Settling In

June 23, 2012

Settling In

The first day or two of my time in Saranda, Albania mostly involved getting acclimated to the pace of things and getting to know all of the new people including students, instructors of the field school and the local hosts including the commander of the Military base where our operations are based and the families who own and operate the hotels where we are all staying. I also had plenty of time to relax and explore the surroundings.

 

Saranda is a coastal city that forms a semi-circle around the natural bay that extends up into the mountains in tiered streets with each street occupying a terrace about twenty feet higher in elevation than the one below it getting progressively higher from sea level. It is a fascinating place. A mélange of cultural influences that make it at once recognizably European but with its own strange unique twists that are almost indescribable. 

Lee

Nick & Evan

While not totally modern, it is still a place that is not like a third world country. You can tell change has come fast and furiously and that not much thought went in to planning the infrastructure as high rise buildings, many half-built and abandoned rise in front of shorter structures totally blocking the views. The roads and sidewalks are full of hazards, most being broken, at multiple gradients and often simply not there. Huge holes where  manhole covers possibly once were are everywhere and walking even in the daylight presents challenges.

Derek

There is also an abundance of trash everywhere as waste disposal, and recycling are areas of special concern. Littering is not just common, it is prevalent. Also you have to keep a close eye out for cowpies, as cows have free range and can be seen daily wondering through the city streets loose, often eating out of trash piles and dumpsters, it is a very different experience.

Evan, Mathieu and Chiara

You might think with all these evident problems that it sounds like not such a great place, in fact I found it to be a wonderful place. The natural beauty of the beach and coastline, crystal clear water, blooming beautiful flowers and plant life everywhere, wonderful friendly and inquisitive people and relaxing pace of life that just can’t be described all overcome the negatives. I absolutely love the place. 

Lee

Mathieu

Michael

 

Having a group of amazing people to share the experience does not hurt either and the students at the field school are to a person amazing, accomplished, fun and interesting people. I guess I should not be surprised, after all what would you expect from someone who saw an ad someplace for a scuba diving field school in Albania and thought that is just the thing for me? The kind of people who would respond to that almost are by definition an adventurous lot and the kind of travelers that I easily bond with.

Evan

With the field school not really gearing up immediately, we had a lot of time to hang out and bond after the initial lectures and preparation. A group of us spent a second straight afternoon swimming in the beautiful waters of the Ionian Sea. This time we swam at the rocky beach located right on the base where our dive operations are based.

Mathieu, Lee & Evan

The beach was rocky and there were a plethora of spiny sea urchins, which we managed to avoid, but the water and weather were both incredible and refreshing. It was cool to have some time to just hang out and get to know some of the students who come from incredibly diverse backgrounds but share a love of scuba and the sea. I am totally impressed by each of them and by the field school itself.

Nick, Chris & Howard