Lake Ohrid and Tirana, Albania

Today we left Skopje and travelled to Lake Ohrid for lunch on our way to Tirana, Albania. Lake Ohrid straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern part of North Macedonia and eastern Albania. It’s one of Europe's deepest and oldest lakes. It’s a popular vacation destination.

Crossing the border today was easy. But traffic in Albania was brutal. It took far longer to get to Tirana than we had expected. We’re learning that traffic problems in the Balkans are as bad or worse than any we experience in North America.

Once we arrived in the city we had a walking tour. It’s a colourful, growing city that has advanced quickly since its communist government fell in 1981. There’s a feeling of optimism and momentum here that has me wishing we were here for another day.Read more