Day 71 : 1st August, 201 - Durres (Adriatic Sea), Albania

10.00 a.m.: It will take 45 minutes. I woke up at 6.30 a.m this morning. There was a girl talking loudly, on the mobile and then she started crying. I went out and found that her grandmother had passed away in Australia. I consoled her and then repacked. After my shower, I prepare a cup of tea. Lira had come. I told her that my packsack will be kept near a box and I am carrying the small bag to Durres. I will stay there. She wished me good luck and I came out of the hostel. That Australian girl was sitting outside. She thanked me and told me that she has booked her flight back to Australia.

Then I walked towards the Railway Station from where the bus to Durres will go. Yesterday, I had come here. Near the Tirana Station, I found a small but good restaurant and asked for vegetable sandwich and a bottle of lassi for 160 lek. It was quite good. Before that I saw a sign of Albania University but it was closed. Two girls were selling some brochures. I saw a weighing machine and I could not stop myself from knowing my weight. It showed 77 kg. 4 kgs less than when I started.

I am right now sitting in a Bus for Durres. Train Station was nearby but the last train to Durres is at 8.30 a.m. which means I have missed it. There was a big bus standing, Durres written on the board. I got in and it begun at 10 a.m. reaching Durres at 10.45 a.m. 138 lek was the ticket (1 Euro). Bus was air-conditioned and comfortable. 

At Durres I had no idea where to go, what to see and where to stay. I just started walking on one side but did not find the sea water. Then I asked one person and he just vaguely told me the direction. I saw big cranes on
one side and imagined port to be there and I was right. After 30 minutes walk I saw Adriatic Sea and walked along. At a distance, saw a board of a hotel and the two more hotels. First hotel was charging 50 Euros for a room. I walked further and then entered Hotel Ani. Outside was a bar. The reception was smaller and the girl sitting there quoted 40 Euros for a single room with breakfast. I said 30 Euro and she had a word her Manager and finally they agreed. She first showed me a room which I did not like but the next one was quite likeable. I took the keys and later on she sent two bottles of water. The room has T.V., an AC, a balcony and very modern bathroom with good linen on the bed. Receptionist told me about another Indian staying here for 15 days. He has come here for some work and will be back in the evening.

I took some rest and then at 1.30 p.m. I ventured out. It is still hot and on the beach side, there is not a single person except me. I ate a doner and drank beer for lunch. Beer price is same as that of a water bottle. AgainI went back to the room to come back  in the evening. Then I walked a big road of the walled city. This is historic as it was established much before Roman empire. There are many Roma houses. One thing which I liked is that many Roman people have settled, opened shops or engaged in selling merchandise. A few are begging as I saw at the coast during my  entire trip, I never tasted ice cream although it is eaten in abundance in many countries. Suddenly, I had a desire to eat and I asked for one scoop at the very first shop I saw. I sat outside and enjoyed that one scoop of ice cream. There is another beach which is bigger and more crowded at a few miles from here. There is no point going there. I don’t have any desires to swim. I find it good here. The beach is getting crowded (7.30 p.m.) Sun is about to set. Small shops, restaurants, games for children are all being set up in the open area. I see a lot of families, old and young all coming to the beach.

It is a good choice to come and stay here. I have phoned Robert of Macedonin  Association but he is not picking up the call. Just now I met a young Indian from Lucknow who is working in an Italian ship. I recognized him from his kaleva on the wrist. He was also happy to meet me. He was in a hurry to go back to his ship. He told me that it is a Cargo Ship and two Indians are working on it. He is quite thin and complained of not getting proper Indian food.

I am sitting on a wooden platform and I can very well enjoy sea water at few steps away. Coast breeze is blowing. I took a picture of an old lady who gladly allowed me to do so. A book shop has came up on the coast side and I noticed Rabinder Nath Tagore’s book ‘Gora” in Albanian language. Tagore is called Tagora here.

There is another book which I recognized from a woman with Bindi on front page. I am sitting in front of the Beach Restaurants and enjoying local Raeki (Brandy) for 100 lek. Food is costly here and I will go to the other side of my hotel where there are many restaurants for grilled food at reasonable rates. Brandy is good and strong.

Food on this side of the beach is expensive. I went back to the side where I had lunch and found another grill restaurant. Sandwich was very tasty. The woman who prepared the food was very jolly. She and her twin sister tried to talk to me. There are some English knowing people here. Later she brought her two young children to meet me and affectionately bade me good bye. I don’t know why she was so impressed. My hotel is nearby. Receptionist told me that the Indian Professor had come back and gone to sleep. He will meet me at in the morning over breakfast. I waited for Sudhanshu’s call till 11 p.m. and then went to sleep.