I have visited many Orthodox churches and monasteries all around Europe. They were often drenched in gold-leaf and full of precious icons, but none of them could match the beautiful icons and frescoes in the church of Ardenica. The monastery of Ardenica is standing on the highest hilltop overlooking the plains of Myzeqe, in the […]
ALBANIA: BLUE EYE, A PLACE OF LEGEND AND BEAUTY
I have visited Albania several times, but I still believe that one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in this country is “Blue Eye”, a water spring with blue water that bubbles from a stunning and more than fifty meter deep pool. Blue Eye, known in Albanian as Syri i Kaltër, is located on […]
BUDVA: THE FRESCOES OF MONASTERY PODMAINE
When I visited monastery Podmaine in Budva for the first time forty years ago, it was located in peaceful green surroundings, far away from the settled areas. Last month I discovered that the situation has totally changed: one of the main tourist attractions of Budva is now surrounded by apartment buildings and boarding-houses. The full […]
BERAT: THE TOWN OF A THOUSAND WINDOWS
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, […]
THE MAGIC OF ROME
It is a great experience to spend a long weekend in Rome, where you can really find it all: impressive churches, ancient ruins, powerful monuments, but also an excellent cuisine and attractive fashion shops. Paul and I had four days available and wanted to get a complete picture of the city, but of course, we […]
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 […]
SPRING IN POŠĆENJE AND NEVIDIO CANYON
Early in May we had guests from the Netherlands and decided to show them the beautiful wild mountains in northwest Montenegro. Large parts of the Durmitor National Park were still closed for traffic at that time, but we spent two days in the surroundings of Pošćenje and Canyon Nevidio. Pošćenje – close to Šavnik – […]
BIJELA: AN ECOLOGICAL BLACK SPOT IN THE BEAUTIFUL BOKA KOTORSKA
My small studio in Bijela is an oasis of peace in the summer months, when more famous tourist resorts are overcrowded, hot and dirty. The sea is clean, we have a great view of Mt Lovćen and many nice beaches in Boka are accessible when you have a boat: not only around Tivat and its […]
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 […]