Our new motorhome is paid for... and we think we will be using it next month!

Wednesday was moving day as we made our way from Korca to Pogradec. Not a long drive, only about 40 kms (25 miles). 

Pogradec is a small city with a population of about 21,000 people. It's located on the sandy shores of Lake Ohrid. The border between Albania and North Macedonia runs right through the lake, and we are only about 6 kms from the North Macedonia land border crossing.

Here is a map of where we are right at this moment...

You can zoom in or out as you choose.

Not a very exciting drive up through an agricultural area separated by two mountain ranges, but here are a few photos...

Hahaha... too funny.

But more seriously, that looks like hard work.

Scenery along the way.

We had no problem finding our apartment. When we got to the building, I didn't know where to park. Just to get off the road, I pulled down a lane beside the building, and into a spot where I would be out of the way. I went up to the front and our host was there waiting for us. He laughed, and said "You obviously know what you are doing, you parked in the spot that is reserved for you!"

Nice new building, and a new apartment with new furniture. Really well set up, and he's running the top floor as all short term rental apartments, and he's doing it right.

Fully equipped kitchen.

He stood there as Ruth went through the kitchen equipment and asked if there was anything else she needed. She mentioned one larger pot would be nice, and sure enough he went and got one right away.

Little balcony.

Great views.

It's a nice little studio apartment on the top floor of a 7 floor building. For 2,300 lek ($27.60 CAD, $22.70 USD, €18.80) per night we are really happy with it.

Yesterday was also a special day for us as we celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary. We made plans to go out for dinner, but when we arrived at the place of our choice, it was closed. We were a bit disappointed, but we will make an effort to go there another day because it looks really interesting. Instead we made a last minute second choice, and it turned out to be just okay.

Nice salad.

Grilled vegetables.

Grilled pork ribs.

The food was just okay, but the people were friendly including the Albanian who currently lives in Scotland who came over to help us and the waiter understand what we wanted to order!

For 2,500 lek ($30 CAD, $25 USD), including tip and a big beer and a big glass of wine and two shots of raki, it was a decent meal and we walked away full... it's just not what we were looking for.

We went for a walk along the lakefront. Lots of people out and about enjoying the evening,

This lone amusement ride was operating on the beach.

Now, onto the important news...

We have made the final payment on our new motorhome located in Germany. We have sent them the full total of €52,700 including tax. Because we have made payments over the last four months, they have been at a varying exchange rates. The total we shelled out in Canadian dollars came to $79,493 which is a little cheaper than the $82,000 we were expecting to pay. The Canadian dollar has strengthened versus the Euro since we made the decision to buy it. We only have yet to pay for the added extras... solar panels, upgraded batteries, oven, and bicycle rack which they have said we can do by Visa credit card when we arrive in Germany.

And when will we arrive in Germany?

Well that's the big question, isn't it?

Our new motorhome.

We are now very confident that we will be able to get into Germany when our time is up on June 15th. And in fact we are so confident that I am going to purchase flight tickets today for that date. Over the last two weeks we've been closely watching Europe make its plans to re-open, and of course we have been watching Germany the closest. Germany relaxed a whole bunch of restrictions yesterday, and while we still can't officially travel as tourists, they are getting there. They removed Albania as a risk country, and normally it takes about ten days after that for it to be recognized as an "unrestricted travel" country. Also, I found a loophole that would likely allow us to go there now. We could enter Germany as transit visitors with 72 hours allotted to leave the country. Canadians are welcome in Poland for tourism, and you don't have to quarantine if coming from another EU country. So we could arrive in Germany from Albania and we wouldn't have to quarantine. Then pick up the motorhome and drive to Poland where we would be home free.

But, we aren't going to rush things. We are quite happy staying here in Albania until June 15th. We have pretty much unrestricted freedom here, more so than we would in either Germany or Poland. And there are still things we want to see and do!

Today is a day of rest... although we have to refill our cell plan, get some groceries, and go for a walk on the lakefront.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nice deal on a Portable Suitcase Style 100 Watt RV Solar Panel.

And in Canada...

REESE Lovers Gift Box.