2045 km: Albania, Gjirokastar

02 August 2019

Livadeh - Shën Vasil - Blue Eye - Gjirokaster - Labova e Kryrit 

Orux map screenshot: 
BLUE line is the planned route 
RED line is the actual route we drove

After Himarë towards Sarandë the beaches are nicer, wilder and not crowded. Should be great to do a sailing trip along the cost of Albania. So many amazing bays and shores that can only be visited from the sea

Some more bunkers on the rocky beach

In Shën Vasil we see while driving through this little village by chance a sign leading to the Austrian Soldiers Cemetery.  With the help of a friendly resident we finally find the cemetery from the WW I 1914-1918.

Searching for the cemetery....

....with his  help we finally  find the right cemetery 

We enjoy the nature ....

... with free roaming animals

in Albania as well as in Bosnia i Herzegovina there are a lot of memorial artifacts along the roads with pictures of the one who died in a car accident there. This makes us a little bit worried about the driving safety.

The Blue Eye in Syria i Kalter  is a a spring with clear cold 12° water coming constantly out of the deep. Till today only 50m down the hole have been discovered. The water is so cold, that I can only dip my feet in for few minutes

Gjirokastar situated on a hill guarded by a huge castle is a nice city. The houses and pavements in the old city have been renovated very nice. In 1961 the old city was declared as a museum city. We visit the city in the late afternoon,  that's why the pictures are a bit dark.

The Bazar with the pavement being renewed

We look for a nice Camping, but don't like any of the 3, so we decide to camp in a nearby park beside a lake, but now in summer it is nearly dried out. There are lots of birds, some storks and loads of water snakes and frogs in muddy areas. Good that we just see the snakes before we leave in the morning.  The park is very well kept and a popular place for the residents of Gjirokastar.

Tara finds as usual a good friend to play with, big big love. We hope she doesn't get tics as she got from her stray friends in Osum canyon.

Absolutely worth to drive the way up to the village Labova e Kryrit to visit the byzantine church dating back to the 6th century. We can't believe to find such beauty and art in this church in such a small village with only 50 residents. A Juwel in the mountains of Albania. The perfect highlight to end our trip in Albania before driving further on to Greece

Wild turtle having a walk across the street

 The keyholders

Candles for our beloved ones who are in another univers

Very good breakfast with beautiful background

The border of Albania