06 From natural spa 'Banjat e Benjës' to Permët

This is the sixth part of a series describing my hike from Bogova to Gjirokastra. Most of the single parts can also be hiked separately when you can manage the transportation.

This part is an easy walk all the time quite close to civilisation.
In fact you could even go with a furgon (mini bus) from Banjat e Benjës to Permët.

Walk

Since going directly to Permët would be too easy and I suspected another Ottoman bridge to discover I went from Banjat e Benjës first to the small village of Benjë-Novoselë before heading to Permët.

From the northern end of Ura e Kadiut (Kadiut bridge) I took the path going uphill before it went parallel but above the valley of the Lengarica.
Having walked just 900 metres and before continuing on a track I passed the remains of a destroyed bunker - this wouldn't be the last I'd see today.

After having reached the main track to Benjë-Novoselë I walked it only some dozen metres before turning right again. Soon I saw that I had guessed correctly that an Ottoman bridge would be here.

Having photographed it verbosely from all sides I started the ascent to the village on a seemingly very old paved footway. At some parts it was partly washed away. Also smoothness isn't an attribute one wouldn't mention with this way but it was fascinating.

In the village I walked around the church, peeked inside through a window and walked on. I didn't want to disturb the roofer and wasn't in the mood of a conversation.

Going the main road back was neither a task for orientation nor hiking skills. After having reached the asphalted road which connects Banjat e Benjës with the highway to Petran walking didn't get more difficult. A little diversion I had by a pair from New York which walked to the natural spa.

On the asphalted road are one café and two restaurants which I did not visit.

From the bridge at Petran I looked at the junction of the river Lengarica with the Vjosa (Greek: Aoos) before I entered the village.
Asking for a shop for food didn't give a positive reply - the next I'd find in Permët. So I stuck with the bar at which I asked with a beer, a juice, a water and some packed ëmbëlsirë for this rest.

After crossing the Vjosa on the intact swing bridge I had just to follow the unpaved but smooth track. It passes fields and meadows - with some solitaire rocks between them, on the right once a nicely placed tidy little graveyard.

To the front and the left the mountain range of Nemërçka and Dhëmbel is a beautiful background for the landscape. The only hardness is the sun which shines quite warmly while there are rarely trees along the track.

Soon I reach the outskirts of Permët and while entering the town pass the building where in 1944 the National Liberation Movement held an historical congress. While walking to the centre I pass enough stores at which I can refill my stock of food and non-water drinks.