refugees that came from Albania to Greece. She admitted that the Greeks were reluctant to help them and treated the Albanians less than respectfully.

Many Greeks did not want the Syrians to come because Greece was already in debt and could not afford to take on more financial responsibility. Dimitrius told us in our first night’s economic discussion that the immigrants brought more money, more jobs, and more international flavor to Greece.

Anna said she believed that Greece was still not financially ahead, but it was not the drain that many worried about. Many Syrians were not poor, but had to move for their safety. Greece was just the first stop in their quest for a safe haven.

Our day was bright and sunny again with the temperature of 51 degrees and the humidity was 74%. At 9:30 we made a stop for fuel and restrooms near Ioannina. We bought bottled water for our time in Albania and of course, chocolate for Gennie.

Continuing though many tunnels and the mountains, we enjoyed seeing the little villages with their limestone chapels glistening in the sun. There were also many solar panels catching the solar energy.

While we traveled, one of our fellow travelers, Nancy talked to us about the time she spent in the diplomatic service in Albania twenty-five years ago. It will be interesting to hear her thoughts when we actually get to Tirana, the capital.

At the port city Igoumenitsa, a busy cruise ship stop on the Ionian Sea, we drove past the waterfront and cafés that cater to the day visitors. Anna explained that the well built roads and bridges we enjoyed in Greece would be ending soon.

In a small village just before the border, we stopped at a small cemetery and Anna explained the customs of taking care of loved ones upon death. Greek Orthodox family members were buried under the ground in family plots. Celebrations of life were the norm although in the past widows were not allowed to remarry.

When we crossed the border into Albania we had a time change as well as a cultural adjustment. We had our passport stamped on the Greece side, but only Tasoss had to present the papers of the bus to receive permission to travel into Albania.

Our local guide joined us at the border at Konispol. llir welcomed us and told us that America was the best friend of Albania because in 1913 after the Albania independence, President Woodrow Wilson saved Albania from the neighboring countries that tried to overtake them.

Ilir gave us an abridged history of this mountainous country that was about the size of Maryland. No longer part of the Communist Block, the country was more allied with Communist China than the Soviet Union.

The region was known for its sandy beaches and olive and fruit groves. Oranges, kiwis, pomegranates, and mandarin oranges were grown on the hillsides.

We had a seaside lunch of fish soup, salad, and calamari with the main dish of grilled fish at the Livia Hotel and Bar. We walked to the archaeological site of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our expert park guide, Dorina took us on a two-hour exploratory walk through the National Park of Butrint. Although we generally followed the site map, she took us on several short cuts to see as much as we could in the time we had to explore.

Even though Butrint has been a famous seaport since prehistoric times, this was our first introduction to its history. Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians all called this seaside habitat home.

By 3:30 we thanked Dorina and returned to the bus for a 90-minute ride to our hotel inland at Gjirokaster. Anna reminded us several times that the rooms were much smaller than those we enjoyed in Greece. We reminded ourselves that if we wanted plush accommodations every night we would not travel.

We had a chance to have some laundry done, as this was the most reasonable place. The charge was 10 Euros for a whole bag of washing. The Albanian currency was the Lek, but they did take Euros at the hotel.

At 6:45 we walked up the hill only a block to Kuka Taverna where we had dinner together. It was 8:30 when we walked back to the hotel. We took the laundry to the reception and then began our work on the day’s reflections.

About Albania:

Since independence from the Ottoman Turk's rule in 1912, Albania has developed into a popular destination for tourists keen to explore its archaeological heritage, unspoiled beaches, and delicious cuisine.

https://www.explore.co.uk/news-and-features

Accommodations: HOTEL ARGJIRO - - - Meal: B, L, D.