We went to Albania for our summer vacation this year. When you’re American and you get back from Albania be prepared for the following two questions: 1. Why? and 2. Oh! Are you Albanian? It’s beautiful, right now it’s budget-friendly, it’s off the beaten path and the food is delicious. I am not a travel blogger but I’m back from vacation and thought I would share a few photos, details and thoughts.
For the first half of our trip, we stayed in the Albanian Alps, about 3.5 hours away from the airport, in a lovely, small town named Permet. The older people there speak mostly Albanian and Italian. Italian because under their paranoid Communist dictator, that was the television they could get, or at least this is what we were told. The younger people speak fantastic English. We were the only Americans we met the entire trip which felt cool. I’ve never been to a place and been the only American around. It’s a big world out there and, as an American, I forget how isolated we are. It felt so good to be in crowds and around people who spoke many different languages.
Like the rest of Europe, people eat later here. As I guess the uncouth Americans that we are, we tried to get dinner at 6:30 our first night here (I blame severe jet lag) and were told to come back in an hour. We were still the only people eating at that time. We did generate a lot of stares. I also did something I haven’t done on a trip to a foreign country before. I decided not to buy anything to make myself look more “european” or sophisticated and I wore things that I wear at home.
The Vjosa River in Albania is in the Vjosa Wild River National Park and is the first of its kind in Europe and might end up being the only one of its kind. Or at least that’s how I think I understood it. We stayed with a wonderful family who run a B&B called Honey House and also host rafting, hiking and culinary adventures. They have their own honey! They have their own fruit jams, jellies and fruit! They make their own bread! They make their own Dhalle (a drink like Kefir)! Their son runs incredibly fun rafting trips! The dad runs hiking trips and gives tours of a mountain-side farm they run! And, they’re very very nice which should be no surprise. Oh and they have a very sweet dog and cat! They probably make and do a lot of other things too. I came away from here thinking I should have bees in my backyard too! and that thought has since faded.
In the mountains of Albania, there are shepherds with their flocks everywhere. It felt biblical and I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s interesting that this is still a job and I wonder how much longer that will be.
This was the first half of our trip. This part of Albania is magical. We live in a mountainous area and it I guess it points to how much we like our comfort zone in that we like to go other mountain areas for a lot of our vacations. I’m also a tremendous sucker for any destination labeled “off the beaten path.” I love nothing more than remote places. I could have stayed here for much longer.
Books I’ve Loved Recently:
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. Kept me awake and engaged on the 11 hour flight from Munich to Denver. 656 glorious pages of well-written historical fiction with characters that come alive from page 1.
Watching:
Watched two movies on flight over that I didn’t love. But it could have been the format of watching a small screen on the back of someone’s headrest. Started Motherland this week and loving it and yes I know it’s 10 years old. My excuse is it’s British.
Listening to:
Burn, Burn, Burn by Zach Bryan more than I should. Seeing him at Mile High in August!
“The only thing you’ve ever owned were high hopes and a pocket comb, you fool.” Zach Bryan She’s Alright.
The Colorado Nest 
LOVED reading about your adventure on my lunchbreak. Wonderful photos and descriptions. You need to travel and share more often…don’t we all?
Thanks again for sharing!
Tammy Hill, Hill Builders in Montana
Twist my arm Tammy! 🙂 Thanks for the feedback – have you been anywhere fun this summer?
Even though local, we still love our trips to Red Lodge, East Rosebud Lake, Missoula, Cour de Alene.
Our favorite beach getaway is Silver Sands Jamaica. It is a small, gated community with classic old beach homes as well as really nice new homes (that just don’t have the character). I found it back in the day when adventures were discovered in the back of magazines…We just stay on site and enjoy the postcard beach, silky sand, cook, housekeeper, and tiny beach bar.
Silver Sands Jamaica, Vacation Rentals – Villas and Cottages by the Sea
That part of Montana looks amazing. I’ve never been to that area and I need to add it to my list. That place in Jamaica looks awesome too – that would spoil me from any future travel though – your own cook??? Thanks for sharing, love it.