Go for it..... you have nothing to fear....

Mum and dad asked to take August away for a week in their motorhome. Funnily enough they never asked me to go with them, but I won’t be offended ;-). A rare opportunity to do something totally #alone, and I wasn’t about to go looking for a travel companion either. No offence intended, but I unapologetically enjoy travelling alone.

I’ve been doing a bit of soul-searching as to why that is precisely, and why it also is that I seize every opportunity to get going now. I think it boils down to several things. From quite a young age I’ve been in relationships, and whilst that it’s not a bad thing and nor does it mean that there would be restrictions on your liberty and the way in which you live your life, I’ve learnt to realise that I tend to throw everything into a relationship, sometimes at the expense of losing my own identity and my own personal life goals and desires. Now, with the benefit of insight and experience, I will consciously retain those liberties and can be happily in a relationship at the same time. Secondly, I got too serious too young, with a house and mortgage and a "proper" job. I didn’t go away to university and didn’t follow that same rite of passage that many do. Being also in a serious relationship at the time I also placed expectations upon myself that I wouldn’t go and do the things that I crave to do because it wasn't okay to leave my then partner at home. There is a huge, big world out there and I want to see as much of it as I possibly can, and so it’s now down to me. I'm lucky, I have the will and the means to travel, and I can't expect others to always want to or be able to tag along with me. I'm not about to sit waiting for an accomplice for every adventure, because then the adventures won't happen.

I have an overwhelming fear associated with not being on this world for very long. I am hell bent on “living” as much as I possibly can before my time comes to an end. Another thing that I’ve become aware of, reflecting as I do when I get around moment to myself, is that I tend to fill my life full of busyness to mitigate or pop a sticking plaster on any painful aspects of my existence, my low points, the pain of missing August when he is not with me all the time (wow.... going deep now). And, with that there is pain, so much so, that I can be in my favourite place, doing my favourite things, with some of my favourite people, outwardly happy but with tears rolling down my cheek as my heart aches and wish that I could be teaching my little man to swim in that sea, or thinking how much he would love that playground, how keen he would be to ride on that barely functioning rustbucket of a ‘motorbike’ or ‘monster-truck’ fairground ride, or shit plastic tourist tat etc. So, my travel experiences are often emotionally loaded.

Setting that aside (and shut up say you, you have no right to complain, you chose that path - that might well be the case, .....but it can and will always still hurt), I have this rare opportunity to do something totally for me. I enjoy solo travel; things tend to become complicated when you add group travel behaviour into the mix. So here is my opportunity to choose. As with the entire post Covid travel area I have been monitoring risk, price, accessibility, and bureaucracy of several destinations. Having done some longer distances in Duggie now, I was confident that he could take me to the continent and that was number one on the top of my list, to use up the ferry vouchers that have been hanging over from last year’s cancelled trip and head to Europe. I had a vague aspiration of the German #Schwartzwald and the #romantischestrase with a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle.

Although I very much enjoy a road trip in France, it is something I’ve had the fortune to do several times and therefore was seeking something different. I adored the three-week road trip through Eastern Europe about five years ago now and knew that driving there was easy, pleasurable, and interesting. I thought it could be interesting to set a travel related challenge for myself, such as to travel to #Gdansk and back within the five-day window I had available through as many countries as I could possibly muster. At moments this did seem viable but daily variability on the news stories surrounding #France and the prohibition of accessing via the Netherlands or Belgium made the potential risk of having to #quarantine and thus not be able to see August as soon as I got back a risk not worth taking. Even though #amberlist countries were a possibility for me, the ongoing speculation over an amber #watchlist was also risky. I decided to opt for #Greece as it has been a long time since I last went and in flying to #Corfu, I figured that there would be the possibility to at least do a little bit of #islandhopping or visit multiple destinations. From researching, it seems like restrictions travel were not too onerous, just a passenger locator form to enter and then a negative #antigentest to return. Not too bad at all, although in preparation for a potential trip to France I had already stockpiled several PCR tests already including a test to release kit to try and break any potential quarantine early. Because of wavering speculation surrounding Greece and the red list, again flight prices were reasonable. Although Corfu itself was not a source of huge interest, when my parents had spent several years living on a sailing boat, I visited them in Corfu and we travel to Paxos and AntiPaxos, from recollection some of the most beautiful places on Earth with #turquoise crystal-clear sea.

