Life has a way of moving things along……..
Thus Your Friend is taking a year off from The Americas to live in Europe, based in Saranda , Albania.
No Mafia in sight , except for the appearance of upmarket SUV’s : Porsche , Jaguar, Audi and Mercedes . This a Muslim country albeit “light” …..Thus a tall muzzenine in the very heart of Saranda calls the faithful to prayer….. or Adhan…5 times a day . .
But these Moslem womenfolk are modern in dress and style; as were ;I can recalll from staying in Beirut as a teenager ;Lebanese women back in the modern era of the 20th century .Also Egypt..yes they wore miniskirts… unimaginable today in this retroactive era of burkhas and head coverings…Although back in 13th Century BC Abyssinian aristocratic women wore a head covering. Prostitutes were not allowed to do so..forbidden in fact…..So this is where the practice probably started.
Albanian womenfolk :They run businesses ,drive cars, engage in sport and also sport Kardashian eyebrows and the concomitant false eyelashes.Not a piece of cloth on their head unless chilly .
Why did I come here. ?
Answer : My very dear friend, Californian ,Clare de Moulin a highly intelligent , tiny blonde with the hair of a mermaid ; A Chess, Backgammon and Poker playing prodigy was instrumental in this swapping of continents.
Friends from the first foray in Ajijic back in 2016 .For quite a while she had been struggling with oxygen deficiency health issues. Thus had to live at sea level. Ajijic is a mile high , it had become impossible . She had tried Puerto Vallarta on the Mexican Coast…. Sweltering heat drove her Google search to Europe.
I was as surprised as anyone that she had chosen the land of Albanian Mafia , Moslem etc etc…
But its like Mexico as long as you lead your normal carefree life and go to the Pharmacy for your Medications , the criminal element doesnt bother you.
Albania :Member of Shengan thus my friend can travel to Poker tournois all over the Old Continent.
Good health care , also Clair looked into Residency for long stays, this would not be an issue. Americans can live here for one year without a visa. ( Not Europeans , we have to jump through several hoops to stay the 12months hassle free, ) Yup Saranda ….. a 30 minute Ferry ride from Corfu. Corfu that is home to an English Institution ,chain retailer Marks and Spencers, (A legend to British women , Marks & Sparks.The shop for preety English knickers and bosomy bras …. At last …I do not have the typical Mexican womans shape. )
I digress…..
Albanian : language “unique au monde”….older than Arabic …Illyrian language from 1st centruy CE.
A cross between Armenian and Greek …Very tricky ……Debbs is going to have to hear the word Hello ..Pershendetje ( pronounced:Persian det yea ) repeated 10 times a day ,until slips out unannounced and unthinkingly. ….Have started listening to Albanian radio to hear how this language sounds. So remote from the familiar cadences of the Romance idioms.
Its been several years since stood on the European Landmass. Thus did not require too much beguiling before deciding to make this ” base” for 2024. From whence I should be able to emanate forth and travel to see much missed kith and kin. Without schleping around heavy suitcases and 3 hour queues before flights etc etc.In fact I probably would have procrastinated and stayed where I was if Clare had not got stuck in. My Father would be pleased ” Dont buy a dress,” he memorably intoned to me ” buy a ticket and go somewhere.” RIP Daddy .xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Casa2 .La Reserva , has been rented out with my darling cats , yes, am now in posession of two highly intelligent, green eyed felines. Fifi.. a wee blue coated lass and Cha Cha Pookha, a strapping Marmalade.I offered a discount if they would look after them. Two charming, warm lovable people took up the challenge.Their dog had recently died so his two flopsies ( Beds , )have now been commandeered by two squidgy, happy kitties.They are outdoor . indoor felines. So climb trees, hunt…chase each other like two young foals ,squabble, pee etc in the garden ,walk with me at night…Then sleep and sleep and sleep.I miss them…..
