I did not sleep very well last night as the guesthouse had some very noisy neighbours with an even noisier dog! The dog barked & barked in the earlier hours of the night & then constantly from 6am!
I decided to get out of bed & hoped breakfast would cheer me up. I made my way out into the courtyard where there was a table with a croissant (in a packet), an orange, some milk & a box of cornflakes. The young lady who I'd meet yesterday appeared & then soon disappeared. I then realised all I had to eat the cornflakes with was a cup & saucer! I was also expecting my host to return with some coffee or tea, but she never did? As I was suffering with an almighty headache I just left & found the nearest café for a much needed espresso!
After packing my things I headed off to the north of Tirana (Zogu I Zi) to catch the bus to take me to Kruja, (as I really just wanted to relax for a couple of days before flying home). When I arrived at the bus stop I sat for a while outside the nearby café with some of the locals & actually missed the bus! Luckily it wasn't long before another arrived (12 noon / 60 Lek). I initially thought it would go all the way to Kruja, but it stopped at Fushe-Kruja (after 45 minutes). I just jumped off with all the other passengers & quickly boarded a nearby waiting minibus which was going to Kruja. It was only a 10 minute drive, when I arrived I paid the driver 100 Lek, (I didn't get or expect any change).
I walked up the steep road to the Panorama Hotel & was soon shown a room with air conditioning for 20 Euros (no balcony); I was happy with this & settled in.
I later walked through the bazaar & was quite amazed with the amount of tourists; I had never seen so many before since arriving in Albania! I decided to visit the restaurant at the top end of the bazaar (on left) & ordered veal which wasn't particularly nice, the service wasn't particularly great either!
After lunch I walked up to the castle & soaked up the views. I began to wonder if I had arrived in Kruja a day too early!
I went out in the evening & walked through the bazaar again as a few of the shops were still open. I got talking with a young local in one of the shops who told me he had travelled around Albania (10 days) with two Americans, acting as a guide. He seemed a little surprised when I mentioned I'd been travelling on my own! He also informed me there was no minibus direct from Kruja to the airport (only taxis), & I would have to travel back to Tirana & catch a minibus. Bad planning on my part then!
I had my evening meal at my hotel which was a little disappointing.
After packing my things I headed off to the north of Tirana (Zogu I Zi) to catch the bus to take me to Kruja, (as I really just wanted to relax for a couple of days before flying home). When I arrived at the bus stop I sat for a while outside the nearby café with some of the locals & actually missed the bus! Luckily it wasn't long before another arrived (12 noon / 60 Lek). I initially thought it would go all the way to Kruja, but it stopped at Fushe-Kruja (after 45 minutes). I just jumped off with all the other passengers & quickly boarded a nearby waiting minibus which was going to Kruja. It was only a 10 minute drive, when I arrived I paid the driver 100 Lek, (I didn't get or expect any change).
Tanners Bridge in Tirana
I later walked through the bazaar & was quite amazed with the amount of tourists; I had never seen so many before since arriving in Albania! I decided to visit the restaurant at the top end of the bazaar (on left) & ordered veal which wasn't particularly nice, the service wasn't particularly great either!
After lunch I walked up to the castle & soaked up the views. I began to wonder if I had arrived in Kruja a day too early!
View of Kruja & its castle
Kruja
Inside Kruja Castle
I had my evening meal at my hotel which was a little disappointing.
No comments:
Post a Comment