We have been in Albania for a few days now. We started in Sarande, a beach town with the port to Greece and a promenade/boardwalk area. The ferry over from Corfu, Greece was super easy and pretty quick (about 70 minutes) we got off the ferry and walked to our hostel. The owner (Tomi) met us outside and showed us through town. We exchanged money and found a little spot by the beach for lunch. 
We didn't do much in Sarande and only planned for one night there. Which was enough. The next day we got on the bus for the hour and a half ride to Gjirokaster!
The ride was pretty crappy... Really hot on a tiny bus going back and forth on many many switchbacks. And then when we got off we had to walk about 40 mins straight UP to get from the bus station to the Old Town. But once we were there it was well worth it.
Gjirokaster is a cute little small town at the base of an old castle. They are just starting to get tourists and have never had anyone from The United States. One woman who runs the little souvenir shop speaks English and was eager to practice with us. Her daughter obviously is learning English in school and was very helpful when we wanted to buy a new SIM card for Scott's phone. The youngest boy who helped run our hotel had semi great English skills too. But he was so damn cute and happy it didn't matter. Also: I think we may have been their first guests. Our hotel (Hotel Domino) was newly renovated from what I can only assume was like many of the other buildings there with shale roofs and stone walls. Best of all it had AC. A must for our journeyed we have agreed.
We hiked up to the castle and explored it's many ruins and rubble. It felt a list like Indiana Jones. 
We had a traditional dinner and enjoyed breakfast made by the little family that runs our hotel before loading up with snacks and hopping on the possibly 7 hour bus to Tirana (Albania's capital city).
There is a big presence of the fall of communism throughout Albania I am noticing and I have read that we will see more of it in Tirana.
More adventure awaits.
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