TravelswithCharie

The Pyramid of Tirana My guide, Eddy, didn’t show me around Tirana until a few days after I arrived. We joked about how I’ve been all over Albania, North Macedonia and Kosovo without once setting foot on Skanderbeg Square. But it was a good thing we waited because we had a leisurely time exploring the city center on foot without the traffic that plagues the city on a weekday. I must confess that I didn’t expect much from Tirana beyond the bunkers. The videos I’d watched of the city didn’t impress me so I was pleasantly surprised by all the things I saw and especially the new, modern architecture. I would definitely want to stay close to Skanderbeg Square on my next visit so I can spend more time exploring and sitting at one of many outdoor cafés near the repurposed Tirana Castle. While we’re on the subject of confession, I have another confession to make. That is, I was wowed by Albania and I’m now a fan of this beautiful Balkan country. From Berat in the south to Shkoder in the northw

Roots, Adi Dule The call of the sea rises above the din of the big city. You can’t ignore it especially when it is only 36 km away from Tirana. Durrës borders the Adriatic coast and it’s the natural choice for an afternoon spent outdoors against the backdrop of sea, sun and blue skies. Don’t forget your suntan lotion and lunettes de soleil, bien sur.  By the way, Durrës is pronounced du rosh . There are a few sculptures along the seaside promenade that stand out against the stunning coastline. One of these is Roots (above) by a local artist.  Roman Amphitheater But there’s more to Durrës than suntanning at the beach or sipping a nice cold drink at a café. There is the Roman Amphitheater from the 2nd Century AD which was only discovered in 1966. It could seat 15,000 or so spectators in its heyday.   Venetian Tower and the statue of Redon, God of the Sea The Venetian Tower, which has been restored, was part of a fortified castle from the 5th century and rebuilt in the 13th century after

Trëndafili Mistik or Mystic Rose is one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve visited recently. To get there you have to enter the Kulë-Vain-Tale nature reserve (there’s an entrance fee) and drive a few miles into the park before arriving at the restaurant. It is right beside a lagoon with a view of the mountains in the distance. It can’t get any sweeter than this. We were there in early May and it was warm outside. We sat at the outdoor terrace and this was our view. This is the entrance to the wood and stone house on the premises. This is the living room with photos of famous people who came to dine at the restaurant including the former U.S. Ambassador to Albania. There’s a dining room upstairs. These photos are of Diella Loshi who started serving food in her own house in the early days.  You can’t go wrong ordering fish or seafood as these are their specialties and served fresh. My grilled sea bass was moist and tender. Make sure to ask how large the fish is because you may not fi

Shkodër Lake Fun facts about the city of Shkodër or Skodra (local name) 1. Shkodër has been around for at least 2200 years!  2. It’s the fifth largest city in Albania with a comparatively small population of  88,000*. 3. It’s only 90 km (55 miles) from Tirana or 1.5 hours by car. 4. You can hangout at Kolë Idromeno Street or lakeside in the village of Shiroka. 5. If art moves you, there are intriguing sculptures at the city park.  Have you seen an artwork made of artillery shells? You’ll find it in Shkodër. 6. If you’re interested in history, there’s  a rare collection of photographs from the 1850s onward of the cultural, social and political history of Albania at the Marubi Photography museum. 7. Albania shares Shkodër Lake with Montenegro where 2/3 of the lake ripple under blue skies. 8.  The Montenegrin border is just a few miles away from Shkodër and you can get a glimpse of its mountains across the lake. 9. Shkodër is the gateway to the Albanian Alps (Accursed Mountains). 10. Acco