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Today we decided to make a push from Saranda to Shkodra so we could make it into Croatia for prior arrangements. This was the leg of the journey we were dreading. Tip to the top, It is only about 160km but with these roads it was going to be a mission. We were up at 4.30am to catch the 5.30am bus. The bus was only a short walk from the Hostel. There are no bus stations in Albania, They just have designated streets that they pull over. Luckily this was a bus so it wasn't pulling over all the time like the Furgons.
The Coastal route up to Tirana was beautiful and scary, the windy roads hugged the cliff face. Leaving only a shear drop between us and the sea. So of the roads had crumbled due to lanslips and rock slides it appeared. The bus was to big so some corners and hand to reverse a few times to get around. When the bus would make a crunch all the locals on board would start screaming stuff we didn't understand. Luckily the slept for a bit which helped the drive. 9.5 hours later we were in Tirana, The difference was huge. The streets got dirty and more chaotic and run down. The city as hardly ever the best place in a country.
Tomi Our host from Saranda gave us a note in Albania which pretty much said 'drop us off at the bus that goes to Shkodra' A taxi driver tried to take us, luckily we had an honest bus driver who said No, he would drop us off. Luckily A quick change in Tirana we were back in a Furgon and on our way to Shkodra.
Another 2 and a bit hours we arrived and decided to go to the hostel that the lonely planet recommended as this organized trips to the Komani Lake. The Tradita G & T was a really fancy hotel. It was a restored 17th century mansion. It was very flash. They had run out of room so gave us the family suite for the same price (another upgrade). This place was beautiful. The staff waited on us hand and foot. It was a little out of our price range, but we just did a 13hr bus ride with no foot so thought we owed it to ourselves.
It was strange having dinner in the court yard as we were eating earlier than usual but we starving. So the staff would stand around watching us and being very meticulous on their service. The food was really nice. One awkward meal later we chilled in the room watching Spiderman 2.
The owner was not at the hotel when we checked, but his with said we could speak to him later about organizing tomorrows tour. So after the film when headed out to enquire.
It was like a scene from the Godfather. We met his with first who said she would introduce us to her husband. He was sitting at this lone table in the middle of this Italian style courtyard watching over the over guests dinning. He was a large bald guy. His with sat next to him explaining what we wanted. I felt like I had approached him to make a drug arrangement. I didn't want to sit down especially when they started arguing. So just stood there like a mellon. Luckily when they finished the wife turned to me and said 'breakfast at 7.30am we arrange the lake for 8am'. …boom, deal down. Off to bed.
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