I’ve been to Albania 4 times. I’ve biked it, rented a car and via public transportation. I followed an environmental group on Facebook who are from Shkoder. They clean up areas of garbage, that is found everywhere. They posted photos showcasing the amazing natural areas: waterfalls, trails, mountains and rivers. I tagged the areas they visited. I made an attempt to visit when I had the car. The gravel road was so unbearable, I turned around. They finally finished a paved road all the way to Theth in the past year. Time for a bike tour.
I’ve been to Shkodra, 4 times in the past 7 years. I’ve been working on a Postcard project in Slovenia and thought the painting of my photo would make a nice postcard too. So I printed & sent 100 to a friend in Shkodra, Albania, the unreliable post of Albania? the cards never arrived. So I printed 200 and decided to deliver them and maybe make a little money?
I found myself with a few extra days, so I head to Kruje,, home of Albanian handmade rugs. This is my 4th time to Albania, it’s almost a second home. I rented a car last time and passed 40 police checks and was never pulled over. Well they finally pulled me over, for speeding, it’s great being an American here, we made some small talk and I was set free.
Last time I drove this road there was a river I wanted a photo of. I realized I was near the same river again, this time I stopped and took a picture.
Sorry, this has taken so long to finish, it’s a busy life.
Shkodra was the first Albanian city I visited, 3 years ago I was surprised by the number of cyclist, especially the number of older riders, who were nicely dressed for office jobs. HERE’S the history of the bicycle in Albania and especially Shkodra, it’s an interesting read.
I have an interesting history with Shkodra, HERE’S that story. So needless to say I couldn’t stay at the hostel that I stayed at last time. So I drove around until I spotted something interesting,
When I rode my bike into Saranda, 3 years ago, I was so happy to be here. That was some of the most challenging biking I had ever done. I went to the neighborhood I stayed in last time and found the beautiful Apollon Hotel. I like staying just a 10 minute walk from town, it forces me to get some exercise! Nothing has changed, 1/2 built buildings, gravel roads, garbage, dogs & cats everywhere. I was talking with a realtor, he was telling me how much has changed in the last couple years. I told him nice try, it looks exactly the same to me as it did 3 years ago. Continue reading “SARANDA, BUTRINT NATIONAL PARK & GJIROKASTER ALBANIA part IV”→
I’m going to my little beachside apartment. I really enjoyed staying in Dhermi 3 years ago and really look forward to returning. Shopping in the store last time was humbling to say the least. Only Plain yougurt, meat- was to cut how much sausage you wanted, cheese-cut it off the block. The store has been remodeled and has lost a lot of it’s charm. I bought pasta & sauce since there’s only one restaurant open. I use to have a landscape business, so I asked the owners for some clippers and trimmed the trees and bushes around the apartments. Continue reading “ALBANIAN COAST & BEACHSIDE APT. PART III”→
I’m most excited to visit Vlore- the birthplace of Albania. I really loved the museums, people and best of all my favorite: HOTEL 4 STINET. I plan to revisit everything. Albanian Independence day is coming up and there’s flags, banners and Albanian souvenirs, everywhere. Continue reading “ALBANIA RE-VISITED (by car) PART II VLORE”→
When I biked through the Mediterranean 3 years ago, I picked Albania as my favorite country. Why? Number 1 is always the people, they were so warm, welcoming and generous. The nature was spectacular, the history: (both the Roman & communism) was super interesting. The arts and crafts, especially the rug designs that are very vibrant & colorful. Albania offered the main things that interest me when traveling. On a bike I wasn’t able to buy the souvenirs that I wanted, like a rug. So I had a mission on this trip (mission accomplished).
I have never rented a car when traveling, this will be a first. I wanted to revisit people & places and retrace my bike tour route and also visit the middle of the country. I first drove an hour to Durres, on the coast. I’ve stayed here before, but never really connected with this town. I got a great ocean view hotel for $25, with breakfast. Continue reading “ALBANIA RE-VISITED (by car), PART I BERAT”→
I was window shopping in October 2013 in Shkodra, Albania. I came across an artist who’s style I really liked
SHKODRA, ALBANIA
Montenegro
I really loved the bike vibe of Shkodra and wanted to capture it. So I sat on a park bench taking photos of people biking. I captured the image I wanted.
So I took this photo to the artist and he agreed to paint this scene. I had be-friended the owner of the Hostel where I was staying and asked him to pay the artist the other half and ship me the painting. It was going to take a week and I had already been here a week. Months went by, I heard nothing. I called Tonin (hostel owner) and he then sent me a photo of the painting, but not the painting. It’s been 10 months and still no painting. I’ve begged him to return the artwork to the artist, he says he will, but it never arrives. I finally tell Tonin I’m going to call the police, I got his attention then, but still no painting. It’s been 3 months since the artist agreed to take back the painting, so by the time Tonin finally decides that I’m not going to give up about getting the painting, he takes it back to the artist. The artist now refuses to accept it, holy shit, I was so close. Tonin informs me of the situation and says the painting is at the Hostel. So I make plans to go to Albania and retrieve MY painting. I promise Natasa that if I don’t get the painting, I will let it go. I plan to sleep on the bus to Dubrovnik, Croatia, rent a car there and drive to Albania, get painting and drive back and catch next bus back to Slovenia.
WAITING ALONE IN ZAGREB, CROATIA BUS DEPOT (free WiFi)
The bus stops for food and the bathroom. I’m half asleep but can’t beleive what I’m looking at.