On the 23rd of December , flew out for Christmas and New Year to Belgium to be with my boon companion of Ajijc , Roro, (Roland Van Houdt.)who after living in Ajijic for 23 years has come home.
To Koksidj , Belgium. A very elegant sea side town .
25th December :Christmas Day , the first morning and off we cycled to Christmas Lunch ,in a scrumptious restaurant where the small lap dogs of “certain” faithful clientele were greeted with their own water bowls. .Later we walked to drinks with the darling Vivian, Rolands sister -in- law from his second and last wife. . Was overwhelmed with jet lag but kept sipping on the delicate Champagne….but could not face the nibbles….
We passed a happy time together the three of us , as the feeling of discombobulation receded. Several evenings spent dancing like ding bats, around tall, wooden beer barrels, serving as somewhere to put your glass, under awnings, in the cold Koksidj night air to the excellent musical choices of a bearded and burly DJ The whole thing being held to one side of the Koksidj Christmas ice rink .Sipping on hot gluvine sold from little wooden huts, whilst skaters whizzed or fell by . Bobble hats bobbing, rosy cheeks and hilarity…
Roro, ever the healthy type, suggested ,one fine morning ,we leap on the bikes and go to lunch by the sea, followed by a healthy walk on the extremely long beach, which merges and fades into France (rather rendolent of Deauville , tremendous stretch of clear sand and les marees(tides) that go way out.) Elegant puffa coats and jackets abounded. Happy dogs with wagging tails bobbed, pranced and capered in the sand and waves.
There is always something to do with Roro :
One evening , “Come on !we are going to watch fireworks.” ” said Roro and off we dashed and grabbed a tram packed to the gunnels, jostling our way to the next commune. There were tremendous fire dancers on the beach and then a thrilling and brilliant firework display . After ooing and aahing there was just enough time to come by a bar and a warming whisky before the commute back. . Belgian communities and their politicians,I imagine , enjoy putting on a tremendous time for their populace . Most impressive.
There is always something to do with Vivian:
Went with herself to a Nudist Spa….I knew it from afore. The high spot , for this swimmer , is the outdoor heated pool. So I’d swim and sauna then swim , hamam , swim, sauna and finally swim some more. .It was raining even more delicious.
Came away feeling sooo clean and shiny from all the salt scrubs etc etc …
Best way to get winters chill out of your bones.
Have continued throughout to play online bridge ( BBO site) with my two staunch and trusty partners Julian Dunlop and Sonny Colvett. Mondays, Tuesdays , Thursdays and Fridays.When they travelled to Europe we would work out time difference and clock in at the same time but on different hemispheres, Now they are returning the favour.Two wonderful players and terribly kind .
On the 5th January was the hapless traveller personified:
A journey of 7 stages.( only1717 kilometres. flying.)…24 hours from pillar to post ….
From 8a.m a Taxi to Oostend . Train to Brussels Airport . Flight to Athens . The last skip and a jump was in a small aircraft to The Island of the Phaecians ( Corfu’s nickname ).Taxi to hotel, ..somnolence and lassitude ,slept like the proverbial baby. , The following morning another taxi to ferry , then hydrafoil to Saranda ,30minutes.
We navigated between islands in the pugnacious sea craft that has plied its craft for easily over a decade, going by the wear and tear .Only one crossing a day .. 9a.m, in the winter. But dozens a day in the High Season and by the same token more flights daily from Athens…thus there is no requirement for an overnight soujourn .
You can fly to the capital Tirana but the taxi ride is 165 miles thus 3…4 hours to get to Sarande.( around 150 euros)
Clair was not at the rendezvous, the Ferry Terminal . I was an hour early, as the time in Europe is an hour behind Albania. Caught Clair totally unawares. I realised when saw a clock. Panic over…
Beeg Hugs and A happy and Wonderful 2024 to Dearest Friends who I hope , very much , I can regain contact with through “Letter from Albania “
and Huge Thanks to My Wonderfuls: Roro , Vivian and Clair
Love As Ever
Debbs
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