Kalive Gjoka Travel Guide

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On the way to Saranda, the landscape is magnificent. From time to time, the road overlooks the sea with occasional flocks of sheep and goats grazing. Lanes or narrow roads lead to the sea with tempting secluded beaches. For someone staying for a while in the area, there would be plenty to visit and explore within a short distance. We hope to come back for a more in depth visit.

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Favorite thing: This is what happens to illegally built houses ! I have seen several of them and when a house has been built illegally, the authorities do not destroy it entirely but pull one or several pillars, which makes a significant part of the building to fall down. It is let as a warning or a reminder to others!

Is that the house that I had shot in 2007 ? May be but I am not sure.

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Favorite thing: In 1988, not surprisingly, Ksamili gave a very different figure! On the first photo, small three levels building were the home for farmers that kept their horses around. Sorry, I meant, “that kept the community horses they were in charge around”!

The second photo shows the Sea Eagle, an hotel and restaurant where we had a drink in 1988. VT Illumina identified it under that name as she lived there for a few weeks in 2002 when digging archeological sites in Butrint. I would have been pleased to see it in 2007 but, in what was now such a large town, that would have be too time consuming for our schedule and we had more exciting places to visit!

The third photo shows the view on the islands.

Favorite thing: Building is not only for residential but religious buildings are also built. This, apparently Orthodox Church, was just finished building. In the south of Albania, there is a Greek speaking minority but there is also a small percentage (10% ?) of the Albanian community that is Orthodox. It should be remained that, due to several historical features and contrary to neighboring ex-Yugoslavia, the religious belonging is not a matter of dispute.

For the Greeks, Ksamili is named Hexamilion.

Favorite thing: We have not explored in depth the whole city, but when driving further in the city, some shops were already opened but there were also larger buildings (designed as future hotels?), that were still unfinished but workers were busy and they should very soon be available!

We had not planned to visit Ksamili as our goal of the day was Saranda and we did not go the beach.

I have read that an impressive huge tourist complex was to be built in Ksamili. It is shown on Ksamil tourist complex

I am writing this tip on July 28th and just found on the web the following information that I quote from IBCtoday.com:
Illegally built complex demolished, 26 Jul 2007

At the peak of the tourist season the police department on buildings has not stopped its operations. The means at its disposal have completely demolished an illegally built complex across Ksamili coast. According to the police the complex occupied 2.9 hectares of land without permission. The executives in this police department acknowledge that they will continue the operation on the demolition of other objects that have unjustly usurped surfaces meant for holiday makers.

Is that the same complex? I guess so!

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Favorite thing: Driving a little further, the sight was not different. It seemed that every individual was building a huge house for an entire, large family! That arises several questions: where did these people lived until now as no abandoned ancient apartment buildings can be seen? All this building frenzy involve a lot of money. Where does it come from, in a country with a low average income?

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Favorite thing: In May 2007, the arrival in Ksamili from the south (Butrint) was a surprise: the whole city was a gigantic building site. Large houses were building everywhere at the same time. In this part of the town (south), as far as one can gaze, there was not a single house that is finished, though some of them were already inhabited. An amazing sight!