During our trip through Albania in May we also visited Berat, one of the country’s most beautiful towns. In 2008 it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town. The road from Tirana to Berat is in rather bad shape. Most people use furgons, […]
Balkans
TIRANA – CITY OF CONTRASTS
The first impression you get when entering Tirana, the capital of Albania, is the absolutely chaotic traffic. Cars, bicycles, pedestrians, lorries and donkey-cards are approaching you from all directions, using their horns at all times. There are hardly any signposts and drivers do not respect any traffic rules on the numerous roundabouts (probably most of […]
RURAL ALBANIA
When you travel to Albania, it is always a challenge to get off the beaten track, as only then you can learn more about the way people live here in their authentic environment. Last weekend we visited Tirana and Elbasan, but when we wanted to continue to the white town of Berat (UNESCO World Heritage […]
THE TREASURES OF ZLATIBOR
Most inhabitants of Podgorica have visited the idyllic area of Zlatibor in southwest Serbia at least once. It is situated mid-way on the road to Belgrade, at an altitude of 1,000 meters, and many Montenegrins spend their winter holidays there. I have been a fan of the Čigota wellness program in Zlatibor for several years […]
A VISIT TO OHRID, MACEDONIA
Are you already planning your next holiday trip in 2013? Maybe you could visit the charming town of Ohrid in Macedonia. It is easy to reach from Podgorica, as the road through Albania has been improved a lot. I spent a few beautiful days there in May last year, a period when the town is […]
THE MYSTIC VILLAGE OF THETHI
I have had the desire to visit Thethi (also called Theth), a remote mountain village in the northern part of Albania, for a long time. Many authors have written books and reports about this mysterious area: the Dutch writer A. Den Doolaard mentioned the place in his novel “De Herberg met het Hoefijzer” and Edith […]
DISCOVER KELMEND VALLEY IN ALBANIA
The valley of Kelmend is situated in Northern Albania and when you live in Montenegro, this magnificent region is really next-door! However, the condition of the 65 km long macadam road from Hani i Hotit to Vermosh at the end of the valley requires a good 4WD and a travel time of several hours. We […]
VERMOSHI (ALBANIA): THE LAND OF THE LIVING PAST
During our recent stay in the Prokletije Mountains we decided to visit the village of Vermoshi (Vrmoš) in Northern Albania. The road from Gusinje to the border crossing at Grnčar (around 7 km) was still under reconstruction, but we heard that the reconstruction of the road from the Albanian border to Vermoshi – 10 km […]
THE ROZAFA CASTLE IN SHKODRA, ALBANIA
On our day trip to Shkodra (see also Day trip to Shkodra), we also visited the Archeological Park with the Rozafa Castle, which is situated on a 130 m high rocky hill near the town. This castle is, first of all, an important archeological and historical monument, but it also offers magnificent panoramas on the Buna and […]
A DAY TRIP TO SHKODRA
The reconstruction of the road from Podgorica to Božaj (Albanian border) was recently finished, which shortened travel time to Shkodra. Indeed, the Albanian section is still problematic, as road works continue, but nowadays you won’t need more than an hour or so to reach Shkodra from Podgorica (62 km). Of course, most Montenegrin people […]