Gjirojastër is a beautiful town. I am excited to rent a car from here because that means that I will get to return. Serendipitously, there will be a cultural festival in Gjirojastër when I return!

The car rental man copied my driver’s license and drafted up a contract. I softly haggled the price saying that I didn’t need a new car or a big car, and that I am good to drive a manual. We ended up with 30,000 lek for 8 days. He paid me back 1,000 in change so maybe I successfully haggled a bit, or maybe I was just confused. Regardless, I had a car for the next 8 days! YAY!

The contract said that I would return the car on the 29th. I reminded the man that actually the 30th was 8 days out, not the 29th. He said of course that was fine, but didn’t scribble anything on the contract about it. So we had a written agreement amended by a verbal agreement.

I noticed there was no rearview mirror. The car rental man said the last renter ruined it, and that the replacement mirror was coming from Greece. I was then offered the opportunity to switch to a different car that “ran okay but made a strange noise”. I opted to keep with the original, mirror-less car. I paid no deposit on the car.

There was no insurance option. My travel insurance says they would cover certain damages if I exchanged information with the other driver, filed a police report, and notified the rental company. Insurance assumes that the other driver has a license; they might not. Just in case, I requested a copy of the rental contract, but the plan is to not get in any wrecks!

I stalled the car on the way out of the rental lot. Otherwise, it has been smooth sailing – except for the few times I have forgotten to turn off the handbrake.

A car = FREEDOM!

With a car, I can go anywhere, and I can stop anywhere!

With a car, I can pull off at any lookout point I like.

With a car, I can camp anywhere.

With a car, I can go to lesser visited beaches.

With a car, I can fill up my water bottle with fresh, cold, spring water.

With a car, I can enjoy the morning at a cafe sipping espresso on the side of the road.

With a car, I can stop at a charming restaurant in a sleepy village.

I can travel as fast as I want, as slow as I want, wherever I want!

I wasn’t going to originally rent a car. I planned to stick to the busses and mini busses, but I am SO grateful for this week with the car.

Driving has not been scary. When I get nervous due to a winding road, a steep incline, an unpaved path, or traffic, as long as I go slowly, everything is good.

I’m enjoying all the views!

Here are some views from the journey; the terrain changes so quickly.

I am listening to the radio a lot. I’ve heard at least Albanian, Italian, Spanish, Greek, French, English. There’s quite a mix! Here are some of the songs I like from my travels so far.