ALBANIAN RESIDENCY AND KORCE

10 November 2009 ALBANIAN RESIDENCY AND KORCE
Yesterday, we went to the police to set in motion procedure for official residency status. Introduced individually, the police official responded to me - "Ah! Dublin -how are you?" Then we were invited to take a seat - desks had been vacated. About to begin, he said to me - "You are now my Chief of Police" my choice of an ordinary chair placed me briefly in this exalted position! A little later we left, each with forms to complete and "homework" for completion in our countries of origin.

KORCE, with its 70,000+ population has a 'normal' city centre with wide streets and a busy market every day. One difference, there are NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS nor are there traffic police, plus a very high volume of cars. Everyone just keeps moving and all seems to be well! We live near the centre but in a much older part - all cobble-stoned and without footpaths; roads are just wider than the car so its an exercise in patience for pedestrians and endurance for the car!

At 800 metres above sea-level we have surprisingly mild weather since Wednesday last, with almost continuous rain. Clouds shut out all but nearby mountains and there is water everywhere. This evoked a humorous comment as we carefully stepped from the car to the police station yesterday - "We had expected they would send a Government Minister from Tirana to open our "LAKE SEASON"!
I'll finish with an amended version of our address - Motrat te Bariut te Mire, 17 Rruga "Gavril Pepo", Lagjia 3, KORCE, 7000 Albania.
Cheers!