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  Sorrento, Italy
Sunday, July 17, 2005

Hello...we are now in Sorrento, Italy. We haven't been able to blog for a week so lots to tell. It has been a phenomenal week...so much contrast and, as usual, many funny and humorous things that only seem to happen to us.

Last Sunday we went to an Evangelical Church where one of Glenn and Sandy's student is the pastor. It is a small community. Service consisted of introductory music, a long preaching session and more music. As we entered the gathering they were playing music from Michael W. Smith...really weird. Hervin, the pastor, assigned one of the community to translate for us. He said that if the preaching was bad that the problem would be with the translation...ha, ha!

It is very hot in Tirana...if my celsius calculation is accurate between 95 and 105 each day. The shade is tolerable, the sun is oppressive. We decided to get some exercise and walk back the compound. We basically went from air conditioned place to air conditioned place as we worked our way home. Glenn suggested a short-cut (I just knew in my gut that this was going to be a problem), so we started up a hill through a beautiful park that he believed would cut over to the road we needed to go up to get home. Once in the park, there were forks and forks off he road and we slowly but surely got lost. Darkness was not setting in yet, so we were ok, but the gnashing of teeth and complaining I heard was more than one man can take. Anyway, we ended up going up the hill, then back down and finally up the big road to the compound...a pretty detour, but we didn't need this in such hot weather.

Every meal we have seems to be a grand celebration. We are treated like kings. The food is not only good, it's relatively cheap and the presentation is amazing. We've started taking pictures of the food when delivered.

Monday is another work day for me at the clinic run by Bethany in the city. I'll admit it right now...I've fallen madly in love with one of the social workers (go figure) at the clinic. Her name is Mira...she is beautiful...her personality is wonderful. She has been doing translation for the past two days to her 3 conterparts at the clinic. So, imagine doing computer training through an interpreter!!!....what a kick!!! Sandy and I have already discussed Mira and my passionate relationship. She is convinced that this is all in my mind...oh well, I do have pictures.

We've had a change of plan. It's called an OBTW (Oh, by the way). We will actually be leaving Tirana early on Wednesday night instead of Saturday. We've got tickets.

Tuesday and Wednesday I worked again at the clinic and compound...many more stories but not now. Sandy and Glenn trained the social workers (about 50) at the compound. Wednesday night we have the grande, grande meal with David, Melba, Agim and Marita. The restaurant we ate in was 4-star place. I ordered "beef on a stone" which is thin beef steak served on a very hot stone with condiments and oil. You turn the meat and cook it at your place...very good.

We got a ride to Durres to the ferry station. Unfortunately, we got there about 8PM for an 11PM departure. Our stateroom, maybe shack, maybe postage stamp, or something else very small was a real hoot. We had bunk beds and bathroom about the size of a spacious minivan. I had to go outside for Sandy to shower...there was simply no room. The ferry ended up leaving 1/2 hour late. We tried to sleep, but not a chance. As you might tell, this was not the high point of our trip.

We arrived in Bari, Italy about 8AM next morning. Taxi to airport to pick up car...very fast..you would have thought that I was a member of the Executive club. We travelled back roads to Paestum, site of greek ruins for the rest of the day. Italy is simply exquisite. We have not hit the hill towns of Umbria or Tuscany yet...I can't imagine anything more beautiful.

We have left Albania behind, but we do have many fond memories and close friends (lot of email addresses). We learning few words during our stay, actually on four. Fallaminderit (thank you), po (yes), yo (no) and mer (pronounced mirror, means good, used for everything and most heard word). We also learned that you do not shake your head for a yes or no. Shaking your head means "yes" whether side to side or up and down. You can probably imagine the kind of trouble that we got into with this one.

Many other stories to share but not a lot of time. I will tell you one more about our first meal in Italy. We were eating on the Mediterranean Sea in the late evening. Our waiter was very personable (I think Sandy used the term "drop dead gorgeous"). The setting was very infatuating I have to admit. After he discussed the specials and menu in general, he paused, locked his gaze on Sandy and said "when I look in your eyes, I see paradise" and smiled. Sandy melted, forgot what she ordered. Probably didn't care what she ordered, only that he bring it to her. Oh well, I'm now sure that we are in Italy.

We are now in Sorrento. Went down the Amalfi coast yesterday by bus and back by boat...hard to describe. We bussed to Ravello, a town on a cliff and walked back to Amalfi. Got a little, ok a lot, lost on our way. The weather was 100+ and no shade. We ended up flagging down a bus. I have learned now that we are not as young as we used to be. How do you spell heat stroke?

We are now offically 1/2 way through our travels. Today, we went to mass at the local Franciscan church. Presider was a friar from Galway, Ireland. He is here for the summer, but teaches at a high school in Dublin. No time to describe church, but it is a tourist attractions with frescos, etc. one being of Francis at the cross with Jesus. By the way we both have cameras. I'm about 350 into a capacity of about 900. Sandy has about half mine, so many photos to take. I'm not sure at this time what we are going to do with her 176 photos of the waiter above, but I'm not pushing at this time.

We miss every one of you and now know how long 3 weeks away is much less the additional three total. We are truly having the time of our life. We think about you every day and wish you were here.

Peace and all good,

Sandy and Murray



p.s. For those that may be interested, we found and took a picture of a restaurant called "HEAVEN" on our drive to Sorrento. Unfortunately, we couldn't eat there (wrong time of day) and it was closed. We decided to walk in the Mediterranean instead right there.

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