Some trips are planned down to the smallest detail — and some take on a life of their own. It’s usually the latter that turn into your favorite campfire stories or blog posts.
I ended up in Albania almost by accident. My Balkan itinerary was mapped out for the week, but the bus from Ohrid broke down, and I found myself in a small town called Pogradec. There were almost no tourists, but there was a shimmering lake in the evening sun and benches where elderly men in wool vests played dominoes.
I was wandering along the waterfront when a woman in her fifties approached me. Without speaking a word of English, she gestured for me to follow her somewhere. Normally, I’m cautious with such invitations, but her smile was so warm that I decided to take the risk.
Twenty minutes later, I was sitting at a long garden table laden with homemade dishes: baked eggplants, cheese-filled flatbreads, and piles of grapes. People were laughing, hugging, and live music played in the background. It turned out to be her nephew’s wedding, and “the new friend from far away” was automatically part of the celebration.
I didn’t understand a single word, but the language of smiles and toasts is the same everywhere. I danced, sipped sweet wine from tiny glasses, and caught myself thinking: this is exactly why I travel.
The next morning, as I left on the first bus, I knew I’d probably never see these people again. But the memory of that evening still warms me more than the sunniest of destinations.
Lesson? Sometimes it’s worth stepping off your planned route. You never know where a spontaneous “yes” might lead.