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Fiona Stobbart

@fififlipflop

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Former Royal Navy⚫🎯All my own photos
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Living the dream

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OFor my last few days I'm heading back to the beach. As I leave the hostel the papa offers to take me to the station. The family have been so kind to me here and considering my lack of language our connection has been so special. The bus is at 10am but at 10:10 we are still at the station touting for customers. The bus takes just over 1.5 hours and when I get off at the bus station they want 15 euros to take me to the hostel. I review my options and walk 2 minutes and jump on a local bus for 40 p the conductor comes round and takes my money but a few stopa later another guy gets on to check I have a ticket. I have definitely stepped onto a much more touristy zone. The hotels are huge and the tic tac souvenir shops are everywhere . Durres is also a big shipping port and we drive past the dock area. The bus comes to an abrupt stop and every one gets off and a lady helps me by telling me to wait here and catch another bus to currilla beach. I see the bus drive past me grab my bags and literally chase it down the street. Thank god it's only the next stop and I board the bus chuffing like a train. Only for the driver to get off and have a coffee break. On the bus there are an Italian couple and another lady and they are slagging off tourists andi can just about understand them with my Spanish so when I get off I say graci and prego . There faces could sink a ship. The hostel is just a 5 minute uphill walk and once again I have a room to myself. As much as I love this I miss being with people. Everything here is uphill and after taking refreshments I head for the beach. I have googled where there is a beach bar with sunbeds for rent and a 12 minute walk takes me to The shark beach bar I spend the money I would have spent on a taxi on grilled prawns and grab a sunbed. It's crazy because when I walk along the beach front there are many high end bars. I literally spend the whole day lying on the beach.Later in the evening a group of Italians take the beats next to me and the guy is on the phone saying he is not going to Norway again in the winter speaking fluent English. It's crazy because everyone here speaks Italian. It's like they have taken over or maybe it's becaus by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago

I'm up early again today as I'm off river tubing
The meeting point is across the river so along route I stop and take a coffee. I arrived at the hostel and the lady offered me coffee and breakfast and what a spread it is . The kindness of people here doesn't come because they have a lot it's more because what they have been through and in their hard times they had to share to get by. Speaking a little language definitely opens up the older generations as most of them rely on their children coming home from the city of Tirana to be able to communicate with the influx of tourists in the summer months. The bells of the church in the hill ring out and it's so nice to enjoy without hundreds of tourists. The drive to the Osumi canyon takes 1.5 hrs and we board 2 minibus. There is no sign of Anjelo and I ask the driver to wait. He says he can for 5-10 minutes but then we have to go. Along the way there are huge farms with poly tunnels growing all the produce as few things are imported here and boy can you taste the difference. Albania is famous for its hundreds of thousands of concrete Cold War bunkers, built between 1967 and 1986 under the paranoid isolationist regime of dictator Enver Hoxha. Designed to defend the country against imagined invasions by NATO or the Warsaw Pact, these surreal relics dot every corner of the landscape in total over 175,000 were built. We arrive at the centre where we are kitted out with wetsuits and helmets and lifejackets. A lot of paddling is required as the river is not fully flowing but in some areas there are quite powerful flows. The guides push us where needed and we spend a good few hours in the water It's a really organised set up and after finishing we trek back up and are taken back to base to get changed. Back on the bus and I'm surprised when lunch is included. The tour has cost £53 but has been well worth it. Back at the hostel I grab a shower and change. This weekend there is a beer festival called Festa e Miqësisë - festival of friendships. I arrange to meet Anjelo and we share street food and a beer before both heading back for our departure tomorrow. There is an old guy here who has a kitchen sink full of coals cooking taken in Osum Canyon (Kanioni I Osumit) by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago

