September 22 - October 10, 2011
B A L K A N S
TURKEY , BULGARIA,  MACEDONIA, ALBANIA,
MONTENEGRO, CROATIA, BOSNIA, SERBIA
Group Journal
Day 11 Albania  Oct. 02, 2011 Sunday
Itinerary: Crossing Macedonia-Albania border and arrival in Elbasan. Short city tour and continue to Berat, Visit of Onufri museum and Berat castle. Late afternoon arrival in Durres.

Click here for ►Day 12  Oct. 03,2011 Albania

Thousands of  pill boxes welcome!! us to Albania. For decades no one could come in to this country and no one could get out of this country. We will see the influence of the influence of Enver Hodja's regime here.

The economy is almost non existing. over 50% unemployment and no production is giving this country very hard time. the road conditions here are terrible. Every one uses old Mercedes. We were told that the only car that can cope with the bad road conditions is Mercedes. Sounds strange but the fact is the poorest European country has the most number of Mercedes cars per person.

Berat is an old Turkish village. The architecture and the life style resembles the 18th Century Ottoman culture.
We climbed  up to the fortress and visited the church. Obviously the father of the church was not expecting visitors. When he saw us , he ran and unlocked the door. We are very pleased to see this hospitality.

The hotel was on the beach. When we arrived at the hotel where we will stay for 2 nights the sky was already painted red with the lights of the setting sun. The orange moon on the Adriatic Sea made our dinner very romantic.

 

Click here for ►Day 12  Oct. 03,2011 Albania