View Meteora, to Ksamil, AlbaniaGreece in a larger map 29 May 2012: More mountain driving and we came to the Albanian border and just a short wait in a queue of people making the crossing and our passports were stamped and we were in. We were very soon flagged down by police who wanted to know where we were going. They seemed surprised that we were driving to Sarande but waived us on. Well, the journey took us up an extremely long steep winding road with a sheer drop to one side, somewhat nerve racking what with the on coming traffic preferring our side of the road and us having to dodge the occasional pot hole. However, this road was nothing compared to the coast road both sides of Sarande which was mostly a wide asphalt road which would unexpectedly turn to a moonscape complete with craters and crevasses for ¼ to ½ mile stretches each time! The oncoming traffic would be dodging their potholes and we would be dodging ours and both trying to dodge each other. We arrived at our campsite to be greeted by the very friendly owner who showed us around and told us to help ourselves to the vegetables growing in his garden while his wife made us frappe coffee. What is more, we have free wi-fi! So here we were today staring back at Corfu where we were but a few weeks ago, staring across at Albania and imagining what it would be like. Well, now we know! Looking seaward we see a scene of paradise, small pine clad islets bask in the turquoise water and white sandy coves abound, apparently some of Albania’s finest beaches. This is what we saw on a short stroll this afternoon:

The scene looking back to the land is quite a contrast as the style of building is unlike anything we are used to.

Some buildings are only complete on the ground floor and have pillars protruding upwards ready to take another floor at some time in the future. Others have clearly been abandoned for the time being and yet others have been sabotaged by the ‘building police’ because they were built illegally. An example of a sabotaged building: