Ode to Alex's iPod...

I have not mentioned in the past the savior that is my little brother's castaway iPod. It has helped me endure the 5 hour bus ride from Haridwar, India to Corbett Tiger reserve(also in India) when the bus was filled to capacity before the driver managed to fit an additional 30 people in the aisle and the road was so bumpy we hit our heads on the roof with every pothole and little hill in the road. Did I mention everyone was smelly and these two creepers were staring at me? After about thirty minutes I remembered the iPod in my backpack. I really had forgotten about it for the first month of our trip. I guess I was saving it for the most crucial moments. Well I put the headphones on from the back seat of the bus and sang as loud as I could for the next 4 hours to any and every song that Alex had programmed into that amazing contraption. People could barely hear me because the noise level on the bus was so high but it sure felt good. I did have some old ladies staring at me but I just closed my eyes and kept on singing.

Then there was the time when I was taking the overnight train from Corbett to Delhi and this guy in our cabin snored the whole night through and I had to hit his shoulder every 30 minutes just to get him to turn over and stop for a moment while I tried to force myself to sleep. Any of my friends who snore or snored in the past, Karoly, Arielle, may remember that I have zero tolerance for loud breathers and midnight snorers. Anyhow, finally when I thought I would have to sleep in the bathroom (disgusting)I remembered the iPod, popped it on and rocked out to Eric Clapton and Shakira's 'Grandes Exitos' until 6 the next morning while the horrible snoring man next to me slept peacefully.

As the weeks went on and the situations got more and more 'trying' as they like to say, I turned to the iPod with greater enthusiasm and each and every time it got me through the 12 hour bus ride or snoring man or crabby boyfriend or bumpy road or overnight train and for this I give many thanks.

So for a quick update, currently we are in amazing, fabulous, beautiful, undiscovered Albania. I love it. It is an incredible country with equally incredible and resilient people. The Mediterranean has nothing on Albania's coastline and the mountains are serene and peaceful and thirty different shades of green. We have been welcomed with open arms and after ten days it is just too soon to leave. We began after our ferry ride from Italy to Durres and then headed to Berati with a beautiful hillside castle and gorgeous old homes in the hills. Then we took the bus to Gjirokastra and stayed in the old village up in the hills. We also walked around their old fort/castle that was from the 4th century BC. The following day we hiked into the hills (that looked like a scene out of the Sound of Music) and mingled with the sheep, cows, goats, and townspeople. Incredible people with fabulous stories. These people have seen a lot in their lifetimes and they have managed to keep smiles on their faces and warmth in their hearts. After Gjirokastra we headed to Sarande a popular beach resort that was filled with 20 year olds looking for a good time. It was fun although we didn't spend much time at the beach. We instead headed out for day trips to Butrinti to check out their archeological excavations and look at old Greek theaters, castles (again, but Matt's in heaven), artifacts, old mosaics, and basilicas. After a couple of evenings strolling on the promenade in Sarande we headed to the incredible town of Himara where I am today. The water here is the best I have seen in a long time. Thailand has better sand and warmer water but I must say nothing I have seen in Europe in a long time or India, looks anything like this. The town is practically empty from tourists except for a few Albanians form up North. It is all locals and it is a small and perfect place. I am in heaven and will gladly soak up the sun for the next couple of days before we head to Greece.

Speaking of Greece we leave for Athens on Wednesday and we are debating whether to take the twelve hour bus leaving from Himara at 5am or the 12 hour bus leaving at 4pm. Either way I know I'll have issues sleeping and will probably feel carsick but I also know that I've got the iPod. Alex's castaway when the newer model came out. The little piece of technology that is keeping me sane during times of distress. I'm not going to guarantee that it will keep me rocking for the entire 12 hour ride but I do know that it will be a nice pick me up for a girl who does not do well on bus rides and it will keep me going when I need it and that is all I can ask for. Thank you Alex... I love you and congrats for almost finishing high school! 1 more month to go!
Lots of love!!
H & M