We arrived at this campsite a week ago and it is so, so very different to any other campsite we have been to before, basically because of it’s location, extensive size and large open space areas. It’s set in HUGE grounds without any crowding, whereas most other campsites make the most of every square metre. We are on the largest area, possibly the size of a football pitch, which faces the lake, the placements for camping are restricted to either side leaving the middle completely clear for walking, children to play and various games like volley ball and of course football.

Because most campers now travel in motorhomes, who only stay a day or so at each location as they use their vehicle for touring, we had no problem in immediately setting up in a pole position near to the beach and lawns which are directly on Shkodra Lake with spectacular views.

Both sides of the main ground have continuous pergola structures which encourage overhead natural growth, which in turn provides shade for each unit. It is the first time we have not needed to put up either of our awnings to the caravan as we have plenty of space beside us and behind us to use for all of our outdoor furniture, bicycles, BBQ and the rest of our necessary paraphernalia. The Poacher is driven into its parking slot as Stella likes to spend most of her time in the back of it and we can keep an eye on her.

All the lawns are regularly watered to keep their ‘lush’ condition. Between the beach and the lake is a lawn area which leads down to the lake shore. The lake is quite warm to paddle into from there as it is shallow for quite a distance, so the owner has built a 100 metre long wooden pier for guests to have direct access to deeper water. He’s even supplied two wooden benches at the end of the pier end and on the lawn sit pedalos, kayaks and canoes waiting to be hired. I have never swam in a lake before and as a non swimmer aided by an inflatable noodle, I love that there are no waves to splash into my eyes or face and the water is clear and warm with several changes of thermal temperatures.

One evening around 7pm I was watching a group of small children swimming and playing, each in a buoyancy aid linked together like a kindergarten flotilla. They looked so cute, I asked their parents for permission to take photos for this post.

The campsite is tightly well run with it’s Albanian and English owners, Niko and Faye on site. The office is friendly with loads of information on Albania’s tourist attractions and choices of organised trips to book. By the office are the ‘facilities’. Now, if you scrub your own inaccurate images of campsite loos and showers from your imagination (especially if you have never seen any) and replace those ‘cartoon bubbles’ with your experience of visiting the best ever health club, fitted with powerful showers and that everything is serviced on a more than regular basis, you will get an idea of how spoilt we are here.

The campsite’s restaurant/bar is run by their efficient and friendly English speaking Albanian staff who constantly clean, wipe and sort. The cuisine is from locally sourced fruit, vegetables, fish and meat and the menu varied offering us a good choice of dishes. We can feed the two of us, including an evening’s supply of alcoholic drinks for under 20€. July for us could be an entire holiday month!

They’ve heard about Steve being a keen fisherman and each evening ask what he’s caught for the restaurant to cook or a picture of the one he didn’t land. Nothing yet, but he’s working on it!

Since we started travelling, we always hoped that family and friends would be able to fly out and join us. There is no hotel at this campsite but take a look at the Glamping Bell Tents and Wooden Lodges. Probably not for most of you, but we know one or two who could be tempted if flights were available and covid tests and associated fees were not prohibitive.

We made the most of the European Football Final in our Bar. There was a good screen, another family of English who had settled in the Czech Republic and the owner Niko joining us cheering the England Team. Steve brought with his Boom Box and we had two England flags, one draped on our table and one to share with the English family. These photos were taken before the room filled.

There were about 40 – 50 watching the match, including family groups, most of the whom were cheering Italy, During the build up to the match Steve played a selection of football anthems from his portable Boom Box. When it was the England Team’s turn to sing our National Anthem the English amongst us stood up to join them in our rendition of God Save the Queen. At half time Steve queued Its Coming Home, the theme from Italian Job, Self Preservation Society, followed by Take Me Home, Rule Britannia and finishing with Sweet Caroline accompanied by us waiving our arms in the air. We were going for it! Before the start of the penalty shoot outs, Steve lined up 5 shots of Rakia, one for each successful goal. Thankfully he only had to drink two of them! The rest were donated to the Italian fans.

For a few days we had the delightful pleasure of Dorota and Waldemar, from Świnoujście, Poland. Świnoujście is a city and seaport on the Baltic Sea and Szczecin Lagoon, located in the extreme north-west of Poland. They live approximately seven miles from the border with Germany where they often like to take their dog for a walk. Using Google Conversation we enjoyed their company having a joint effort impromptu buffet yesterday afternoon, comparing maps and routes and drinks last night before their departure today (14th).

I was very keen to book an organised trip through the office for the two of us, our first! I chose the one for Lake Koman with a pick up of 8am last Friday – post to follow.

View From The Cockpit

We’ve ended up in one of the best campsites we have stayed on, if not the best. That was a total surprise, then we’ve driven some local roads, they’re not too bad, in fact it’s relatively good, as everybody drives slowly, and we have the car to cope with the more than occasional pothole.

When we set off there were some countries we wouldn’t have even considered visiting. Albania was top of that list. Well we’re here, thanks to R&S giving it a go, being the advance party, relaying back how simple the border crossing had been and the process of getting insurance. Other countries that were on our “No No” list have now been removed. We probably won’t get time to visit or do them justice this trip, but we’ll be back.

When I fish the local shepherd comes down to converse with me, well not exactly, I don’t understand one word he says, and similarly he does’t understand me. But we smile, gesticulate at each other, compare children (two fingers either hand, he has two boys and two girls, is catholic, very anti-communist, very proud to be Albanian, and absolutely petrified of dogs (Stella included !!) as he keeps telling me – at least that’s what I think he, is signalling? He has confirmed I am using the right bait and fishing in the right spot, although his preferred method of catching carp is to wade knee deep, and hit them on the head with a stick apparently. I’ll take him a beer down tonight, as we watch the sheep graze, my inactive rods and the sun set behind the mountain.