I really wish I had spent another day here although I walked my legs off to try and get everything done. I am really trying to push on to get the final things that I have wanted to do in this trip to Albania. I'm grateful this morning that I'm able to get a proper latte at the hostel and as I sit listening to the cockerel accidentally spilled the whole coffee all over the table. Soaking a whole pack of cigarettes. The bus is at 830 and the owner of the hostel has kindly offered to take me to the bus and even makes me a new coffee. The bus leaves at 0830 and takes just over 3 hours. The bus stops a 10 minute drive from the centre and rather than get a taxi I opt for the local bus. I meet up with a guy from the Philippines and he says he's booked the tubing for tomorrow and that it's cost him 33euroi say he should check as I nearly made the same mistake and one departure is from Berat and one is from Cordova which is over an hour away. He calls the company manages to change it and I book onto the same tour. I explore the city by foot stopping for a lunch of baked cheese I meet up again with Anjelo .Berat is nick named the city of a thousand windows and one particular window really interests me it's the wine window. You rings a bell and for 3 euro you get a glass of homemade red or white wine. It's on the Mangalem part of the city it's a typical example of Ottoman urbanism and architecture consisting of narrow cobbled streets with multi storey wooden houses. I cross the river on the old bridge then back across on the Gorica bridge. It was built in 1977 and even has it's own set of stray dogs guarding it. Next stop is the castle but when I go to take a taxi they want 1000 leke to take me up. It says 300 on Google but I don't want to pay that much so decline. After a quick shower I head out for dinner eating a local dish of lamb baked in yogurt it's delicious and followed with cherry ice cream. I sit and wait for the sun to go dand the houses to light up. Anjelo meets me with another guy called Arthur from Belgium and we share a few drinks.Walking home I pass the Army recruitment office. There is noone in my room tonight so a good nights sleep is forecast. taken in Berat, Albania by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago

taken in Gjirokastër by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago

I take my coffee and Ledjon has got it perfect this morning it's nearly as good as my morning costa. While I am in here Faz the manager of the hostel asks if I can come and help. There is a young lady who has had a horrible night's stay and has not been able to sleep. The problem is this is like a party hostel and the guests go on the boat party every night and then come back and party and then have no respect coming in the room at 4am and putting all the lights on being noisy. In another room a girl has been sick so I help her and make her a fresh bed give her some electrolytes and put her to bed. The early morning swim here is so refreshing and Isabella joins me on the water with a rubber rings. We have planned a beach day and it's nice in the morning because the bin men have taken away all the broken sunbeds. I really enjoy my last day on the beach dipping In and out of the water to keep cool. I chat with Marco one of the local guys and we discuss the history of Albania and how the museum in berat has 6th century greek gospel manuscripts in . I really want to experience a few more things before heading home so I'm glad I've booked the ticket online as it gives me a bit more piece of mind. I cook my last bits of food in the hostel and Isabella joins me for dinner. It's just a chill night in the hostel. I go and take one more beer in the bar and the guys say there is lightning when I look it doesn't seem too impressive but then from nowhere the wind comes things are flying everywhere within minutes and then the power goes out. It's a crazy storm. Thunder lightning and like a mini tornado and because we are literally on the beach the sand whips up. After over an hour watching it I head to bed. by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago

I wake up a new woman today and swear I'm never drinking Jaeger again. As much as I've totally lost a day then nausea yesterday was horrible especially in this heat. I have started to look at my plan after here and even though it says there is a direct bus I don't think there is one when I check. It's so easy to get stuck in places when you travel but I am ready for a change of scenery and need to start making my way to Tirana for the airport. I have had such an amazing time here . I am really trying to finish my book here but I keep getting distracted. The next few days are going to be a lot of walking and heading more inland so I make the most of being by the sea. Taylor leaves today and I have spent nearly a week with her. When I travel I meet so many people who are travelling but there are a few you make a special connection with and she is one of them. She is here on a break up holiday but I love her strength and positivity. I even spoke with her mum in New Zealand to reassure her she was ok. A girl I met in Sckoeder that I travelled to Tirana with called Isabella arrived a few days and we spend the day together. It's crazy because the day after the hangover I eat really well. After dinner we head back to the hostel. It's really nice to eat with someone and I would say this could be the loneliest part of travelling. We grab a lemon soda in the bar next door and it's crazy how we have pretty much travelled to the same places. The after boat party is up at the other hostel tonight so we both agree to take an early night. by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago

