ALBANIA 2013
On June 21, Radom afternoon sky, dropping tons of hail, unsuccessfully tried to dissuade us from the idea of an experimental trip to Albania.We all either know from experience, or at least heard of the attractions of the rocky beaches of Croatia. But Albania! However, it was a good idea. “Cheerful bus” took on board the IPA members from the Regions of the National Police Headquarters, PTC in Legionowo, Radom, and also their families.
The route went through Slovakia, Hungary, and after that outside the EU - Serbia and Macedonia.In Skopje - the capital, which is still a building site after the earthquake that destroyed 80% of the city almost exactly 50 years ago, we spent the night in hostels. Part of the participants took advantage of the detour city centre sightseeing with a guide. There was also an opportunity for night escapades in the city.
In the morning we drove to our destination: Radhime - the village in the district of Vlore, located on the southern Adriatic - the town closest to the "heel" of the Apennine Peninsula - about 70 km by sea.
The specificity of Albania, still learning how to profit from tourism, requires a safeguard - escort from the border to the accommodation and back. The role of the Albanian representative of the travel agency was to protect us from any surprises in an unknown area.
On-site very nice first impression. The proverbial "stone's throw" from the sea, the rooms large, well-furnished and equipped, with air conditioning.
The weather did not worry, because before leaving Poland we wisely ordered it by the e-mail J
Beaches like in already mentioned Croatia - a little sand, a lot of stones. You have to watch out for sneaky sea urchins, so beach shoes with reinforced bottom are essential. All I can say about the air and water temperature is just one thing: heat.
There is something mystical about the circumstances of nature, where on the one hand you have the sea, and around the mountains (part of the band of the Dinaric Alps). Fortunately, we do not have the restrictions of photographic film frames! (I made close to 600 photos, and hours of video).
Well, the beach is not the only thing that keeps you alive, so we went on a bus trip after those mountains. That was great! - we had a sort of roller-coaster with the shrieks of our ladies on the winding and sloping down or up curves. In Porto Palermo we could visit the well-preserved fortress of Ali Pasha.
Treating sun scorch, which could not be prevented even using strong UV filters in suntan lotions, noon on Friday, June 28th, we went back.
This time the accommodation was the famous Pearl of the Danube - Budapest. Capital of our brothers Magyars, with its magnificent buildings and majestic bridges, invariably makes a big impression both day and night. There is no exaggeration in the general opinion that Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities of the old continent.
After exploring the city, we spent a night in the mixed-sex 6- and 8-bed rooms of the hospitable Polonia House in the tenth district – Köbánya. That also had its own charm. House, built by the Polish Highlanders of Rabka, during the Second World War under the care of the Sisters of St. Elizabeth from Poznan, was a shelter of many Polish refugees. Now it is open to pilgrims and tourists from Poland. The house is a part of the Polish Personal Parish.
General impressions of the trip are great. It is unfortunate that despite the efforts, we were unable to integrate with the Albanian police. The reason was prosaic - they were hard to find. Not appeared at all in Radhime, and in Vlore. Suddenly I saw two police cars and no patrol on foot. It did not, however, affect the sense of safety of tourists in a foreign land. We were assured that it is absolutely nothing to worry about, that Albanians are friendly towards strangers, hospitable people. Today we can confirm that. Interestingly, in this poor country, still a little poorly cared about order and cleanliness in the streets, it is difficult to find a sloppily dressed locals, and men besieging small beer shops. On the contrary, the Albanians have their own pride and the agenda includes, for example, in the edge-ironed pants and white shirt. Their national pride manifests itself in every corner – all the buildings: residential, industrial, and even those only in construction, are festooned with flags with the characteristic black double-headed eagle on a red background.
Conclusions – whoever wants to discover what is not yet trampled by tourists, go to this little-known Balkan small state. Well worth it!
Written by Krzysztof Kapturski
Photos:
Wiesław Leszczyński
Zbigniew Baran
Romuald Szczęsnowicz
Krzysztof Kapturski
