Illyria: A Gem in Europe

This is a land of alpine meadows surrounded by dark forests and imposing mountain peaks, coastal wetlands and lagoons full of wildlife, rugged and rocky coastlines and beautiful sunny beaches.

Officially known as Republike e Shqiperise, or Shqiperia, the Land of Eagles, this is also a country of long lost civilizations and cultures, ancient ruins, cities and castles and a unique language and people directly descended from a 3000-year old civilization.

My family and I recently decided to move here so we got on a plane and now we are here! The four of us loaded our suitcases with essentials: computers, cameras and electronics for me, clothes and kitchen spices for Tola, video games and school supplies for ND (sadly his guitar would not fit). NG wanted a suitcase full of toys and stuffed animals but we accidentally brought a suitcase full of clothes and school books instead (oops).

I don’t know whether we will be here for months or longer, but this is where my blog begins: in the small, but immensely beautiful and interesting Mediterranean country of Albania.

Due to the pandemic in the US we no longer have jobs and our kids no longer have school, but now we have time to do what we enjoy: write, read, explore and adventure somewhere.

In the coming days and months, I hope to explore more of Albanian history, language and culture and I expect to experience some adventures.

Join me to see what the future holds.