At first it felt like a new adventure for me, however my relationship with the sea (and perhaps especially with the south of Albania) is a long one. Years ago, I would spend 2-3 months of the summer on one of the southern coasts. My entire summer was spread over less than 600 m², and yet it was peaceful. It was by the sea.
About six years later, this very summer I decided to spend a month in Himara. The whole feeling of this experience is difficult to describe in words, so in this article I will try to share only pieces of it.
To secure accommodation, I volunteered at one of the best hostels. The first challenge? Organizing the clothes and everything else I had brought with me. Since I was driving, I took everything with me: bass, bike, camping tent and so on. The system I cam up was as follows: every week I took the necessary clothes from the suitcase I kept in the car, while I washed the ones from the previous week and put them back in the suitcase. That way I didn’t need much space for clothes in the room I shared with 5 other volunteers from the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
Every day was like the previous. The variations were small, however they were welcomed as another adventure in itself. The work was very simple: four hours a day I helped with the housework. Life in the hostel is like living in a big family. The age difference with the other volunteers (and especially the guests) gave me the role of the older sister to some extent. My main task was the complete process of washing, drying and folding the sheets. If followed properly, this whole process only took 15 minutes, every 45 minutes. 15 minutes of work and meditation in the fresh air.
Years ago, I worked remotely and had no commitments outside of my laptop during the months I spent in the south. I think this time, it was precisely the volunteer work that gave a different meaning to my day by the sea. It made me embrace the idea that I was really living there more quickly.
The beach hours were either at 08:00 in the morning or at 18:30 in the afternoon. During the beach hours, in addition to sunbathing and a few stand-up paddle rides, I read, listened to music and completed crossword puzzles.
Books that gave this experience a little of their flavor included:
Dolls Without a Homeland – Flutura Açka
A Very Easy Death – Simone de Beauvoir
Free – Lea Ypi
Laughable Loves – Milan Kundera
Most of the time I tried to cook for myself. The hostel kitchen, although modest, had all the necessary utensils to prepare a variety of dishes. The fruit salad with honey was always in the menu. I have cooked lentils, quinoa, pasta, donuts, meat with salad and other simple dishes.
I managed to integrate about an hour of exercise, twice a week. The structure was: 45 minutes of “circuit” and 15 minutes of abs. Since the 13th Edition of the Labeat Triathlon was on the horizon, I trained in swimming 2-3 times a week. Then, I added running and cycling, on average once a week I went out for a 5K run or 10-20 km bike ride. The most beloved physical activity was the Yoga sessions. Although they ranged from 15 to 60 minutes, the nature and fresh air made those sessions feel magical.
Himara is an easy destination to visit and offers opportunities for everyone. Not to mention the numerous public beaches and the cold water of Potami. I had friends visiting me all the time. Rarely did more than three days pass without someone making the trip from Tirana. It was precisely the daily activities and visits from friends that never left me feeling lonely, on the contrary. I am an introvert, and life in a hostel, with new people around all the time, could be tiring for me. However, I certainly managed to make new friends during my stay at the coast.
Creating a new, somewhat solitary routine by the sea gave me a clearer picture of my desires and needs, opening up new horizons. Being close to nature helps to strengthen new perspectives regarding what is important and what makes us truly happy. During the days in Himara, many of my doubts and dilemmas were answered naturally, simply resolved. Perhaps, a simple life and the concept of sufficiency can really bring about a profound change in oneself.
