Beach Day

This past Thursday, Agron and Vitori took us to Durres for a beach day on the Adriatic Sea. First of all, let me say that I got up on time and was there at the bus station on time. I know some of you doubted me. ;) Haha!

We had about an hour bus ride to Durres. However, we weren't at the beach yet. We had to take a second bus to get to the stop that was close to Vitori's brother's apartment. He has an apartment in a gated community. It's made up of some apartment buildings (We would call them condos because they own their apartments.) that people use mostly during the summer season. Some people go there in the winter just to relax, but they're more busy in the summer. So it was very nice and it was a quiet and relaxing place. We got ready there and made sure we had everything we needed and then we walked to the beach.

I have finally seen it. I've seen it and I've swam in it. What is it? The Adriatic Sea!!! I love traveling. It is my favorite thing to do. As a kid, I would sit and look at maps and pictures of places and tell myself that one day I would see those things. And now I really am seeing those things! It's so awesome!!!

We were there on an absolutely beautiful day. We got there early to get a good spot. We had a little beach umbrella. It looked like a little tropical hut and was just too cute. :) We got chairs and set up our area. It was such a relaxing day! Agron had also promised Olsa, Neda, and Ledio that he'd take them to Durres for a beach day, but Olsa couldn't come so it was just Neda and Ledio with Emily, Agron, Vitori, and I. We had fun all day eating snacks (I tried figs. Yum!), reading magazines, getting coffee drinks, napping in the sun, walking along the edge of the sea, playing SkipBo and Uno, collecting shells, and taking pictures. We even rented a paddle boat so Emily and I paddled Neda and Ledio around. Ledio is a typical 15 year old boy--he thinks he's in charge all the time. So we had a little confrontation with him when it came to getting the boat and getting out in the water. But, God gave me a little brother who was that age once so I knew how to handle him. (See, David? Me bossing you around as a kid and learning to ignore annoying little boy behavior paid off. ;) lol You know I'm just kidding.)

The paddle boat ended up being a lot of fun because we took it out and then took turns jumping off of it into the water. It was so cool and refreshing. It wasn't cold, but it was the perfect temperature where you jump in and it's cool but as soon as you come back up to the surface, it's just the right temperature for you stay in the water. Ledio jumped first, then I wanted to join. Then Neda asked if I would help her since she doesn't swim well. Of course I said I would. It wasn't very deep. Only up to my shoulders, so she jumped a few times too. Then Emily gave in because it just looked like so much fun. Hee hee! We spent a half an hour with the boat and then had to take it back in.

When we were tired and sun burnt we went back to apartment. I think it was probably around 3pm by that time and we'd been there since probably 9:30am so it was a long, fun day. We changed and rinsed off back at the apartment and then left to catch a bus home. Emily and I were so tired when we got back that night! I didn't have enough energy to write this then. Then on Friday, I put all the pictures from the beach into an album. Here is the link to the album:

http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=125600102&k=55LU36S2U43M5FCGYK23RW

Click on the link and it will bring you to a page that tells about the album. Click on the title of the album, "Durres + The Adriatic Sea = BEACH DAY!!!", to see the pictures. It will also allow you to leave comments on the pictures. The pictures will help tell the story of the day including some of the interesting things (bunkers, a hill where Julius Ceaser fought a battle, donkeys, etc.) we saw and the toilet I had to use. The pictures just explain the whole day. Haha!

On Friday night Aida came over for a movie. We had lots of laughs and decided that on Monday morning she's going to help me buy a bike. Should be interesting. On Saturday we had church in the morning in Tirana. It was so much fun because there were 5 adults (that includes Emily and I), Neda and Ledio, and then 8 little kids. :) They were singing their little hearts out and it was just so cute! They were so happy to be there. It just helped motivate us even more to do our job and get people into the church. And kids are a good place to start! Then they learn from little on how important it is to keep close to God.

After that service, Olsa came over to our house for the afternoon. She had missed communion the week before but the church in Durres was having communion that day and their service is at 5pm. We were going to go along with Pastor and he had room for her, too. So we ate lunch, found clothes and jewelry for her to wear and played dress up. Haha! It was pretty fun. Then we went to Durres for church.

That congregation is very different from Tirana. It's bigger, but the people are very different. Instead of being younger people and kids, it's old people mostly. And I couldn't help laughing on the way home because they talk all through the service. They just sit there and whisper. And three different cell phones went off. And during the offering, they played "Joy To The World." Not that it was bad--quite the opposite since it's my favorite Christmas song. I enjoyed it. I just wasn't expecting to hear it in September. But, hey, we should remember the Christmas message all year round, shouldn't we?

After that, a few people stayed for a brief Bible discussion so Mrs. Ahlers, Emily, Olsa and I walked down the street and got ice cream while we waited for Pastor. He said we didn't have to stay because the class is in Albanian so we wouldn't have understood it and having so many English speakers there would just distract the people. So we figured we were helping them more by not being there for that. Then we came home. Emily and I decided to go to Taiwani to get dinner.

On our way there, we realized there was some big soccer game going on. How could we tell this? Well, besides the people dressed up crazily and cars flying the Albanian flag and honking, every bar kafe was full and had a TV on with a game. People even brought TVs out into the streets and were gathering to watch. At Taiwani, they had a big screen with the game projected on it. It wasn't even the national team playing, it was two Albanian teams. I can't wait to see what it's like when the national team plays!

Anyway, we had an awesome dinner. Good food, (salad and a vegetarian pizza and dessert) fun atmosphere, and great conversation. We had lots of laughs and just sat there for a long time enjoying ourselves. It was very fun.

This morning we had English church at the Ahlers house and Vitori joined us. Emily and I shared the keyboard playing responsibilities. (We're a little rusty. Yikes! But in our defense we didn't get the order of service and hymns until we were on our way to dinner last night.) Mrs. Ahlers had made coffee cake for dessert. It was a cinnamon one, which is one of my favorite flavors, and it was super tasty! We all stayed and chatted for a long time, but then headed our separate ways. Emily and I are headed back there tonight. We have a standing "date" for dinner and game night at their place on Sundays. I've come to love it and will miss it when they're back in the States.

So that brings you up to speed on the happenings here in Albania. Well, at least from my point of view. ;) I'm doing very well and am learning new words every day. I'm learning to distinguish between their letter sounds. I've now pretty much mastered the "l" and the "ll" so I'm excited about that. Little by little, or as they say, "pak nje pak" (pr. pahk nee-ya pahk).