Albania

  • Albania

    Southern Albania

    June 26, 2016 - By 

    Roadtripping along the Mediterranean from Spain to Greece meant we were going to see Southern Albania no matter what.  At first I planned to breeze through Albania straight to Greece, but then I remembered not to overestimate the conditions of Albania’s roads. Breaking up the drive to make it more manageable meant several stops along the way, and the stops included Berat, Ksamil, and the highway showcasing Albania’s most beautiful countryside. First stop: Berat, just a couple hour’s drive south of Tirana. A small town meant plenty of free parking.  Berat’s beautiful and notable feature is the cluster of white Ottoman…

  • Albania

    Shkoder and Tirana

    June 24, 2016 - By 

    I’ll be honest. Compared to other major cities in any European country, Shokoder and Tirana were quite abysmal, but I can’t blame a recent post-communist/post-totalitarian country for not offering much to the wandering traveller.  Sure, there were notable sites of interest, and I describe a few below. Albania’s northernmost major city, Shkoder, serves as a base for exploring the Albanian Alps.  Aside from being the typical dusty, congested Balkan city dotted with shops, mosques, and churches, its main attractions are the massive Shkodra Lake and the Rozafa Castle.  Perched atop a hill in the outskirts of the city, most of the castle remain in ruins…

  • Albania

    Lake Koman and the Albanian Alps

    June 23, 2016 - By 

    When it comes to the Albanian Alps, it’s tough to say what is the highlight—the journey or the destination. Getting there entails a long day of transpotation: Shkoder -> Lake Koman -> Fierze -> Bajram Curri -> Valbona. Most people arrive to the mountains without a hitch. Us, not so much. For that reason, our amusing journey requires a story to be told. Shkoder, Albania’s northernmost major city, was the start and end point for this journey. Thankfully, Europe’s BEST campsite, Lake Shkodra Resort, was located only a 15-minute drive north of Shkoder. We didn’t have to stay in the eyesore…