Additionally, my search for low-restriction amber list countries had bought up a number #Adriatic coastline countries to include #Albania, #Bosnia, and #Montenegro, which in themselves were expensive to fly to. All of these I have a yearning to visit. Albania is a 30-minute hydrofoil across from Corfu. So, the destinations were fixed. I managed to get a flight with Jet2, which from my experience to Ibiza back in July, was incredibly positive one. The flight was probably only about a third full so loads of space to stretch out and at no point did I feel uncomfortable or at any risk. Upon arrival into Corfu airport, my passport was checked, stamped and when I tried to show the border security guard my passenger locator form, he said the Fire service personnel behind him would check. They asked me if I’d had my full vaccination schedule to which I replied “yes” and they simply said, "please proceed". All very straightforward. Boy was it hot in Corfu! I sat outside the terminal building a melted for half an hour whilst awaiting the number 15 bus into Corfu town where I had booked a Hotel Marina Corfu in the port area, for accessibility for my onward ferries. All incredibly #convenient and #straightforward, when I reached the bus stop for the new port in Corfu town, right in front of me were the offices I needed to subsequently purchase a return ticket to Paxos the next day and to #Saranda in Albania on the Wednesday.

The return ticket to Paxos was a rather pricey €52 and the ticket to Sarande €20 each way which, although the same duration of the journey, seemed a much better deal as it was an international trip. The surly service agent said they could only sell me a one-way ticket to Albania, I just hope that there is not going to be a spanner thrown in the works when I come to return. Covid related cleaning restrictions meant that I couldn’t check into the hotel until 4 o’clock so I padded a bit by enjoying yummy Gyros pitta and a nice cool beer overlooking the port and then went to drop off my bag before having a little mooch around town. Even though there isn’t a beach in Corfu town itself, there was a jetty near the old fort and several swimming platforms. It was baking hot, so I took advantage of the opportunity for a dip even though the water wasn’t particularly cold. After checking into the hotel, I took the chance for a proper look around after a brief nap, taking the opportunity for a small amount of rest and relaxation, on doctor’s orders!

Corfu town is beautiful, and it jogged my memory that I had been there previously when I met mum and dad and we enjoyed a lovely dinner in one of the restaurants in the Main Square. I’m happy just walking and I’m wondered around for a good few hours before deciding on somewhere to eat. Several tavernas were situated at the base of the hotel on the dockside. I wouldn’t particularly recommend the first one as they denied me a table because I was on my own. A way to make a girl feel great. Next door however happily obliged and served up a delicious meal of Greek salad, beer, and fried anchovies. I had an early start in the morning so took an early night. The 08:15 ferry to Paxos was more like a hydrofoil (a ‘Flying dolphin’) like the boat serving Phu Quoc in Vietnam from Can Tho. Luckily the sea was flat-calm and the journey passed with another quick snooze in a swift hour. I haden’t really given it much thought as to how I would reach Lakka the place I have booked accommodation in the night before. I had heard that there’s only five taxis on the island and therefore relying upon a convenient taxi rank upon arrival may not work. But luckily a rickety rackety local bus was waiting on the dockside by the boat. This was 9:30am. The driver informed me that I wouldn’t get to Lakka, 6 miles away until 11 am and the bus would go via Gaios and Loggos up some steep hills and hairy bends. I was in no rush although my time on Paxos was limited so I opted for the bus at the snip €4 and enjoyed the scenery of the bus ride.

It appears the best way to secure accommodation on Paxos is you go through one of the many local agents such as Sun and Sea, Planos or Routsis, to find a room. These options aren’t advertised through booking.com. But having been keen to save precious time I had booked via Booking.com and found the options limited and expensive. But I was committed now, ferry tickets were purchased and similarly I couldn't afford for that money to be wasted. So, I said thank you to our VC who had recently approved very generous staff bonus for all employees and booked into the Andrikos apartments in Lakka. Although quite expensive, I would say they were well worth the money. Featuring a beautiful free form swimming pool and pretty grounds adorned with Olive groves and tropical flowers and spacious, far too spacious for a solo traveller. With picture perfect views over the grounds and pool, it was a real treat. I've swam four times already today, is like having your own private villa and pool. Lakka itself is so incredibly beautiful so I felt I could justify staying here. I took a walk around the tiny town and smiled with nostalgia at mum and I trying to navigate the dinghy onto the shore many years earlier, dressed up to the nines for dinner trying our very best at a lady-like exit from the dingy when we couldn't even steer it in a straight line. I think Mum's dinghy driving prowess was hampered by the fact that in our line of sight was the hairy bollock emerging out of the leg of an ageing Greek gentleman's overly short shorts as he crouched down at the dockside to help us!!

