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.…

Continue ReadingWandering Montenegro: Ulcinj, Stari Bar & Petrovac

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,…

Continue ReadingUntapped Albania: Hiking Valbona to Theth (Days 16-18)

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…

Continue ReadingUntapped Albania: The Southern Riviera (Days 5-15)

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…

Continue ReadingUntapped Albania: Gjirokastër & Përmet (Days 1-4)

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…

Continue ReadingExploring Jordan 3: Dead Sea, Amman & Jerash (Days 11-14)

From riding gurgling groaning camels and glamping in a goat-wool lined Bedouin tent under the desert sky, to snorkeling off the beach in the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea… Jordan continued to amaze us with new extraordinary sights and experiences. Wadi Rum Greg roams into a canyon, taking a sniff of some flowers that are exuding a wonderful…

Continue ReadingExploring Jordan 2: Wadi Rum & Aqaba/Red Sea (Days 6-10)

Greece...the birthplace of ”modern civilization.” The place that filled us with wonder and intrigue about this foreign land from the first time we opened our ancient history books, glimpsed photos of the Parthenon, heard the mythology of the Zeus or Medusa, or tasted divine Kalamata olives. Our journey to dig deeper and experience the treasures of mainland Hellenic Republic took…

Continue ReadingGallivanting Mainland Greece: From Athens to Meteora