Shkodër Castle sits high on a hill overlooking the city and the surrounding countryside. A steep climb up in the van deposits us outside the gate and then we walk up on a very uneven slippery rock path. Like the rest of the fortresses we have seen, it has Illyrian roots, with Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods. What remains is mostly the outer walls and some parts of buildings. The impressive part about this fortress is the view of the countryside.
I chuckle reading the description of the church ruins. In the 6th century it was this, in the 13th century it was that, in the 15th century it was another thing and then in 1910 it burned down due to a munitions explosion.
On the way to Tirana, we stop at Krujë to go to the Old Bazaar, a craft market. Don’t know why it didn’t dawn on me that it was a tourist trap. Yup, tons of tourists there, and what looks like a couple of local school groups. I still enjoy strolling down the narrow lane looking at the local crafts, antiques and kitchzy souvenirs.
Tonight we are in Tirana. Tomorrow we board a plane and when we deplane we will be in Morocco. See you on the other side.