Day 85 : The Unexpected

To enter Greece, there is a need to show a proof of a negative PCR or antigen rapid test. 

As a couple of the centres aren't opened on a Sunday, and the antigen test is only valid if its taken within the last 24 hours before arrival in Greece, I've timed to take mine in the evening.

Alas, the only one time I have needed to take any test on my trip and the results of my test was positive. 

So the symptoms I experienced a couple days ago with the cough and slight itch in throat was not side effects from the booster but was indeed covid. The irony of getting recently boosted and still getting covid within the week. 

I had immediately informed Clemens since we had been travelling together and spending lots of time in a car, and he had gone to do a PCR. Strangely his results had came out negative 🤔

Looks like I will have to stay in Saranda a while longer and retake another test in about 5 or 6 days time. 

Day 84 : Last Day with Clemens

Last day of my trip with Clemens, as we go our separate paths from the afternoon. The power at our apartments just tripped about an hour before we are scheduled to leave, and thankfully it happened just after I had came out of the shower, as the power trip also affects water flow. We were told the power cuts affects not just Ksamil, but also Sarande.

We left the apartment at 8.50am, and quickly checked a couple more beaches in Ksamil. 

We then made our way into Sarande with a couple more stops, starting with the 40 Saints monastery, which is now in ruins after it was bombed by the British allies in 1944 during WWII.

The monastery was built in the 6th century AD as an important Byzantine pilgrimage site. It was named after the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, which is also why it included 40 rooms, one for each of the martyrs. The legend tells that a group of Roman soldiers were asked to renounce their Christian religion in exchange for shelter. They kept loyal to their faith and refused upon which they were killed as martyrs near the city of Sebaste in Armenia.

One of the biggest reason why we came was to see the panoramic views of the city of Sarande.

We then drove to Lëkursi Castle which also has an amazing panoramic view. 

The castle has now been converted to a restaurant, and we noticed that they had power running. We were told by the staff at the restaurant that the power cuts did not affect the upper Sarande and those living at the back of the hill.

It wouldn't had been easy hiking up to these 2 panoramic viewpoints and so I was glad Clemens offered to do it together.

We drove into Sarande city to check into my apartment with a fantastic location in the city. 

After exploring a nearby market together, Clemens and I parted ways as he make his drive back to Tirana, while I continue on my travels.

The first course of business was to find out more details of the antigen rapid test I need to take to enter Greece. There were a couple places which offered it for LEK 2,000, but as I was leaving on Sunday noon, I had to make sure I get the right closing times of the clinic for Saturday, especially since the antigen test is only valid for 24 hours, and I didn't want to leave it till the morning of my departure to get the test done, along with some of the test centres being closed on Sunday.

And then I took a walk around the Boulevard along the water to find a place to catch sunset.

I finally ended up at Opal Club, and ordered a Pina Colada. Unfortunately the clouds were too heavy at the bottom, so a proper sunset could not be seen.

I decided to have an early dinner and found a place called Haxhi, which was nicely decorated, and ordered a Grilled Dorada with a glass of wine.

I was given a generous pour of white wine and was pleasantly surprised with a complimentary Tzatziki.

Even the fish tasted really good and was later also given a complimentary vodka with peach drink, along with some cakes and apple slices. 

Service was also impeccable and probably one of the better meals I've had in Saranda.

Having not slept very well last night, I was exhausted by 9pm and had an early rest. I've also noticed I had started developing a cough since yesterday and am hoping it isn't covid.

I did also notice that while I was seated right in front of the heater at the restaurant, I haven't coughed at all, so I am hoping it's just a normal cough that's triggered more when in the cold.

I'll find out tomorrow in my test! 

Day 83 : Exploring around Saranda

We slept in a little more today, and made our way at 10am.

1st stop, The Blue Eye is a water spring with extremely light blue water bubbles in a more than 50-metre deep pool.  The initial water source of the 25 km Bistricë River, the Blue Eye is just the starting point of a water path that goes all the way to the Ionian Sea. 

A good thing about going during low season, we had the whole place to ourselves.

We then drove towards the town of Konispol, the southern most town closest to the Albanian-Greece Border. Located on a hill, it was really small with not much to see other than a nice sea view from the top.

There was also not much to offer in terms of lunch options, and so we drove on and found an Agro Tourism place which was surprisingly opened. They do not have a menu, as they offer based on what they have for the day.

We were offered a complimentary freshly squeezed orange juice. Followed by our big lunch spread - Salad, Feta, Yogurt, Grilled Lamb, Potato Chips.

And complimentary fruits served on this rotating table.

We were literally the only guests in the restaurant when we were there. The chef is from Berat and later offered us complimentary raki which he made from his hometown, and even gave us the balance in this bottle to take away.

Before leaving, I asked if we could have some mandarins and oranges since they were abundantly growing on the trees.

With no questions asked, he took a bag and started plucking some for us.

If we haven't asked him to stop, he would had given us more.

We drove to our next location Butrint National Park, which involved taking a car ferry to the other side of the lagoon, which costs LEK 700 per car. 

The ticketing counter at the National Park was just on the opposite of the lagoon and had a very funny poster. 

Butrint is the country’s main archaeological park and one of the best preserved areas in the Balkan Peninsula.  

The park was discovered in the ’20s by Italian archaeologist Luigi Maria Ugolini, when Albania was under Italian occupation. 

The perks of travelling during low season was that there were hardly anyone at the park, so we were able to take pics with no one in them! 

We still had some minutes before the sun sets, and we made our way quickly to the nearby beach in Ksamil, starting with Paradise Beach, before making our way back to the apartment for a rest, and then heading out to Sarandë to grab a last meal together at a pizza place. 

Clemens said that pizza is really good in Albania and in the 2 weeks we have been together, we never got to have one. The one we had was average in my opinion. 

Early night before having a last half day to explore Sarande together before parting ways.