As we bused our way north into the Bay of Kotor, or Boka for short, we held our breath a little knowing things were about to change. June was in full swing and it was high tourism season in what is now a... very touristy place. But we just had to go to Kotor! This fairytale medieval town has been…
It’s been one year since we left Portland, Oregon. One year since we left behind our steady jobs, steady friends, and a steady and comfortable life. We traded in our beloved apartment management positions where we paid no rent in a very desirable neighborhood in a truly lovely city. To some, giving up all this security and comfort might seem…
We were sad to leave Albania, and head north after nearly four weeks there. The rawness of the land and people in Albania wooed our explorer genes in ways we didn’t know they could be wooed. Crossing the border into Montenegro from Albania was a quick transition into a new land that seemed, just a little... too polished at first.…
The Albanian state tourism slogan for 2019 is incredibly, “Be Taken by Albania.” It’s a peculiarly cheeky nod to the kidnapping-centered movie series “Taken.” A perplexing choice for a tourism slogan to be sure. But they went with it. And now, we have to agree, the slogan kind of… fits. On our final Albania post in this series, we do…
Calling all walkers and hikers! We’ve got another bucket list trek for you…from beginning to end it’s breathtaking, awe-inspiring, and stunning all-in-one! Actually, this hike was so incredibly beautiful it rendered us speechless for much of the hike. The Valbona <—> Theth trek takes you across an especially rugged range in the Accursed Mountains of Albania, also know fittingly as,…
It’s time to utter a big statement…the Albanian Riviera has OUR FAVORITE beaches in Europe…at THE best value. Let’s start with the “wow”… Along Albania’s Riviera we found beaches which produced the most hypnotic aquamarine colors intertwining with coves and sandy stretches of irresistibly inviting sapphire splotches of water. Then, there is the ‘ahhh!’…Swimming. With only lightly lapping tides to…
When we told people who have not been to Albania that we were going, we always got one of two hesitant pauses. A ‘processing’ type pause on the name… “A-l-b-a-n-i-a”, like when you hear a familiar word but can’t quite place where or in what context it belongs. OR, a pause that triggers their sense seedy and shady elements where…
When you meet a Jordanian person, it’s almost guaranteed they say two things…”where you from?” followed by “welcome” after your reply. They are remarkable…as is the scenery. The drive from the Red to the Dead Sea is about 3 hours and drops 398 meters (1305’). It’s the Earth’s lowest point on dry land. If going in the other direction, it’s…
