South to Tirana

The last couple of days it has rained and it has been raining again so far this morning. We go for walks in between the down pours, talk with Robert and Mira about all manner of things, read books and keep learning Albanian.

We have just repacked our suitcases, as after an early lunch, (lunch here is normally at 2pm), we will travel south to Tirana the capital. There we will meet up with leaders from several cities. Greeting each other and having a coffee will easily take an hour. Then I guess a report back session followed by one of my favourite meals here in Albania.. mish qengji helli me patate me salad mix..whole roast lamb on the spit with potatoes, which always means chips, never boiled, roasted or baked potatoes, and a mixed salad.

Yesterday the water was off for the whole afternoon, which is particularly galling when it is raining outside.

Overnight we will stay in a 2 star down town hotel, which Ann says could be an experience. Another session together on Friday morning and then we are off again on a journey to Elbasan. where we will be over the weekend. There we will stay in a YWAM house. As I write this in the Internet cafe, outside are a whole number of pigs rooting around in the flower beds for whatever they can get. And nobody sees this as amusing only us!

We will of course catch up on the news from Elbasan and renew our friendships with Ilir and Arjan and Festim and many others we know. Next Monday is a National Holiday just as it is in the UK so we will probably have a day out with some of them on Monday.

We will keep in touch and nextime it will be from Elbasan.

Ken and Ann