I wake up with the worst hangover and for once it's the kids looking after me. They bring me electrolytes and a banana. Travis and Jules leave today and I don't know if it's the hangover or lack of sleep but I'm pretty emotional. As the day wears on I don't get any better and eventually take myself to bed for a few hours. When I wake up I still feel really rough and Taylor is heading into town. I need to exchange money and Taylor is after a necklace she has seen a few days ago. It's about a 35 minutes walk and when we get there the bank is closed and the necklace seller isn't there. We sit down and get a drink and crepe and as we are leaving the boulevard we meet up with one of the girls for the hostel who says the western union is open so we walk back and I manage to exchange some cash. As we make our second attempt back we see the necklace guy coming up from the beach so missions accomplished. A lot of the guys ended up at the club last night and when we walk past the tables still have all empty glasses on . I haven't been able to eat today so I grab a crepe but even that is hard to swallow. A shower slightly refreshed me and I grab a table to watch the game. I actually enjoy the half time entertainment better than the game. Once the game has finished I go straight to bed. I'm so glad of my earpods because the noise is crazy. Fireworks going off and people singing goes on till the early hours and after the way I've felt today I'm glad to lie down and go to sleep. by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago

When I wake up this morning the first thing I see is my ear pods. They were on my bed the whole time. I'm so relieved. Today I plan to get a few things done like washing and exchanging some money. I always feel a bit guilty when I don't do anything at all but I remind myself I'm on holiday and it's ok. I have my morning coffee by the sea before returning to the hostel. It's difficult because I'm on a different time zone. I heard the rest of the dorm come back at about 430 this morning and then I'm getting up at 730 and trying not to disturb them. I really enjoy my day today. The hostel is really busy and pretty much full all the time and as I well know it's a constant washing day. The manager of the hostel has allowed me to do some washing today and it is not till later in the afternoon until the washer becomes free. In the afternoon I help with a couple of check ins and manage to actually sunbathe for an hour or so. I've picked up a book at the hostel and want to try and finish it before I leave. Most of the hostel are heading out on the booze boat and try and convince me to go but its not my idea of fun. When they all come back they are really drunk and after helping one of the girls I join the gang. A loveable rogue called Travis puts some tunes on and we have a little dance it's like I used to do with my dad and is so sweet. They are doing Jaeger bombs and this time I do join and by the time the English game comes on I'm pretty drunk. I enjoy the game immensely and after the game the girls head to the beach to carry on but I triumphantly head to bed. by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago

I'm glad when I get up this morning I can hear the coffee machine going in the bar next door. When I get in there the usual guy is here but there are 2 guy's drinking double whiskeys who seem very dodgy. They seriously look like the Albanian cartel. They send a whiskey over to my table and then when I say I don't want it they say I'm disrespectful to refuse a drink. I take the whiskey and when they're not looking pour it away. They then start doing cocaine in the bar of their phone and they ask if I want any I agin refuse . They are really drunk and when I make my excuses that I will go and get my costume on the one guy follows me into the hostel. Luckily a couple of the girls here help me escape and I hide in my room till they leave. I go back to the bar and the owner asks if I am ok and tells me he had a knife ready. This is the first time I've encountered anything like this and I should have known better when I saw them drinking at 8 in the morning. I wait for 30 minutes and then go back to the bar to enjoy a coffee in peace. I have managed to pick up a book so I spend my day sitting in the shade. It's so hot today the only thing I manage to do is go in and out of the water. It's crazy how some days there is a little breeze but today you could cook a chicken in it. I have left over tuna and sweetcorn that I need to use so I throw it together with some pasta. Quite a few of the guys from the hostel have been on a booze cruise and it was taken your own alcohol so a lot of them are pretty boozy. Up the hill is the original oasis hostel and they have a party on tonight. The girls try and convince me to go but to be honest I want to just chill. I do a bit of hustling at pool at the hostel and chat with a guy from Switzerland called Marcio. He is a full on mountaineer in the swiss Alps and when he shows me a few videos it's like wow. Scaling ridges like you would see in films. I love the variation of people you meet when travelling it's really so varied. A lot of people travelling here have flown into Corfu and then get the ferry to Sarande which is the next seaside town. I head to bed just after midnight and I'm gutted when I can't find my ear pods as They are w by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago

