Each year the Club organises for members a mystery trip to a secret location to enjoy fellowship, good food and drink and the possibility of learning a little about another country or city. The unique point about the trip is that the destination is kept totally secret to everyone but the organisers until we’re on the bus to the airport, though we are given some indication of climate and currency in advance.
Well where did we go to on 20th April? Answer – Albania.
It’s not often that one puts three days of your life totally in the hands of another but trip organisers, Alan Peaford and Steve Mahoney, had everything meticulously covered for us. Through bulk purchase and advance booking, the cost of the trip is kept low.
The destination was certainly was a surprise but it turned out to be an inspired location for the trip. Alan had spoken to the local Rotary Club who had given us restaurant and excursion recommendations and off we went. We spent two days in the exploring the capital Astana and a third day, on our way back to the airport, we dropped into the beach resort of Durres on the ‘Albanian Riviera’. We had walks around Astana, exploring its Communist past, admiring its modern architecture and visiting two of the countries 700 underground bunkers where we saw the lengths to which the regime went to in locking down the country and interrogating those that wanted their freedom, which was sobering but interesting.
Particular highlights were, two delicious local restaurants meals which catered for all 22 of us, an open top guided bus tour of the City and trip to the top of the revolving Sky Tower with panoramic views of the city. On the last day we persuaded our coach driver to pick us up early and drop off at Durres for the rest of the day. Clearly the place has a long way to go before it approaches ‘Riviera’ standards but it was nice to stroll along the beach and have a delicious fish meal in one of the many seafront restaurants before driving to the airport and home having all really enjoyed ourselves and experienced some true Rotary fellowship.
Many thanks to Alan Peaford and Steve Mahoney for organising the trip – I wonder where we are going next year?
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