Tag Archives: Albania

Nothing to Fier but Fier Itself

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”

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”

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”

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”