I wake at 8am and it is so nice because noone is up it's like I have the whole beach to myself. I make my sachet coffee and I'm quite surprised when I see Taylor so early. We have agreed to buy some shopping together as we are both here 5 days but when you are solo travelling and moving around it's not really worth it. We get eggs and bread milk and I top up my cigarettes stash. Cigarettes are 4 euro a pack so at the moment I just buying a couple at a time but I will be stocking up to come home. The hostel has sun loungers and umbrellas so I make another coffee and get comfortable. No fighting for sunbeds here.For lunch we make a grazing board and I literally spend the whole day chilling reading my book and dipping in and out of the sea. The hostel has a couple of small rubber rings and I try to use one but my arse is too big and I end up going arse over tit. The hostel is fully booked and you can tell. There are a lot more people about so after doing the sunset swim I grab the best shower of the trip and I really appreciate just taking the day off. I have decided that I will spend another 2 days again here as I was going to head South but the hostels are super expensive and to be honest being right on the beach is really suiting me. The is a BBQ party at the other oasis hostel but that's not really my scene so I walk along the front with Taylor and Jules and when I see a restaurant with local people in I decide to eat here. Back at the hostel I play some pool before heading to bed. It's a lot quieter tonight without the football and I'm asleep in minutes. by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago

After a full on week of travelling and trekking I'm ready to chill. I was in no rush this morning to get up but as I've woken early I decide to go and grab a coffee and head out to catch the earlier bus. It's about 7 hrs of travelling and two separate buses and with nothing booked I decide to go and scout out what's available. One of the girls in the hostel is heading to north Macedonia but will take the first part of the journey to Tirana bus station with me. We chat for the whole 2 hours and it really makes the journey much quicker. We arrive to the bus station and I get shown to the bus heading to Hirame. It's a 4 hour journey and when I get on the bus one of the mexican girls Jules is on here after 2 hours we stop for a 15 minutes refreshment break then we're back on the move. It's a 52 seater bus and it's literally packed but 10 minutes in and we come across a broken down minibus so all the people off there board our bus. Seriously the body heat on here is like a sauna. What was supposed to be a 4 HR journey ends up being 5 and when I get off the bus it's a 20 minute walk to the hostel Luckily I've got a bottom bunk and literally a sea view and an added bonus there's a pool table here. I dump my bags and head straight to the bar and have a cigarette. I have already decided I want an extra few days here. I have booked for 3 days but will extend so I get to see the final here. I already love the vibe here and the hostel is really friendly. For the first time I actually unpacked my bag and take everything out. In the supermarket I buy some instant coffee for the morning because I wake early there is generally nowhere to get a coffee so Its nice to have a back up. I get an early seat at the bar because they get really packed and then most people end up on their phone. The girls bring me a gyro and as I say there the guys from Valbona come in When England score the bar erupts and I join them, but then I see that Argentina have equalised and when I see the second goal I go to bed so I don't have to watch them celebrating. The bar is right in front of my room so it's pretty noisy but I put my headphones in and go to sleep watching Netflix. by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago

taken in Thethi National Park by @fififlipflop

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3 months ago