Category Archives: Albania

Balkan Ramblings 2

Posted on October 8, 2026 by murray

Dogs. There are stray dogs and cats in all of the cities and towns we have visited. Not over run with them but there are enough. Most people just put up with them. One of our guides told us that … Continue reading →

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Debbie’s Notes on the Balkans

Posted on October 8, 2026 by debbie

All through Albania, I am amused by the spelling of names and words. Our guide say that the Albanian language has 10 extra letters. Here are some examples: XAXIQI – my favorite Greek dish of tzatziki Librahzd – a town … Continue reading →

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Shkoder to Tirana

Posted on October 7, 2026 by debbie

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 … Continue reading →

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Kotor to Shkoder

Posted on October 6, 2026 by debbie

Budva is a city along the Montenegro coast. It also has an Old Town right on the water’s edge. It went through the usual Illyrian, Roman and Byzantine periods and then the Venetians rebuilt, fortified and then controlled it for … Continue reading →

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Random Thoughts

Posted on October 4, 2026 by murray

We have noted over the last few days that Kosovo and Montenegro are under some major flight paths. You can look up any time of the day and there are at least 4 jet streams crossing the sky. In all … Continue reading →

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Tirana to Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia

Posted on September 26, 2026 by debbie

It’s Saturday morning and there isn’t much traffic so we get out of Tirana easily. Soon we are on a 110kph highway travelling south east towards Elbasan. The highway ends abruptly and we wind our way through the town. Everyone … Continue reading →

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A Guided Day in Tirana

Posted on September 25, 2026 by murray

The weather website said it was going to rain. We are to meet at 9am and it’s raining. Not pouring but hard enough. After a short pow wow we, as a group, decide not to start out as planned with … Continue reading →

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Berat to Gjirokaster to Tirana

Posted on September 24, 2026 by debbie

We have a long day yesterday and by the time we get back to the hotel it is 8:30 pm and a post will have to wait. On the drive from Berat to Gjirokaster, we stop at an ancient site. … Continue reading →

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Berat

Posted on September 22, 2026 by debbie

Berat Castle is a fortified hilltop with an exterior wall extending about 1.4 kms. It dates back to the 4th century BC, through  the Roman Era, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire to the present day where it is an … Continue reading →

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On the Road to Berat

Posted on September 21, 2026 by debbie

This morning we meet our guide/driver for the next two weeks and then pick up our friends L&R from the airport. Stage two of our trip begins. As we drive towards Berat, south of Tirana, we learn tidbits of information … Continue reading →

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