The Luxury of Being Here

25.52 miles | Total: 12,440.42 miles

I got up just before 6am. Right on time, at 6, Luan brought my breakfast to the room. What a service. Yesterday he had asked what time I’d like breakfast, and when I said 6, he didn’t even blink. Later, I also mentioned that I’m vegetarian, mainly to avoid food waste. And wow—what arrived was something truly special.

I’m usually not much of a breakfast eater, but this felt different. An incredible spread, most of it clearly house made. Excellent sauerkraut, strawberry jam, some pastry, and to top it all off, warm fresh milk. Simple, nourishing, and deeply homely. What a way to start the day.

I packed my things and when I left, I must have thanked Luan about a hundred times. Vila Kasemi in Levan—I can only recommend it to anyone ever close by. It’s phenomenal. And like everywhere I’ve experienced so far in Albania, the hospitality is tremendous.

When I thanked Reina yesterday for their kindness, she messaged back saying it’s in their genes. And yes, I agree—but I would even make the case that it’s in all of our genes. Some of us have simply forgotten it, or lost touch with it. What a difference it makes when we treat each other with this level of care and respect. It reminded me so much of the kindness and generosity I experienced in India. Thank you, Luan, for making me feel so welcome—and so at home.

I left the hotel and got ready on the sidewalk. Then, as if on cue, a horse carriage passed by. I smiled even more and started to run.

The first couple of miles were a bit tricky—narrow road, quite heavy morning traffic—but even then, I could already sense that it would be a beautiful day. The sun rose and I could feel its warmth on my body. I love that feeling.

I went through Fier, a slightly larger town, and what a gift it is to walk and run through a place as the day unfolds. People going about their daily lives—sitting in cafés, meeting, chatting, enjoying. I try to stay cautious with my steps while also taking in the beauty around me. Smiles were flying today. And of course, when I greet people and show respect, it’s universal: people want to be seen. They want to be acknowledged.

Today I thought often that even if I had nothing, I would still have so much—knowing that love, kindness, and generosity are everywhere. Connecting with other human beings without words, just through gestures, feels unbelievably profound to me. It shows the interconnectedness of everything and our shared humanity. The divisions we so often believe in exist mostly in our preconceptions and prejudices, not in reality.

What if we all experienced a loving act from someone we were initially uncomfortable with?

I don’t know. These thoughts accompanied me throughout the day, alongside deeper reflections about time—how many days I’ve been alive, and what that really means. 16,482 days. 2,354 weeks. 541 months. Time is precious. But neither the time that has passed nor the time ahead is as important as the present moment, right now.

I’m deeply thankful. Grateful for taking this time for myself—to understand myself better, to create more space for everything I feel and think, without being overwhelmed by it. It’s a learning journey within this running journey, within the bigger journey of life.

Before reaching the hotel, I ran through Lushnjë and picked up a few things—milk, yoghurt, beans, and water. Once I arrived, I checked in and started to work. An easy, gentle wellbeing day. A lot of being. A lot of thinking. And a lot of feeling good.

Thanks for checking in, Andrea