ALBANIA: Exploring the South

We explored the area surrounding Sarande and were rewarded with stunning scenery. 

Not only is the coast gorgeous, but inland from the coast are steep green mountains, quaint villages, crystal clear water, and ruins from Greek and Roman settlements.

About 20 Km (12 miles) south of Saranda are the ruins of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Throughout its 2,500-year history, Butrint has been a Greek city, a Roman colony and an early Medieval Bishopric.

I have to confess, I had to look up the word bishopric. If you don't know what it means either, I'll spare you the trouble of looking it up: "A diocese or region of a church which a bishop governs."

Butrint is a great example of the Greek and Roman civilizations overlapping.

We were lucky there weren't many visitors when we went and the park was very quiet and peaceful.

We took an antiquated little ferry with no walls and that used cables to move it across the water. It was bit unnerving driving onto it, especially when the ferryman kept telling me to drive further forward. YIKES!

Gjirokaster, a UNESCO site, is known as ‘the City of Stone’ because of the stone roofs of the Ottoman houses. The scenery is gorgeous nestled into the steep slopes of the Drino River valley.

The old city walls and the fortress date back to the 3rd century. The city's roads are super steep, narrow with sharp hairpin turns. The residents have to be really fit and have nerves of steel.  

We encountered some navigating issues and we'll just leave it at Linda was not a happy driver. This was the "before" photo. I wouldn't have looked so relaxed in the "after" photo.

The Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) is a water spring with crystal clear water that bubbles up from a cavern deep below. 

The outer part (the "iris") is bright blue and the inner dot (the "pupil") is actually a dark cave under the water. Looking down it looks like a blue eye - hence the name. Apparently the water is always frigid because it comes from an unknown depth.

More countryside photos...

More coastline photos.

The island is Corfu, Greece.

John's eagle eye spotted this. Any guesses what it is?

It is a submarine bunker built during the rule of Enver Hoxha, a man with a bunker fixation. 

Albania is definitely a pretty country for those curious enough to explore off the beaten path.