On Sunday Anne and I said goodbye to Branko and flew from Corfu to Naples, Italy. We've got some places to see here before coming home on the 19th. Here's what we've been doing:
Friday 10/1: Traveling through Albania, we visit Durres, a big port city. We see the Roman amphitheater and the Venetian towers. Frequent car ferries travel between here and Italy. A little later we cross back into North Macedonia, driving a lot of mountain roads. We walk into an old part of Ohrid and see temple ruins. Our hotel is on Ohrid Lake, one of the 5 oldest lakes in the world. It's very chilly tonight.
10/2: We took a short ride along the coast, then we had an authentic meal at a very pleasant village restaurant.
10/3: Today we drive back into Albania going further south. There are lots of olive trees, fig trees, grapes. We see the Berat fortress. There are many oil wells, some still in use. We pass salt flats on our way to Vlore, near where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet. Vlore is the 2nd biggest port in Albania, and it is a short distance across the water to Italy.
10/4: We drive a bit along the coast, then it's up into the mountains, into the clouds. We see more bunkers (that damned tyrant Enver Hoxha). Throughout the Balkans, we've seen many bee hives and honey for sale. We cross out of the mountains and into a plain. We're at the sea again. Anne and I are amazed at the beautiful coastline of Albania (Croatia also). We visit the Butrint Archeologica Park and see signs if Romans, Venetians, Christians. We see Corfu from the beach at Saranda.
10/5: We were hoping to see the Blue Eye Park, but the road was under reconstruction. We're again in the mountains. I've commented to Anne about the old men we see doing road repairs and other construction. Seems they should be retired. Branko reminds us that many young people go to other western countries for better employment opportunities. The Albanian border guard looks through the trunk and back seat. Not sure what he thought he'd find. We cross into Greece and set our watches an hour ahead. We spend 2 nights in Ioannina.
10/6: The cool nights continue. We drive through long tunnels on our way to Kalambaka. Aristotle Onassis wanted to build a ski resort in these mountains, but it didn't happen. We see big unusual, interesting rocks when we visit the Holy Meteora Monastery. I'm sure my photographer got some great photos. Anne and Branko again walk/climb up to the monastery. Again, I'm exercising my brain... We have gyros at lunch made from pork, not lamb.
10/7: There's rain, and we're taking the ferry to Corfu. We sit inside the salon with everyone else. We spend the rest of the day in our hotel, and we have Texas-style rain and lightning for 24 hours.
10/8: The rain continues this morning. Branko prepared such a nice lunch for us today at the cute apartment he rented near our hotel. We had a lovely meal of baby shark tail! Never had that before. He made a lovely meal. Very kind of him.
10/9: It's our last day of touring with Branko. We walk the old town of Corfu and the port. On our way to see a beach across the island, Branko pulls the car off the road. He has lost the power steering. He heroically drives the car to the first repair shop; they can't do anything for him. So up the road a bit, he stops at a 2nd shop. Now, it's Saturday afternoon, around 2:00, a lousy time to look for any repair work. The guy is in the middle of another job, can't work later, has to be in the city later. Branko stays on him; we know Branko is very persistent. Then we travel another 600 km to a 3rd shop. We were so surprised this guy had a Detroit t-shirt on! Thought he'd be our hero. All he could do was pull out the broken belt. So back to the 2nd guy. He'll get to it Monday morning. We take a taxi back to the hotel. Branko feels bad, but it's better that it happened now than in the mountains or the middle of the trip.
10/10: Branko rented a car so he could get us to the airport. What a guy! In total over 40 days, the three of us traveled 6800 km (4225 miles) seeing the Balkans. We learned so much: the history of these lands, the people, their struggles. Branko was asked to replace our scheduled guide at just about the last minute, and we're fortunate he was available. He is intelligent, an excellent driver, and amusing. We highly recommend him! Thank you and farewell, Branko, see you again! Anne and I had planned to take a ferry from Corfu to Bari, Italy; it just wasn't possible. So we fly to Naples and will rent a car for another week.
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