www.worldon2wheels.com 2010 » Albania

Thessaloniki

admin — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:13:24 +0000

blue blue sky

Enjoying the sweet juicy cold watermelon in the kitchen of a couch surfer host. She dashed of to the sea, away from the city and the forcasted 37-38 degrees. I stayed. My stomach has to suffer from my hunger driven stupidity that made me make the irrational decision to eat a Gyros from a place where hygiene did not seem to matter.

It was real good coming down here from Albania, I did it in Two days from Korce staying at a church on top of the hill during the night. It is that special feeling when you reach a place that feels so safe and maybe even a bit spiritual. The front door to the church was locked but nosing around I found that one of the side doors were left open and I snuck in just as the night was falling. Inside the little chapel some candles in a tray of sand lit up parts of the room and a few benches. I stayed for a bit, tried to sense some spirit and without much success I retreated to my tent outside and a good book.

camp

There is a big advantage in traveling alone, you are more prone to meet people and to get invited for a coffee, a meal or whatnot. On the other hand, at times when the urge to share a moment pops up, like it did on the hill by the church, when you want someone to just exchange a quick thought with it is hard. I dont mind the traveling bit, I keep quite busy while moving but one at the camp, I really miss the company. I think to some extent it is just a matter of getting used to it but also, some people probably have a harder time adjusting.

Kurdistan I left Elbistan as the dark clouds blew in from...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Korce, leaving Albania

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:34:00 +0000

Got all packed up and while waiting for the people I stay with to wake up. I a grab a lonely planet guide and read about Sweden. Puh, that makes me want to go back home. Ha ha, I mean the way that things are described in the LP’s just makes you want to explore and stay forever. I read about the peace loving swedes, about the pristine nature and I see the color full photos from a Dalarna midsummer. It is the good kind of longing though, the one that gives rather than takes energy. I feel quite happy at the moment and that helps seeing things this way.

Now there is other things to explore, should get a LP guide for here, or t least a map. I have been traveling without map since Bosnia, it is quite exciting, I have to ask people, usually I get the name wrong and they look at me not understanding at all what that sound is that i’m repeating with my eyebrows raised. I get it right in the end and usually a friendly arm extends in some direction and I follow, I like that kind of interaction.
.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Mending the bags and thinking

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:02:23 +0000

Outside

intervju och nytt inlägg på svenska här

albania keeps me smiling

This month I used up 2688 SEK, 688 SEK over my budget and I’m really nagging on the little money I have saved for occations. Well. Problems with my back led me to choose a hostel and that costed me much more than reasonable, but it was worth it!

A bit over four months on the bike I have lived over my budget and spent more times couch surfing and with friends than in the tent. Maybe is has not quite been the hardcore adventure that I had expected yet but it is still Europe and I realized how much I like to meet people from different cultures. And as I see it, I will have plenty of time to spend in my tent, better to enjoy the company while possible!

I do miss home ocationally and I really miss my friends always but on the whole I really do love this life, it makes sense to. I gain energy from all the brilliant people I met and I hope to bring that along all the way!

My bike is starting to show signs of wear, the gears do not work all that well anymore, putting too much force on 4-5-6 really makes the chain jump around and it is probably time to change the casset sometime soon. I found a place where I cound mend the bags that have ripped from the wear (already!). I stayed around to see the guy working.

mending

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Welcome to Albania, your car is already here

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:59:30 +0000

This photo cries out for humorous remarks about the education system in Albania

The headline is quoted from the airport welcoming sign in Tirana. And I do belive it might be true, at least if your country of origin is Italy, England or Germany. The roads are littred with brand new luxury cars which becomes a bit strange in Europes poorest country. The roadsides on the other hand are littred with wrecks, it seems as Albania seconds as the car graveyard of Europe, is that how EU manages to stay so nice and clean?

I crossed the border in the North from Montenegro and was struck by the amount of trash lined up along the road, the holes in the road, the smell of rotten road kill and the briliantly happy and beautiful people. A bit of a culture chock. I stayed on the lowland all along the way and after Shkoder the road was better but also the amount of traffic grew. I tried to stay in the middle of the road to stay visible but my former hypothesis that it is all a matter of staying visible since no one wants to kill me had to be refurbished. Here I’m not sure that it is true, better to stay clear.

man looking out

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.