Bari to Durres – 29th June
Distance: 233 km – Elevation +1720 m -1750 m
Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 28 degrees
I think with better planning I could well have saved a day. The night sailing has meant another complete day in Bari. First I went to purchase a ferry ticket from an agency near the port and then I took and left my rucksack with the “Left Baggage” department at the ferry terminal. After yesterdays tour of Bari there was not much left to see consequently time passed slowly.
Boarding was due to start about 2 hours before the sailing time of 8.00 pm and after retrieving my rucksack from the “Left Luggage” I made my way to the ferry terminal at 5.30 pm. It seemed remarkably quiet and almost deserted as I walked around the waiting area. I was approached by an official who asked to see my ticket and he told me that I needed to register for boarding at another location some 3 kilometres distance and pointed to a bus stop and said I could take a bus from there. Waiting at the bus stop, which was a stop for a multitude of different services, I realised I had no idea what bus to catch. There were several other people waiting and so I said “Does anyone speak English” and from behind me in a broad Australian accent came “We do” – turning I saw three men and their luggage seated on the bus shelter bench. They were also going to Durres and like me did not know which bus to catch. An Italian man sensing our predicament and speaking in perfect English told us exactly which bus we needed and at which stop to get off. So from that moment in time, I had travelling companions.
After the Australians purchased their tickets and I exchanged my agency voucher for a ticket, we were all taken by bus back to the ferry terminal for embarkation. The ferry was not at all crowded so plenty of seats were available, there was an option to purchase a bed in a cabin which I decided against. Facilities were very good with a restaurant and bar open throughout the voyage.
We were seated on board and ready for departure at 8.00 pm but due to unexplained delays we did not set sail until 11.00 pm! The air conditioning created a very cold environment and I tried different methods of sleeping during the voyage none of which were successful. It was good to get to know my travelling companions. They were farmers from Perth and were on a tour of Europe and were making their way to Athens to take a flight home. We eventually docked in Durres at 8.00 am and I actually entered Albania at 9.00 am.
I had pre booked a small hotel for one night in Durres and I managed to arrange a room in the same hotel for my three companions. They had a lot of hand luggage so we shared a taxi to the hotel and despite our early arrival the rooms were ready and we were able to immediately check in and the hotel kindly provided us with a late breakfast.
After a night without sleep, I slept for 3 or 4 hours and then set off to explore Durres. Durres was the first station on the Via Egnatia and was called Dyrrachium by the Romans. I particularly wanted to visit the Roman amphitheatre built in the 2nd century. Returning to the hotel I found my three companions seated outside a bar enjoying afternoon beers. They needed to buy tickets for their onward journey, so we all set off on a longish walk to the central bus station. The walk itself was interesting through parts of Durres I would not have normally seen including the ruins of the Roman Forum. Later in the evening we dined together in a harbourside restaurant. My supper – grilled bass and sautee potatoes.
