I’ve had my share of adventures driving on foreign roads, including quite a few recently in Albania. But I had to face the most terrifying thing of all recently in the central Albanian city of Fier: scratching the rental car. From narrow, winding roads to wild, out of control roundabouts, there are plenty of hazardsContinue reading “Nothing to Fier but Fier Itself”
Category Archives: Albania
Fainting During a Root Canal
I can’t say I was enjoying my first root canal, but I was pleasantly surprised by my first week in the dentist’s chair in Albania. It was kind of grueling, but not especially painful. In fact, I’ve had cleanings that hurt worse. Unfortunately, my final day in that chair was not an easy one. InContinue reading “Fainting During a Root Canal”
Slippery Slopes at the City of Stone
Built into the hillsides, with a fortress overlooking the bazaar and narrow cobblestone streets that wind through the stone roofed houses below, Gjirokastër is a steep town. The writer Ismail Kadare called it “maybe the steepest in the world.” Within my first five minutes in Gjirokastër, my rental car and I faced maybe the steepestContinue reading “Slippery Slopes at the City of Stone”
The Blue Eye of Albania
On a sweltering hot August day we left the coast and drove into the hills towards the famed Blue Eye, or Syri i Kaltër in Albanian. Located just ten miles from Albania’s border with Greece, this region has a bit of a Greek feel to it. Historically, the country has had a large Greek populationContinue reading “The Blue Eye of Albania”
Dyrrachium: An Ancient Living City
A crane loads colorful containers onto a cargo ship as traffic slowly twists around the old Venetian tower and onto a palm lined boulevard. Crowds walk along the sea front promenade as the sun sets in a pink blaze over the rippling water. A lone fisherman sits just off shore in a rusty pedal boatContinue reading “Dyrrachium: An Ancient Living City”
COVID-19, Cambodia and Root Canals in Albania
Covid-19 saved me $2000 and a lot of pain. I was at the dentist when my phone buzzed with a text: “we’re bringing ND home. Game cancelled because of the virus.” He had been looking forward to playing high school baseball for so long and it looked as if they would not be playing againContinue reading “COVID-19, Cambodia and Root Canals in Albania”
The Cat and the Cucumber and the Ionian Coast
Albania has a very diverse climate and landscape for a small country. In my last post I discussed exploring the wetlands near Divjakë. From there we drove along the coast and then climbed high up the winding road to Llogara National Park. While considering renting a car and driving through Albania, it was the thoughtContinue reading “The Cat and the Cucumber and the Ionian Coast”
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,Continue reading “Illyria: A Gem in Europe”
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Journey to a Mediterranean Wetland Forest
We got lost pretty quickly in the dark as soon as we left the Tirana airport and I quickly learned that my rental car stalls in 2nd gear if it drops below 20 mph. Also, locals will pass you on the sidewalk if you go less than 10 mph over the speed limit. People areContinue reading “Journey to a Mediterranean Wetland Forest”
Taking Off in a Pandemic
If you are wondering why we are not locked in our house in Albuquerque, here is my reasoning: We could spend the next year in Albuquerque sitting at home with no jobs, no school and nothing to do but watch the news or we could spend the year in Europe where the virus situation isContinue reading “Taking Off in a Pandemic”
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