ANIMALS STUFFED AND DRESSED.
No one sits in the seats above the engine, maybe not a comfortable seat, but one great bed. The bus is 45 mins late to Dubrovnik. I grab the shuttle to the airport (that’s where the rental car is). I’m on the road for my 4 hour journey to Albania. With in 15 minutes the traffic is diverted to another road.
CARS LINED UP AT MONTENEGRO BORDER CROSSING
WAITING ISN’T ALL BAD
WAITING ISN’T THAT FUN, FOR EVERYONE
It’s a small border crossing, so they only have 2 people checking passports. So I’m losing time, I was hoping to be in Shkodra by noon. I had seen this ferry last time through here, it cuts 30km off your trip. I load the car on and hope to save some time. It didn’t help that much, I finally arrive about 4pm to the Hostel. To my surprise, the painting is nowhere to be found. I emailed Tonin 3 days before and told him I would be here Sunday to get it, but no painting. The hostel host speaks no English, none. But he get’s I’m pissed, I kick the wicker table and put my foot through it. Now, I’ve got Tonin on the phone and he says the painting will be there in 2 hours, I’m so pissed. I leave the Hostel and go looking for some Policemen. It doesn’t take long. They take me back to police headquarters to file a complaint against Tonin. There’s a guy at the police station telling me I’ve been conned and should forget about it and go home. It’s over,only after I leave, without the painting. I drive the head detective to a Restaurant, where the owner speaks English and Albanian. We get the whole convoluted story told. I give the detective Tonin’s phone number and he calls him. Within a 1/2 hour the painting was brought to our table by Tonin’s dad. In turn Tonin’s dad wants to have me arrested for damaging his table. Everyone looked at him and asked him to leave. The detective didn’t want me to take his photo, getting my painting. I eat my dinner at the San Francisco restaurant. By this time the sun is down but it’s still somewhat light out. I’ve got a 3-4 hour drive back to Dubrovnik, crossing 3 countries. I had to show my passport 14 times on this trip. I return the car back to the airport and take the shuttle bus to the bus station. It’s 2 am now, no bus till 7 am. I opt to sleep on the bus platform (I’m not alone) The lights were bright but I laid my head in the shadow. I actually slept some. I got my bench seat bed again, I didn’t do one tourist thing, this trip was strictly business.
I was in Portugal and spotted this Policeman who looked like the “terminator” cop. I wanted to get a photo. I asked if I could, then his friend said yes, I just wanted terminator, but OK, I took this photo
PORTUGUESE POLICE PHOTO WITH THE TERMINATOR COP AND HIS FRIEND
I take the ferry to Spain, there were 2 policeman who were giving me directions to the phone store , I showed them the Portuguese photo then they offered to have their photo taken.. I said “Heck Ya.” This was the start of collecting policeman photos in every country I visited.
THE SPANISH POLICE WERE SUPER FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL
A friend (?) from France wrote and told me to look out for Spanish cops. I sent him this photo and asked, “these guys?”
I’m biking around France, shopped at a farmers market and spotted 2 policeman. I asked him for photo? No. I show him the Spanish photo, he walks away. He joins his partner across the street, then he waves me over.
TOOK SOME CONVINCING BUT I FINALLY GOT THE PICTURE OF FRENCH POLICEMAN.
My first day in Venice, Italy at the ATM I spotted 2 policeman and they eagerly agreed to the photo.
THESE ITALIAN POLICEMAN NEEDED NO CONVINCING TO HAVE THEIR PICTURE TAKEN.
Slovenia was a real task, I had to compromise some with this one. First, there are hardly any police around! I had always tried to get 2 policeman together, that wasn’t going to happen here.
THIS IS THE SLOVENIAN PARLIAMENTARY BUILDING “POLICE” GUARD. THAT’S THE BEST I COULD DO. There are really no police to be found and not 2 together for sure.
The Croatian policeman shot was just about as difficult as the Slovenian. I hardly ever saw the police here either. But when we were dropping off bike boxes at the ferry dock, I spotted several armed “dock” police.
THIS IS THE CROATIAN MARITIME POLICE, AGAIN IT’S THE BEST I COULD DO.
The Montenegro police photo was totally by “accident.” I was only going to be in Montenegro for 24 hours, so my chances were pretty slime. The bus I was riding in got in an accident, so the police arrived to take a report.
THE MONTENEGRO POLICE DELIVERED THIS PHOTO BY WAY OF AN ACCIDENT.
Albania was fairly easy, the first night in town I walked into town with a local. He convinced them it would be OK, somehow?
THIS ALBANIAN POLICEMAN PHOTO WAS TAKEN MY FIRST 5 MINUTES OF WALKING THE STREETS
The Greek policeman photo should have been of at least 2 policeman. Of the four policeman, only this one agreed to a picture.
THE GREEK POLICEMAN ALL COMPLAINED ABOUT GERMAN CHANCELLOR MERKEL’S AUSTERITY DEMANDS
This next photo of the Turkish police is the Gold Standard from which all policeman photos should be judged.
HOT TURKISH POLICEWOMEN WITH MACHINE GUN–YEP HOLY SHOT
It was fairly easy to get all the 10 countries I visited policeman photos, but one Morocco. When I asked maybe 10 different policeman the answer was always the same “IT IS FORBIDDEN.” So I pretended to be adjusting my music while taking a few pictures:
