Around 10:00 Cortney and I headed out to the market to get
some pasta for lunch and some snacky food. However we returned and around noon
our power went out. It was our first true Albanian power outage experience, but
we remembered to immediately eat our ice cream. At 2 we were getting pretty
hungry and were unable to cook our pasta, so we headed out to our pizza place
from 2 nights before. However we ran into Argosto (a restaurant Cortney read
about online) and after looking at the prices, decided to try it out. The reviews
stated that a main course about 1200 pounds (really expensive) so we had
decided not to go. The thing I love about Cortney is that she is so willing to
check things out for herself rather than taking other’s opinions. So we stopped
quickly for her to look at the menu. Overall the meal for the 4 of us
(including a salad, appetizer, drinks, main meal and desert) cost us 4250 lek
(about 40 dollars.) I was amazed at how good the food tasted and would rate it
as the best resturant I’ve eaten at in Albania so far. I had two glasses of the
cheapest wine (which still tasted fantastic to me) part of a Greek Salad, some
exquisite fried octopus (never thought I’d eat octopus and be craving more and
unable to quit eating it) half a salmon (the worst part) and some delicious
mushroom and cream sauce on some fettuccine (so incredible) and a piece of
baklava-like desert all for about $11. What?!?! Later that night we went back
to Argosta, because it was so incredible and shared the following items:
1)
Arrugola Parmesan and Tomato Salad with parmesan
2)
Prongs in delicious sauce (tasted like an incredible smoky
sauce)
3)
Grilled Sea Bream
4)
The same Fettuccine Mushroom deliciousness we had in the
afternoon.
 |
| Fried Octopus! |
After the first meal out Scott and I were feeling pretty
full and in need of some exercise after our afternoon off, so we went for a
walk to Saranda proper. It took us about 25 minutes to get there. We stopped in
a tourist shop and took some great pictures of some older ladies trying to
figure out their umbrella. We decided to sit down for a quick coffee break and
had some great talks, while being stared at by old Albanian men and women. These talks continued later over wine and candlelight at
the apartment with Cortney. (Blog post on this subject to come later.)
 |
| Rainy Day walk |
The following morning we woke up with no power, and so we
packed in the dark and headed out of Saranda. We made one very important stop
on the way home. The Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) is one of the most gorgeous things I have seen in
my life. This is a natural spring that flows up with water from the
mountainside. Because the water is fresh it is clean and clear and Albania has
been able to keep it that way. Apparently you can jump in the spring (It goes at the very least 50 meters,) although
it is always cold. I wanted to, but decided not to because I wasn’t feeling
particularly well and the rainy day made it feel colder than it probably was.
 |
| The Blue Eye. The little railing shows were you can jump in. |
We also made a stop in Telepene to go to the bathroom and
the restaurant we stopped at was beautiful. We wanted some coffee, but their
power was out. Oh Albania….so Scott bought some honey and we were on our way.
 |
| Naturally flowing water |
After a very interesting experience on the new “safe” inland
road, and our chance to be part of an Albanian wedding recession we made it
back to Tirana. Once we pulled into the car rental place they saw how dirty our
car was (due to mudslides and rain) and demanded we clean it. Oh Albania….
**Ismail Kadare is a famous Albanian author. I highly
suggest his books as I was able to read over half of one on this particular
morning.
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