Day 4 Arrival of the rest of the crew

How early did I wake up?

Gorgeous beach we found nearby.

As Cameron and I finished a wonderful breakfast  provided by Alma, Derek showed up with our next member Dave, who took the morning ferry from Corfu.  After he situated a bit we all headed out to do some snorkeling.  After getting clarification we headed past the graveyards and down a dirt road that led to a much nicer beach than I had found the day before.  This one is in front of a hotel and well maintained.  There was a man spreading gravel along the beach as we swam.  Many beaches here are reminiscent of home, rocky not sandy and people spread gravel in response. We swam and explored, again there was considerable trash, but not as much as the day before. 

Dave explores the depths.

We did keep finding porcelain dishes, our first artifacts we joked.  Hungry from snorkeling we headed into town, were I was an old hand by this point, compared to the guys that is.  We hit up Lemoni for lunch, were we went the first night I arrived.  The food was again delicious, though Cameron’s Cesar salad was not quite what he was expecting, mayo as dressing.  I enjoyed a fabulous cold seafood salad and Dave had amazing grilled shrimp that were huge. Lunch was followed by complimentary lemon sorbet served in little cups, which perfectly rounded out the meal. After stuffing ourselves silly we wandered the waterfront, enjoying gelato, and taking in the sights.  The guys were done after a bit but I decided to explore further up into the hills, the less touristy area.  I wandered and wandered in the hot sun, exploring, getting higher and higher into the hills.  I realized at one point I needed to meet everyone at the ferry around 6:15 to greet the rest of the crew, arriving on the evening ferry. 

I think I'll find one without swimming poo.

Gorgeous side street of Saranda.

It took some figuring but I found my way down the hillside, once I got into more familiar territory I picked up some cherries from one of the many street vendors that are all scattered around selling fruit.  I was the first to arrive at the ferry and ordered some ice tea (chai limon) and ate my cherries, reading through a guide to Saranda I picked up at the tourist center on the waterfront.  I need to adjust to Albanian time, because I was the first one there by a long shot, Howard showed up with “our” cab driver since so many people were arriving with luggage.  He caught me as I was ordering my second tea.  You have two choices lemon and peach, he explained you want to use Albanian and order “peeyeshka” as in Albanian peach is a dirty word, slang for lady parts.  Advice to remember.  Cam and Dave showed up and eventually so did the ferry.  Everyone else was here!  We got the other students, Leslie and Effie, as well and Dr. Chris Bagley, the professor from Transylvania University who co-teaches with Derek, Michael Blades the photographer from RCM and Lee the student teacher.  Howard got all the luggage situated in the van and headed up to housing while we all wandered to Limon for dinner, then back home to get situated and get some needed sleep.  I chatted with Effie and Leslie, the boys are sharing the middle room that has three beds and there are two other rooms, the one I am in, with the view and laundry and one with a kitchenette and bunk beds.  Derek and I had thought that one person could take the kitchen, as we will all be preparing lunches in there and I could share my room.  After chatting the girls both enjoy high AC, not my first choice, so they decided to share a room but wouldn’t let me switch, so I have my own room. 

View from the heights of the hillside neighborhoods.

Looking back across at part of the city on the hillside.