Albania

The very first thing I noticed about Albania was the change in peoples' attitude toward us.  Everyone was very friendly and smiling was commonplace.

 

The second thing was just how poor people were.  Not everyone - young men wearing smart clothing and driving nice cars - the average Joe was poor. 

 

The country is stunningly beautiful - but rubbish everywhere. 

 

So much to see but we have just one day to enjoy what Albania will reveal to us in such a short period of time.  The roads would be motorcycling heaven if it wasn't for the poor state of upkeep or lack of it.

 

No credit cards, no internet, few mobile phones, no ATMs, not to many signs of modernity - some may say that is a good thing.

 

There are plenty of vehicles using the roads in Albania but not all of them roadworthy. 

Don't worry Black Caviar's twenty eight win record is safe - poor condition and that wasn't the worst we saw.

I'm ditching the trailer and trying this.

Is that a WW2 truck?  Is that a truck size pot hole it is about to drop into.  Sucked more diesel fumes in the last seven days than in the last ten years.

This fellow was happy to chat.  Neither of us spoke a word of the others language - wish I could have purchased a fish from him but I didn't have a single Lek (Albanian currency) left.  Couldn't find a ATM.