Lakka is a tiny town, but it is so beautiful with so many peaceful places to eat. Basically, anything's a winner for me if it has vines and Bougainvilla growing in a canopy over checked, oilcloth covered tables. I walk around the bay to #Harami beach. I think I would go so far as to say that's it's one of the most beautiful bays I've ever seen. Crystal-clear turquoise water perfect for a cooling swim in the searing heat. The day passed far too quickly but I got my fill of walking, swimming and sunning and I sit here now on the balcony having had yet another swim in the beautiful pool listening to nothing but the constant loud buzz of the crickets in the pine clad hills around me. Life indeed is good, and I feel a momentary sense of peace and ease.

I need to learn to go with the flow a little more. I ended up getting a little bit worried about trying to book one of the very few taxi services on the island back to port because I didn’t trust the sign for the local bus saying that the bus services connect with the ferry services. The local bus arrived and departed before I even got in the taxi. Nevertheless, the taxi took a very pleasant scenic detour to pick up some other passengers and wasn’t too badly priced at €10. A bit of gentle persuasion of the owner and I was able to have a cooling morning swim after my sun salutations (ha ha). I had promised myself that this short trip would kickstart some of the healthy habits I had started during lockdown, when life was slow that have recently lapsed and therefore this was a positive start. A quick ice coffee at the port to perk me up, made with instant coffee yuck! and I was on my way back to Corfu. I needed to consider my return Covid test for travel back to the UK. As Corfu town isn’t a resort as such, the amount of testing facilities are rather more limited than in the likes of Dassia, Ipsos et cetera, but a quick internet search had identified the Corfu Medical Centre in which you could easily book one of many daily appointments online using the online booking system at a cost of €20pp.

Again, for anyone currently who is anxious about travelling because they’re not sure about the testing requirements, please rest assured. Even if, before you travel you don’t have arrangements in place, there are always facilities when you get there. Essentially, it’s another service that can be sold to tourists. The arrangements overseas from my experience so far are also a lot cheaper than UK based arrangements and more straightforward too. A pleasant but incredibly hot walk to the easy to find Corfu Medical Centre. I was a little bit concerned about whether the 12-noon appointment word enable me to catch the 1 o’clock ferry ride book to Saranda. Again, I need needn’t have worried I just joined the queue, filled in the brief online form and was in and out within five minutes. Fingers crossed the result is negative else I’ll be screwed! Although I’m feeling confident because I did one of the many lateral flow that I bought with me this morning and it was negative, so I fancy my chances. I’ve even got time to stroll back to the port and grab a bit of lunch before my ferry to Albania. Or so I thought….

The ferry terminal for international departures is way beyond the domestic terminal and, with only minutes to spare I legged it in the 38-degree heat to make the 30-minute predeparture check in in that I had been informed about. Arriving like a drowned rat, but in time I settled into the waiting hall. Don't be fooled by the name of the vessel, Saranda Express does nothing by express and took double it stated time to arrive in Albania. It was also so slow that you didn't benefit from the usual fresh and cooling breeze of a boat as a form of transport in the blazing heat. Almost 2 1/2 hours later I arrived in Saranda. Certainly not a picturesque coastal town, it was nevertheless intriguing. I have a real curiosity for the ex-communist states under and find their history and politics intriguing. Perhaps in a touristic sense it is possible to glimpse a destination that is not so heavily developed through tourism. A rare occurrence nowadays. Disembarkation and passport clearance was smooth and efficient, with any entry restrictions having now been eased. I had figured that I had booked a hotel within a comfortable walk of the ferry port but not factored in the almost 40-degree heat. Strava was getting a hammering today and my phone battery was nearly dead. I took a wrong turn and had to double back on myself but eventually, at the top of a hot and sweaty hill I found the JB hotel. Again, I had shelled out a little more than I ordinarily would but in the interests of getting a place with a pool where I could maintain the exercise that I've been practising over the last couple of months and provide an opportunity to relax and unwind a little. After the scorching hill hike, I had no desire to venture any further for the afternoon so chilled out by the pool and lost a couple of hours asleep on the sunbed. Revived by a cool pint of #Tiranabeer I showered and ventured out into town.

