Trips with our three kids and then the Searles around Albania
and north to Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia
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| Stopping at the Albanian "Blue Eye", an underground spring with amazing blue colors |
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| While Peter worked in this Albanian city, the boys were on the island here, Corfu, Greece |
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| This is the BEST beach in Albania...Nice color of the water! |
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| The bad news...This is the long road to the beach! | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Back in Tirana, we visit the Angel's Cradle, babies given up for adoption.
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| A glass of wine on top of a Tirana mountain in an old castle |
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| Sharing the fresh water spring with the wooly ones |
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Engaging in lively conversation!
Climbing up to the castle from the walled-in city of Kotor on Montenegro's fjord
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| Climbing the mountain above walled in city of Kotor on Fjord in Montenegro |
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Dubrovnik....Climbing the stairs to walk the 2 km around the old walled-in city
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| View from our apartment in the old city of Dubrovnik. |
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| Views from the old town and island right off the port. |
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On to the Croatian Island of Korcula, wine, antiquity and quaint (but what isn't over here!)
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| Fabulous slopes for vineyards. Peter just loved driving these roads! |
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| Town of Korcula |
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A day of bike riding through the vineyards and to the beach.
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| Guess who got a flat tire??? |
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The next stop was Bosnia and the old city of Mostar. This is a city from Ottoman times on a large river. The 400 year old bridge was their landmark but it was destroyed in 1992 during the war with Serbia.
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From our hotel..patio view, appetizers and wine upon arrival, full breakfast and 2 complimentary bottles of wine
$40/room |
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| Entire cemeteries are filled with young men like this one who died in the war in 1992/93 | |
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| Although there has been much reconstruction, remnants of buildings like this and pock marks in all the structures, tell the story | | | |
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Back in Albania
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| Everyone needs a photo next to one of the 775,000 bunkers around the perimeter of this country! |
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| An Albanian family eating at our "slow food" restaurant | |
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| Saying good-bye to Jae - sigh |
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| This is one of the oldest (2nd Century) amphitheaters in Europe but typical Albanian scene, houses built on top of it. |
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Albanian football (soccer) fans watching the World Cup Qualifying game between Albania and Norway
Ended in a 1-1 tie |
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The boys leave and the Searles arrive to tour the central/south perimeter of Albania with us.
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| Climbing the narrow mountain road out of Tirana to Lake Ohrid. Macedonia is in the background. |
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| A stop in the city of Korca. This is a new Orthodox church but amazing icon museum. While the Dictator banned all religion and burned churches and mosques, he considered the religious paintings national treasures. |
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| Brian, Secretary of Transportation for the State of VT. is inspecting some of the roads from Korca to Gjirokastra. |
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| Another Roman bridge near hot springs. | |
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| Our "castle" hotel just south of the city of Saranda. On the beach - a very friendly family operation. | |
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| Butrint, Albania's national treasure. This is a city/community going back before Christ. |
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| Sharing the road with the wooly ones. |
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| Stopping for the mandatory coffee break at this cafe with multiple waterfalls behind it. OSHA would not approve of the safety standards with no railings! |
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| Water time... |
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| While Elizabeth cringes at the steep switch back roads, Peter, our fearless driver, hugs the center of the road as we come across these memorials to let us know our fears are somewhat founded! |
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| Last hotel in Vlora hangs on a cliff looking to where the Ionian and Adriatic Seas meet. |
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| Last afternoon at this hotel for a little more pool and beaching it. |
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Thanks to our family and the Searles for such a fun time.
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