it was long past time when they finally let us board. I was three times at the terminal and went back to town, because I couldn't stand waiting for so long. I met some interesting people though and when I was back in town, eating my last Pizza in Italy, I realized that I was nervous for that trip. Like people who are experienced actors or magicians but still have stage fever. Well.. it's probably part of the trip, otherwise I wouldn't do it, if it would just be easy. So after all the experience I got along my journeys, I'm still getting excited when I do something new for the first time :)
I made sure that I'm there ahead of time to not miss the boat, but it took them so long to unload that I was waiting another two hours next to the gate while a cold wind was blowing. Finally they had mercy and let me proceed. I passed the police control (without realizing) and the guy was yelling at me. I stopped and he had a quick look at my passport then at my back and then he told me that he was riding bike in Switzerland and named me all the great passes. Instead of checking my luggage, he showed me all the epic roads I have to do in Albania and Montenegro on his smartphone. It was just really cool! Then I got on board, someone tied up my bike and they told me that I can leave the luggage strapped on (I was happy to hear that, as I unloaded it at least 5 times this day.. just to have things in eyesight). I went up to the reception (they have a reception hall on the boat) and they gave me a room with four beds for myself. I was so incredibly tired that I just throw myself on the bed and was falling asleep on the spot). Suddenly there was a knocking in my dream and when it reapeted a couple of times, I realized that they are waking up the people. I just thought they should make another loop, so I can sleep a little longer, but then I had a coffee and met my Albanian friends from last evening again. They are just hilarious! :D ..we had really good laughs about culture and women and what happens when you don't marry them afterward ;) Yes, the people here are totally cool! I paid 20 Euros for an insurance I need, rolled off the boat and since ever then I got all the help I could ever ask for. Hospitality is sacred in this country and people are just so incredibly friendly and helpful. Wether it's English, Italian, French or just hand and feet, they put themselves really into helping you out!!! (one old man was warning me about the dogs by making some barking sounds ;). It's just 12 hours that I arrived here, but I already got some noisy plastic cover fixed, went to see really small ruins (that lies within a miliary compound), found a dead and an alive turtle, saw some snakes (unfortunately rolled one over :( eat clams (and they were SOOOO tasty --> I never had those and I really intended to never eat them, but they were fresh from the see and just very, very tasty!), went to see some more bigger ruins, got plans where to go and what to do and above all: was riding some of the most beautiful roads that I've ever seen!! Albania just TOTALLY ROCKS!!! Now I know why I decided to ride a motorbike down to Albania! I'm so happy I got my own bike down here.. it seems to me that coming to this country without a motorbike is about the same as playing football without a ball ;) The roads are not that bad (well, there are a lot of small roads that I haven't tried). Compared to the Italiens that put roadsigns but don't follow them, they Albanians don't put any signs at all (makes more sense to me than what the Italians do ;)
I heard a lot of good things about Albania, how beautiful it is and how friendly the people are, but what I'm experiencing here just tops it all! I'd wish I have more time to drive around, but I'll try my best to use it as good as I can. Tomorrow I will quickly go to Greece to eat a salad and then come back and stop in an old historical town here in Albania. So much to do and so little time! but I'll take it slowly.. especially on the road where I'm used to people driving on the right side and people driving on the left side, but the concept of driving in the middle of the road is new to me. They just turn over quickly when someone approaches, but as long there's no one else on the road, why not drive in the middle? The weather is just stunningly beautiful and no clouds on the sky whatsoever. The colors goes perfectly with the sea (that is also shaded in different blues) and wonderful beaches (for those who like beaches). Now it's time to go out and have some fun! :D ..man.. I can't believe how wonderful life can be! can it get any better? ..let's try ;)
I made sure that I'm there ahead of time to not miss the boat, but it took them so long to unload that I was waiting another two hours next to the gate while a cold wind was blowing. Finally they had mercy and let me proceed. I passed the police control (without realizing) and the guy was yelling at me. I stopped and he had a quick look at my passport then at my back and then he told me that he was riding bike in Switzerland and named me all the great passes. Instead of checking my luggage, he showed me all the epic roads I have to do in Albania and Montenegro on his smartphone. It was just really cool! Then I got on board, someone tied up my bike and they told me that I can leave the luggage strapped on (I was happy to hear that, as I unloaded it at least 5 times this day.. just to have things in eyesight). I went up to the reception (they have a reception hall on the boat) and they gave me a room with four beds for myself. I was so incredibly tired that I just throw myself on the bed and was falling asleep on the spot). Suddenly there was a knocking in my dream and when it reapeted a couple of times, I realized that they are waking up the people. I just thought they should make another loop, so I can sleep a little longer, but then I had a coffee and met my Albanian friends from last evening again. They are just hilarious! :D ..we had really good laughs about culture and women and what happens when you don't marry them afterward ;) Yes, the people here are totally cool! I paid 20 Euros for an insurance I need, rolled off the boat and since ever then I got all the help I could ever ask for. Hospitality is sacred in this country and people are just so incredibly friendly and helpful. Wether it's English, Italian, French or just hand and feet, they put themselves really into helping you out!!! (one old man was warning me about the dogs by making some barking sounds ;). It's just 12 hours that I arrived here, but I already got some noisy plastic cover fixed, went to see really small ruins (that lies within a miliary compound), found a dead and an alive turtle, saw some snakes (unfortunately rolled one over :( eat clams (and they were SOOOO tasty --> I never had those and I really intended to never eat them, but they were fresh from the see and just very, very tasty!), went to see some more bigger ruins, got plans where to go and what to do and above all: was riding some of the most beautiful roads that I've ever seen!! Albania just TOTALLY ROCKS!!! Now I know why I decided to ride a motorbike down to Albania! I'm so happy I got my own bike down here.. it seems to me that coming to this country without a motorbike is about the same as playing football without a ball ;) The roads are not that bad (well, there are a lot of small roads that I haven't tried). Compared to the Italiens that put roadsigns but don't follow them, they Albanians don't put any signs at all (makes more sense to me than what the Italians do ;)
I heard a lot of good things about Albania, how beautiful it is and how friendly the people are, but what I'm experiencing here just tops it all! I'd wish I have more time to drive around, but I'll try my best to use it as good as I can. Tomorrow I will quickly go to Greece to eat a salad and then come back and stop in an old historical town here in Albania. So much to do and so little time! but I'll take it slowly.. especially on the road where I'm used to people driving on the right side and people driving on the left side, but the concept of driving in the middle of the road is new to me. They just turn over quickly when someone approaches, but as long there's no one else on the road, why not drive in the middle? The weather is just stunningly beautiful and no clouds on the sky whatsoever. The colors goes perfectly with the sea (that is also shaded in different blues) and wonderful beaches (for those who like beaches). Now it's time to go out and have some fun! :D ..man.. I can't believe how wonderful life can be! can it get any better? ..let's try ;)
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