Sarande is a large sprawling coastal town on the Albanian Riviera. It doesn't have a lot of aesthetic beauty or charm and resembles to a certain extent a version of Benidorm without the delights of Sticky Vicky. Nevertheless, it does have all the normal tourist amenities and within a different cultural context I found this interesting. Firstly, I needed to sort out the ferry back to Corfu a few days later. This is easy to arrange through one of the booking offices adjacent to the ferry terminal at a cost of 23 Euros in high season. Even though it was getting on for 7:00 PM the temperature was still incredibly hot, and I enjoyed frozen ice-coffee from one of the many eateries on the sea front. The harbour area and City Beach is interesting and there is an enclosed area laned -off for serious swimming. There's also a rather large derelict warehouse (synagogue?) of some description and huge Ferris wheel, without carriages seeming to have been abandoned a long time ago. It gave the place an eerie feel and seemed to have been occupied by a large group of Romas. There's the notable juxtaposition of wealth versus poverty here. There seems to be quite a large Roma community in the city, and it appeared that they had taken at residents in the big warehouse. I was confronted by several heart wrenching scenes of young children strapped into their buggies in the baking midday heat whilst their guardian begged on the roadside. Saranda is busy. After having arrived at the ferry terminal, there are no further signs to indicate that we are still in the throes of a pandemic. It seems to be a particularly popular resort for young Albanians and Greeks. Throngs of young Albanians are parading, dressed up to the nines along the "passeo maritimo". The prices are very reasonable also, but then again so is Corfu. I enjoyed a Mare y Monte pizza overlooking the bay at restaurant Alba with a pleasant soundtrack of the nightclub Orange which is located next door. I also enjoyed being eaten alive by mosquitos and a healthy dose of the shits the next day! I’m staying at the JB hotel which is about a kilometre and a half walk up a steep hill to the South of the city. I found it available on booking.com and I'm glad I stayed here. The hotel, which is family run operation are friendly and accommodating and the day was drawn to a close in the same pleasant way it started with a cool dip in the pool.

Today’s plan was to visit #Ksamil. This has been my alternative destination when choosing between there and Saranda. A quick search of information informed me that buses run every hour and should take between 20 to 40 minutes, costing 100 Lek which amounts to about 70p for wherever your eventual destination was. I walked down to the bottom of the hill and again the place is mobbed so thought, not wanting to end up on a packed bus I would use the opportunity for a bit of exercise and walk to the bus terminus in town. Getting there ahead of schedule and surprising myself how easily I found the bus, I hopped on. Wrong move!! 38° heat again and I’m sat on the side where the Sun is blazing in. Big mistake! When the bus eventually left, and the money was collected by two young children (!?) I was pleased with my choice of side as I was now sat in the shade A little old lady sat on the opposite side was almost as sweaty as me. My #Albanian elder twin I thought, amused. Interestingly also there was no requirement for, and neither was anyone wearing a mask. Something that made me feel a little bit uncomfortable as I’ve not really had a chance to reacclimatise to normality. But reassuringly my little Albanian sweaty twin also donned her mask, and we were a pair again. The bus crawled along at about 1 mph and within half an hour I was back at my original starting point. It seems there is one road in one road out of Saranda and everyone is going in the same direction. The bus was busy, but not as busy as others we passed where people are literally crammed in like a tin of sardines. It was all worth it though and I’m so glad I took the chance to see #Ksamil. The coastline really is a stunning as advertised. And understandably every as a man, woman and their dog had the same level of appreciation and have flocked there. The beaches are organised, meaning that the adjacent bar, hotel, or restaurant has row after row of neatly crammed in sunbeds leaving little space for any free styling and deviation from sunbed politics. I’m not a sunbed fan and I only wanted a dip in the crystal-clear blue sea. It was a little unnerving how crowded it was and I just carried on walking until I eventually found a spot where I can have a dip with a reasonable level of room around me. A little bit further along the coast I sat down to lunch in the beautiful restaurant Ciao overlooking the bay and enjoyed a superb seafood linguine and a Greek salad at a very affordable £7. Things had quietened a little on the beaches and so I took a further opportunity for a swim and a little snooze on the harbour wall. Absolute bliss! Further back into the centre though it was really hotting up. Out of curiosity I walked along to find some form of shitty washing up bubble party and bikini- clad honeys gyrating to some form of undiscernible Europop. I’m all for some action but this was not it, so I headed back into #Saranda and enjoyed the tranquillity of the hotel pool.

