Let loose solo in Europe 2024

It was a most hair- raising journey today.
I will however start at the beginning. Breakfast was part of the deal at this very curious hotel. Most of it looked pretty unappetising, but I noticed a man using a toster for his bread. I found some sort of yogurt, and asked for more bread. Bread provided, I had four slices of toast and honey with real butter. They only had mad tea so I avoided the coffee and stuck to water. Stomach is still rather delicate, and you could strip paint with the coffee.

I then shot out in the rain having borrowed an umbrella, to find some sort of rain jacket. 79 euros later, I found one. It will just have to last forever🤭

Taxi arrived and took me to the bus station. Pantomime ensued while all online tickets had to be printed. I ended up doing customer support. You'd lady behind the counter kept closing window when asked questions🤷
Then we waited. A lot of waited an hour until the bus finally put in an appearance
Luggage and passengers loaded, the driver then sat and had his lunch🤣
I sat next to a very nice man from Singapore and we chatted on and off all the way. The bus was packed, and I felt pretty grotty. We left an hour and a half late. To say this was the most scary coach journey I have been on is no exaggeration. He threw that bus round corners and steamed along at 70mph + most of the time.
We stopped at Tirane airport to let off 2 people after being in traffic jam for ages. We had just left the airport precincts when a woman realised she should have got off at the airport.........the bus driver went potty. I am sure there were a lot of bad words. Anyway, he let her off the bus and said she would have to walk back. All part of the entertainment for the day.
When we got to Border Control, the driver collected our passports so we didn't all have to get off the bus. We were there for best part of an hour until he brought them back. It was clear he did not know how to redistribute them. In the end, he didn't. We got under way when a young German guy began calling nationalities out and sorted it that way. Mine was easy, I was the only Brit. on the bus!
Finally arrived in the dark, in Durres. Set off for the ferry port but could only find a perimeter fence. Spotted a cab but no driver. As I set off againthe driver popped up and got in his taxi. I RAN into the road to stop him moving and we cut a deal. He drove me right back to where I had started. I was a bit confused. What I hadn't realised is that the Port Entry for foot passengers was through a very ordinary door next to a cigarette shop. The taxi man took me there and was very helpful. Leads to an elevated walkway into the Port area. People everywhere. Noise. Cars. More people. The desk I wanted was almost empty so I went through the doorway, past lots of people and was issued a boarding card straight away. Then queued patiently for check in. Set the alarm off in Security. No-one was remotely bothered and then joined the queue for passport control. As I am standing there I can see a sign that says Members of the Dictatorship. I mull this over for a bit and decide I am NOT a member of the Dictatorship and can therefore join a different queue. I climb over the barrier and head for the front of the queue. Wave my GB passport at him and begin to speak. He silences me for one moment, and then escorts me to the next available booth!! I felt like royalty. I was also on board and in my cabin before they had through the queue. What the signs actually said was'Museums of the Dictatorship' 🤣
There are not many pics today. The bus was going so fast, you will see they are blurred. By the time I got to the cabin, I was too tired. There is one not very good one of the boat loading, and one of me wearing my new waterproof.
The ship will leave Port in about a hour, but I am in bed already. Very noisy people just arrived next door. Have to find my earplugs!!
.Les mer