2022/04/21, day 19, The Lake Restaurant

Left Montenegro and entered Albania, no internet although Giffgaff 20p/mb.

Having downloaded offline maps for p4n, Acsi etc we could find stops.

We tried a few stops on the way near the beach but unmade, rather unfinished roads and no other vans put us off, such wusses. It was still quite early and light, but we saw very few other motorhomes in Albania.

Found via p4n, a stop with restaurant near a lake, we did not want a meal but felt obligated as they look closed and then opened up when we parked up. Interesting meal, with sour cream, deep fried battered bread, Greek salad, feta, oiled bread, bifsteca, and lamb, med wine and a few beers 28€

Toilet disgusting wee everywhere men and women’s , but we ate well and it is a lovely setting. Good find.

Price: free
No services but water available on request
Stay Again? Y
Why? Nice stop, ok food take LEK, very peaceful, lovely setting.

{Location: The Lake Restaurant, coords: 40.69386627,19.51794147}

2022/04/15, day 13, Vi-Vin Saskida d.o.o. & Ingrid Saskida sp.

Left Italy heading for Slovenia, before we knew it we had crossed the border. Had meant to fill up but was over border so quick missed chance. Good job as paid 1.54€ ?. So far Slovenia is cheap and very pleasant.

Vineyard winery campsite with tents and campers not great for anything longer than 7.5m

The meal was 8 courses, 7 wines, 4 hours and 78€ so not cheap. Everything was very nice different although it was very slow especially if the course was warm but it was slow. Without the bread we would both have left hungry?. Glad we did it wouldn’t do it again, the ingredients were good and it was very well cooked but I would have preferred a 3 course menu rather than 8. Highlights salmon and sausage dishes, pinot Gris and rose wines.

Price: 20€
Water, Waste, EHU, WC, Showers, Laundry
Stay Again? Maybe
Why? Nice but awkward access, restaurant pricey but hopefully nice.{Location: Vi-Vin Saskida d.o.o. & Ingrid Saskida sp., coords: 45.88997828,13.74732971}

78€ the price is missing ?
Pork scratchings, butter tomato powder chick pea poppodum
Best dish salmon cured, wasabi mayo
Sausage, polenta foam, berbera wine sauce

Praia de Mira

Woke late, the only sounds all night were the crashing waves no dogs, cars or anything else. I think we got up at about 10:00.Bit overcast and only 17c but by 11:00 it was 18c so heading Inthe right direction. We decide bike ride not sure where. Whilst get sorted Jacqui slipped on the bottom step and fell over hurting her foot, bottom and arm. After a vigorous interrogation we decide a bike ride was just what she needed.The bikes proved easy to get out and setup, really pleased with them. Set off and found a cycled oath around the lake right on our campsite entrance so headed off away from town thinking we would head back and stop later.The lake was great, by now no clouds sunny and warm so just shorts, t-shirt and sandles. Scooted round the lake and then around the town stopping for a coffee and beer at a beach side cafe we had spotted the day before.Then headed off thinking to find somewhere open to eat, lots of places open but none appealed either no idea what the menu was or a bit too shabby or shadey or empty. Decide to head back to van for lunch, but passed Cannes III bar, looked inviting so stopped to make our day had a lateish lunch. The waiter described the weather as typical of Portugal, Autumn in the morning, Summer in the afternoon and Winter at night, it didn’t drop below 17 last night ?, this was prompted by us ordering a Green Wine , Vinho Verde with our lunch which is a summer drink ? dontcha know!!

Enjoying a quick catch up and pinhole check in the shade while Jacqui starts a new book.

Laithwaites wine offers

Often get letters from Laithwaites or one of the other wine clubs offering this that and something else generally bin them as wine is overpriced, unknown and he offers invariably involve signing up to a plan.

But this offer caught my eye, the wine in it looked familiar and although the initial discounted price was about 6.99 per bottle they had a 20.00 discount code, plus an extra bottle for 12, 40.00 for 24 bottles and 2 bottles free.  This meant 26 bottles for 127.76 or 4.92 a bottle and wine I know I like.

Grabbed a browser and ordered, the basket accepted the code and all completed.  Wine arrived 2 days later, but only 24 bottles no free gift. Bollox, contacted customer service via the website as probably just and oversight, the sage went like this.

  • Offer received and ordered  20.04.17
  • Contacted nicely saying no received free gift.
  • Reply ‘we have ran out 19.4,17 sending a 10.00 voucher.
  • I replied saying why have an offer for something that you have already run out of, not reasonable.
  • No response.
  • Phone explained issue, representative stated t&c’s cover this and they have run out.  I explained that the wine on the offer us available to order on their web site.  Thats a different wine and the offer you used started beginning of April, also one of the wines is out if stock.
  • Explained not happy and would like a proper written explanation.
  • Received email requedtinbni forward them a copy of the offer email, which I did.
  • Still poised off, I started trying to find offer t&c’s, on the web nothing other than offer still valid.  But in the delivery a full copy of terms and the offer, totally contradicting what they had told me.
  • Back on the phone straight away, another rep, more useful, after an internal debate agrees to send the gift bottles and extra to say sorry.  Very happy with result.
  • 3 bottles and an apology arrived the next day.
  • The next day the 10.00 discount voucher arrived.
  • The following day another 2 free bottles

So moral is complain and read terms.