So, now the short trip is ending, what are my thoughts on travel to these destinations (generally) and at this time, for this time, specifically?

So, let’s start with generally. Travel, get going. Despite some additional layers of organisational complexity, trust me you will be pleasantly surprised at how a) safe b) affordable c) pleasurable travel is right now. It is FAR less scary and complicated than the media has whipped it up into being. Despite the UK government and media scaremongering, and (forgive me as I’m not a conspiracy theorist) the excellent job they, and therefore, society is doing laying the guilt trip on our moral duty to participate in the ‘staycation’. There is NO additional associated risk with travel, so long as you use your common sense and are not an idiot about it all. The only debatable part is the airplane, but I have it on good authority from friends in the sector that this is also far safer than we are led to believe too. The air gets pumped in below our seat and sucked out above (or vice versa). Think about it, all the people on that plane with you have either been vaccinated or tested. Have they on the local bus service, down Wetherspoons or in some of the incredibly crowded UK beaches? But I’ll leave that one with you to mull over. Just putting it out there, it is only my opinion. I enjoy a UK break in equal measure. I just don't like rain.

In terms of getting away for just a few days…. Again, do it! If you are a person that rarely gets any time to yourself, or opportunity to unwind from whatever it is that occupies you, it is amazing the rejuvenating effect a short break can have. Sometimes far greater than a longer trip, because it really hits the spot at the time it is needed. The general rule of thumb is that, if you will be spending longer there than it takes to get there, then it is worth going. I usually work on the principle that if I can get 48hrs in a place within 3hrs travel time then it is certainly worth the trip!

In terms of travelling to #Greece (#Corfu and #Paxos) and #Albania right now. Greece, absolutely, go for it. Everything feels safe (safer than home) spacious and the logistics are all straightforward. Passenger locator form but no inbound test needed for those who are double vaccinated. You do need a negative test to come back but that is easily and cheaply (cheaper than the UK) arranged locally. Greece is, at the time of writing on the amber list, and as of the last review, which took place on 5th August, is remaining there…. So should be a safe bet until at least three weeks’ time. Albania, well it was amazing, refreshing…. but unnerving to go to a place where there appeared to be no evidence of a pandemic (odd in itself). In the UK we have been so used to restrictions and it has become our way of life. Catapult into a ‘normal’ setting and you might find it a bit uncomfortable (although I have absolutely no evidence to feel that way). I will be going back, there is so much more to see, such a vast and diverse country. One of #diversity, contrasts, and a fiercely proud #heritage. But my time here is up and home beckons. Happy travelling folks, no matter how near or far. If you have any questions about travelling to green or amber list countries and the logistics, just drop me a line. K.

An addendum…. Sorry I thought I was done. Scratch that about #logistical faff and #beauracracy. IF you happen to be taking a boat into Corfu from Albania, then be prepared to firstly be barked at to "put your masks on or face a harsh fine” – and yes, even I who have been unusually compliant in the mask wearing had started to enjoy being able to breathe and see through steam free specs and felt a little disgruntled about now being told to continue suffocating myself. Then prepared to be sifted, based on your #PLF QR code. It will be a guessing game what your queue represents, until you breathe a sigh of relief and realise that you are not going to have yet another cotton bud rammed up your nose!!! Instead, you will stand there slowly dying in the baking sun, confused and getting increasingly irritated by people pushing in front of you, whilst, you, the lucky ones (!!) are gradually and ever so slowly inched forwards into a room the size of my downstairs loo to have your passport checked by a five year old who appears uncertain what they are looking for/ at and nor can they read. I am sorry to say that an aging lady who fancied her chances pushing in front of me just tipped my balance of tolerance at that moment and almost got an elbow in her face! I settled for swinging round, knowing I had a bloody great backpack on my back. I had made my message clear!