We’ve left the Euro-zone... So no more euros supposedly for a while – but it seems they’re happy to take them here in Albania. Talk about a crazy/funny little country...
Athens Night
Actually went shopping in Athens. Shock, horror! Went to their markets and needed to buy a watch. Tons of expensive nice ones but looking at my track record don’t really want to tempt fate again. Managed to find one in a store that sold guns, knives and Lord of the Rings Figurines. Nice guy there though.
Went out to celebrate a birthday – and was finally let down by the Greek food. Ordered something I couldn’t pronounce again and lucked out. Made up for it with some gelato though – found waffle ice-cream which I ate in a waffle cone. Little bit monotonous by the end unfortunately but massive serve! Had to walk back to hotel to burn it off, which turned out to be a learning experience for some of our group. It gave a whole new meaning to “Sex in the City”– porn just being sold out on the streets.
Meteora
Another day, another hotel. We farewelled some of our travelling companions in the morning and headed north out of Athens. Our destination was Meteora – a place I hadn’t really heard of and was told it was famous for monasteries being built on inaccessible cliffs. After the excitement of Rome and the return to Greek standards I didn’t have high expectations. How wrong was I?
I think just seeing the geology and mountains would have been impressive but they go and build on these things. Always thought the Greeks were a little bit crazy...
(Incredible place to build!)
Quite a few have fallen into disrepair – don’t think it would be easy calling your local handyman to come and fix these things. But a couple have been maintained and become museums, while still have monks living in them. The Great monastery was the first and is still the largest. Bit of walk to it – but now with the stairs it’s a lot safer than being pulled up by a winch and sitting in a fish net.
(great Monastery – tiny people in background coming down)
Had a very pro-Greek museum in there – but NO PHOTO! As the guy kept yelling at us – even if we were just holding the cameras. Part of the main church was decorated with all the deaths of saints –very gruesome. Thought shooting arrows at a man on a cross a bit over-kill (pun intended) but it has been amazingly preserved.
The final creepy part was the ossuary (I think) – a room that keeps the skulls of their leaders. Didn’t hang around here too long...
(creepy skull room)
Our hotel was very nice – and this was the view from our balcony. Managed to finally find the feature on the camera I was looking for. (actually I shouldn’t claim credit – someone else found it...) There are actually tons of modes on the camera – even one that can make you slimmer. I’m very ignorant.
(another time-delayed photo)
Left in the morning and headed to Albania. 9 hours on the bus. Was extremely excited I was going to get a stamp on my passport – got one leaving Greece but the Albanian border patrol just waved us through. Saved us over an hour but no stamp... The roads in Albania are pretty bad – and were planned that way. The Albanians had a crazy Communist dictator who scared the locals by saying that everyone was going to invade. So he built the roads poorly to slow down the non-existent would-be invaders.
And the funniest thing about Albania – they’re ‘famous’ for building bunkers. Now there’s something to impress the neighbours. To give his population something to do while he was in power, he got them building bunkers. And more bunkers...
Our local guide told us this story (believe it with a grain of salt). The dictator got 5 engineers to design and build bunkers. He then placed them inside and bombed all 5. Only 1 of the engineers survived – so that design was used through-out the land. As our guide said, it was a dangerous time to be an engineer in Albania.
Tirana
Finally arrived at the capital – which has a crazy colour scheme on quite a few of their buildings to show to the world they aren’t controlled by communist paint dictators any longer. Crazy designs! But camera struggled taking photos out of the bus... (anyone keeping count of how many times I used the word crazy?)
Actually in apartments at the moment – so nice change and even have a double bed. Luxury! Think we hit two countries tomorrow – so not getting my hopes up about a passport stamp but fingers crossed.
Week Ahead
Fri, 14th of May Tirana to Dubrovnik, Croatia
Sat, 15th of May Dubrovnik
Sun, 16th of May Dubrovnik to Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Mon, 17th of May Sarajevo to Belgrade, Serbia
Tues, 18th of May Belgrade to Budapest, Hungary
Wed, 19th of May Budapest
Thurs, 20th of May Budapest to Vienna, Austria
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