Average speed: 19.9km/h
Moving time: 1h44m
Total distance: 5230km
Border X'ings: 19
Money spent: €0
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I was in no hurry to make my way to Durres where I would be staying with a German family hosting cyclists through warm-showers.org so I slept in till 10am taking advantage of the little 30 odd kilometers I had to cycle.
I enjoyed the sun and free wifi of the hotel and really should have taken a dip in the pool as the sun was a scorching 23 degrees.
Getting to Durres was a little rougher than anticipated with roads being, well lets put it this way, not as bad as yesterday but marginally close.
I honestly can't imagine what it would be like after a downpour, 'treacherous' would be the first thing to pop into most people's heads.
Arriving at Alexander's place on the edge of the poor district of town in a roomy home surrounded with flowers and fruit I met his wife Diana and 21 month old daughter Miriam. They worked as missionaries helping out the less privileged in the city and had been doing so for many years.
At first they were very assertive listening to my ramblings and stories for the entire afternoon over lunch and dinner that I had cooked up, they are a lovely family where I had fun playing with Miriam. Then later in the evening after talking about the Northern Albanian 'Blood Revenge' tradition where, from what I understood, a simple threat or gesture of disrespect to someone could result in an ongoing rivaling family feud where one family member would be killed by the other family and vice-versa until an agreement would be sorted by either a payout or formal apology, either of which rarely happens. This happened and still happens regardless of the justice law of Albania.
Because we were talking about death, as Alexander and Diana are missionaries the religious topics of conversation arose.
They were very attentive to my points of view as I was with
theirs and our discussion about our beliefs or non beliefs did not develop into a heated debate. Actually I learnt a lot from the conversation and I would say I was adamant about where I stood on religious beliefs and they listened and respected that, and for that I respected them.
Certainly a better experience than with my other encounters with people devoting their life to some religion, and respect to them too for all the good they are doing here in Albania.
I dont think i have seen a turkey that looks as extraterrestrial then this one.
Miriam, the daughter of Alexander and Diana who i spent this evening with at their place in Durres, ALbania.
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