In the eye of the beholder: to Albania and back

This is the first picture I took of the little town of Ksamil, Albania. I have to admit, I wasn't all that excited after spending more than 17 hours packed in a car with seven other people. The journey had been long and, judging by this view, a waste of time.
We had gone all that way (over 1000 km) because the beaches there were supposed to be terrific. Instead of the paradise I was expecting, I was greeted by a rundown little town in ruins. After all, it was a bit shocking to go from the flower-filled garden of the hotel to the grim outside.

A fault of mine is I have a short temper and by the time I checked in, I was already fuming because of the long road, the trouble we'd had with the car and the sad reception...
But I tried to cool off. I kept telling myself I would be there for the next five days, so I might as well enjoy it. And through that simple logic, everything changed.

The time I spent there was wonderful. So much so that when the time came to leave, I did so with a heavy heart. I would've stayed another three days. Or thirty.

Ksamil is a wonderful little town. Have you ever imagined a writer's hideaway? It's that place. It had everything you need, it's quiet, it's peaceful (or it was, while we were there). You can go swimming or sunbathe on the gorgeous beaches, when you need a break. It's what I did. I've never been able to write elsewhere than in front of my laptop or my phone, but on that beach, I spent hours deep in my little notebook, telling the stories I'd been fighting so hard to find a voice for.

It's really nice. You can take a walk to clear your head. You can spend an hour on the balcony, watching the sun set over the small town. You can find peace. You can find yourself. By the last day, I was already plotting my return.
I like to think there's a little of that place in the stories I wrote while there. I like to think I take a little of every place I visit.

Naturally, at the end of my stay, I was shocked at the difference in attitude. Where I had been dying to leave, I was now half in love with the place. I guess it really is all in a state of mind.
And I suppose we do shape the world that surrounds us.
It taught me to take a plunge on things ;)