Two Blogs ago I promised to write about the beaches of Albania, so we flew to Tirana (Albania’s capital), spent a couple of days there, admired the numerous freshly created (probably with foreign money) skyscrapers and was told that the best beaches of the country were near a place called Sarandë, a three-and-a half hours’ drive from the Capital. I took a deep breath, located a driver, and off we went.
But keep in mind – I am not an impartial judge of beaches.
I am spoiled: I have spent a lot of time in the Caribbean where the beaches feature fine, snow-white, sand and a light blue sea. The May weather is warm, as is the water. Not so in and around Sarandë. May weather is cool and rainy and the sea downright cold. Sandy beaches are rare; most of the ones that are, have been artificially created by enterprising hotel-owners who keep on trucking in sand and dumping it on the small pebbles that had topped the shore originally.
That being said, the Albanian beaches provide breathtaking views, as you can see from the accompanying pictures. AND the food, mainly fresh seafood, is generally very good in Albania. For me, this makes up ‘big time’ for stony beaches.
This restaurant (my favourite) opened in 1945 and is managed by the granddaughter of the founder today.
