Beaches, Bunkers and Bujar!
Trip Start
May 08, 2006
1
54
108
Trip End
Mar 07, 2007
Dhermi,
Albania
Thursday, September 14, 2006
I had to wake up at 5am in order to get a bus to the town of dhermi. There was no bus stop, I just had to go to a certain street and was meant to catch a minibus from a big line of minibuses or furgons as they call them. Im a walkin, it was about a 40 minute walk to this place. Would have been a scary would in the dark but there were guys with guns everywhere protecting whatever buildings they were. I get to the place with the minibuses and this friendly guy says to go accross the road. I wait there and nothings going on. So i go back to him and go WTF? This guy who could speak english said the bus was 2 k's down the road. I had 5 minutes before it left so i started running. I got about 100 metres with my big pack and then just blew up. Because it was about a 6 hour bus ride and next bus was at 12, Lonely planet went against the wall, F word came out
a. On the way to Dhermi
. Then as i looked up the road i saw the bus another 50 metres away. I made it and left for Dhermi. The guy who sold the tickets and managed the bus made sure i was ready to get out at Dhermi, told me where to go and everything. In the book it says Dhermi is a beautiful white beach with crystal blue water. It is. Its just a little expensive and theres just nothing to do. I go there, a local guy asked if i wanted to stay in his private apartment thing. And the beach was a 2km walk down the mountain. To make it back up was a 30 minute nightmare. Which killed me when i was leaving. The town was on the top of the mountain and the beach at the bottom. So i just vegetated, got some pizza, went to the beach, made spaghetti and watched tv then left the next day, that was it. The water so so clear it was terrifying. I opened my eyes underwater and you could see for ages. I visioned a shark with no one around to help me. So i didnt stay long in the water. I have never seen water so clear underneath. Was amazing.
Yes means no in Albania. If someone nods there head yes that means no and a no shake means yes. It becomes more confusing if they speak english because a yes nod means yes and a no means no. But then you dont know if they are nodding albanian or english
b. Bunker looking uphill
. Upon leaving after making it up the hill. This local guy about 25 or so called Bujar. Prounced Buyyaaar! Reminds me of deal or no deal. He started up a conversation, wanted to know all about me. For some reason he would say everything wrong with Albania. This policeman came up and started talking to us. He even did a leak on the side of the road. Public Urination! Bujar goes... police.... problem. Roads... problem. Rubbish... problem. Everything was a problem. Except for Australia... No problem.
On the bus to the town of Saranda he pointed every speck of blue water out and smoked like a chimney. Good old Buyaar.
Dhermi was beautiful though.
