Riding and Rafting in the Central Albanian Mountains

Little commentary needed for these two weekends of fun in Albania.

The photos will give you an idea of the gorgeous landscape and full spring colors here. We did back to back weekends. The first was white water rafting in an amazing canyon near the UNESCO city of Berat and the second weekend to the Vjosa Valley with some biking plus finding an old monastery and a Ottoman bridge.

UNESCO city of Berat

Who said all the houses in this UNESCO city had to be white with brown roofs. These wild colors are only allowed in the new part of town.

Saturdays is "hang your rugs out" day, all over Albania

We ran across an international youth modernized folk dance festival. This group is from Bulgaria.

The following morning, we drove 1 1/2 hours south of the city along the Osumi River and had an amazing rafting experience.

The following weekend we went with a group of American and Albanian friends to the town of Permet in the Vjosa Valley.

Spring green against the flowering fruit trees and snow capped mountains

Add in an Ottoman bridge

Way above the town of Permet is a 400 year old monastery.You can only enter if you find the neighbor with a gargantuan key to let you in. The stone work, curved stairs and shape of the doors are elegant. Inside, although needing much rennovation, is an amazing amount of carved woodwork and frescoes. The paintings have long since been stolen.

This is the "road" to the neighbor's house who has the key to let you into the church.


Sunday morning in the "city" of Permet

Kids of Permet.  Below is their fire truck. Seriously. You should see the older one parked around the corner!

Catholic mass outside the church. Not sure why???

One biker and two friends. Am I seeing wine and beer at the lunch stop??????

Beautiful landscape to bike through. We really love Albania!!

Eating and Walking Our Way through Bologna Italy (PART 1)

For $130 round trip, Peter and I made the 1hour, 15 minute trip to Bologna, Italy from Tirana. You have heard of Bolognese sauce, picture an entire cuisine that is top notch. Bologna is less touristy than Venice, Florence or Rome. The people are friendly, the antiquity preserved and the scale/color of the buildings was soothing to the eye.
One of the distinguishing features of this city are the porticoes. Back in the 1400s, shopkeepers would add a primitive structure to the front of the houses. With urbanization, many cities torn them down. Bologna decided to turn the roofs of the shops into these wonderful covered walkways (sidewalks) that stretch 26 miles throughout the city.

The first University in Italy (founded in 1088) is located here and the young styles and attitudes show it.
We ran into a graduation celebration on the streets with happy graduates in their crowns.

People put up these posters on the portico walls to "honor" their friends. 

Maybe it is the curves of the streets that create the intimacy  plus the color of the buildings.

These are two dueling towers. In the 1400s, two rich families had a competition to see which could build the taller tower. In the haste to win, the family building the tower to the left found their foundation sinking and had to concede!

Our Bed and Breakfast was in a great location. It was decorated in that modern Italian design style.     Taking a shower was a different trip each day!

Sometimes the small details on the buildings are the richness that makes buildings from this era so gorgeous.

Certainly statues in the 1500 to 1800 century were plentiful, soaring to heights and giving inspirational and territorial information.

We walked into many churches but only photographed this 14th century church that in subsequent times had 6 more churches added on to it.

This city of Bologna had canals running through it like Venice. Now, most of it is under the ground and not navigable .

Along with flowers and condom machines, take a look at the little shops everywhere selling food products.

We are talking serious pasta cooked in scrumptious ways!

Parmesean cheese, anyone?

           

 Don't forget the dessert...gelato ice cream at its best!

 There are no inferior restaurants in Bologna. Above is our artichoke appetizer..4 outrageous items!

 The main course is my pasta in the foreground and Peter's rabbit in the back. The wine was "maraveloso" from the region. The varieties of grape are Barbera and Sangiovese.

Below is a family photo, proudly hung in many restaurants, to honor their culinary roots.

ON TO FLORENCE - A HALF HOUR TRAIN RIDE FROM BOLOGNA