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Crossroads of the Adriatic
  • Ken Wiant
  • Ken Wiant

Crossroads of the Adriatic

A 23-day adventure by Ken Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 23, 2023
  • Ken WiantCrossroads of the AdriaticTraveler

    First day, and full day in Tirana

    September 25, 2023 in Albania ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Today was cloudy and drizzly. The planned gondola ride to the top of the mountain was canceled.

    The morning was spent at the large underground bunker for government officials. It is educational and scary. Reportedly, there are 170,000 smaller ones scattered around the country.

    After the Nazies were defeated, the country voted to join the Soviet Union. The building style then followed the standard Communist style, all alike and cheaply done.

    The nation's leader then embarked on building a progressively more oppressive regime to keep everyone in line. It then devolved into neighbors being rewarded for spying on neighbors. Who could you trust? No one! It became the North Korea of Europe.

    When the iron curtain fell, the Albanian Communist regime fell also. When the demonstrations started, the police mainly stepped aside as the process was recognized as being unstoppable.    Read more

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    History outside of Tirana city

    September 26, 2023 in Albania ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Albanian history has a lot of lessons, old and more current events. Islam has a version that is Islamic but very different, called Bektashaine, with a Great-grandfather, Grandfather, Father heigharchy and headquarters near Kruje Castle. The religions (Islam, Christianity, and Eastern Orthodox all gee along well here. Under Communism Albania was declared as an atheistic state, and religious buildings and symbolism were destroyed. When the Communist government was overthrown, rebuilding has been ongoing.

    Later, a demonstration of handmade felted wool was followed with a tour of a midevial-type marketplace up in the mountains. There had been several Balkan wars that have shaped and reshaped the region.    Read more

  • Ken WiantCrossroads of the AdriaticTraveler
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    Triana, Mrizi pottery workshop, Shkoder

    September 27, 2023 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    For this week-long pre-trip extension, we had eight participants that included three men, all retired physicians, and eight women, all retired with very interesting careers. And the trips are all educationally oriented.

    Today, we observed the owner of a local pottery workshop. He can put out a piece in 2 to 3 minutes each before firing. He loves his work. A neighbor family runs a busy farm, producing wine, salami, cheese, and much more. Both families had left Albania due to the Communist period and decided to come back home afterwards.

    Lunch was at the farm restaurant. There was no menu to pick from. Every few minutes, they would bring out a few more items for everyone. This continued for about 40 minutes. It was all very good and all were satisfied.

    Pictured are two of the medium-sized concrete bunkers built to stop any invasion by the great enemy, the United States. Enver Hoxha, former Prime Minister of Albania, was very paranoid. The bunkers were death traps!    Read more

  • Ken WiantCrossroads of the AdriaticTraveler
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    Shkoder, St Stephens Cathedral & Shiroka

    Sep 28–Oct 2, 2023 in Albania ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    St Stephen's Cathedral in Shkroder, Albania, consecrated in 1867, has been the target of numerous sieges but has never fallen (though it was briefly converted into a Palace of Sports during Communist rule between 1967 and 1990).

    We visited the shop of a local man who had made a mask for fun that made a big hit. That led him to open a business that is keeping his small staff (20 or so) busy. He designs them, and his staff are free to use their creativity in painting them. The masks were very impressive.

    The call to prayer is 5 times a day but is not too loud (more on this later).    Read more

  • Ken WiantCrossroads of the AdriaticTraveler

    To Dubrovnik, Croatia, & join main trip

    September 29, 2023 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    This was a travel day of about 8 hours by bus. The trip included two border crossings. We did so rather rapidly as it can take an hour or two at each crossing, depending on traffic. We were lucky.

    We stopped at a medium bunker and crawled inside. It's not a good place to be. But for the rest of the day's trip, there was much that was more pleasant to see.

    I have got behind as the days with the OAT tours are busy and often go into the evenings, Pat has not felt well for several days, and that pulled me down some, and the internet reception has been spotty. And so the challenge....    Read more

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    Explore Dubrovnik

    September 30, 2023 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    OAT has picked hotels that are close to the center of the old city or point of interest for each night. I like the idea, but it can make for some interesting experiences like older hotels. OK!!!

    This morning, we explored the old city of Dubrovnik (was a city-state from 1358 to 1808) and heard about the history from a local guide. Beautiful walled city (about a mile walk on top of the wall) with old buildings and setting.

    It is hard to comprehend that this old city was subjected to major damage during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s from artillery bombardment. Repair work continues through UNESCO. Our travel company, Grand Circle Travel, has a foundation that also contributes to this effort.    Read more

  • Ken WiantCrossroads of the AdriaticTraveler

    Excursion to Kotor, Montenegro

    October 1, 2023 in Montenegro ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Today's activity was a bus and boat trip through a narrow body of water to an ancient small town, Kotor. It is a well-preserved medieval walled town situated at the head of southern Europe's deepest natural bay. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    The town is made up of very narrow, cobbled streets. We got off the usual tourist path, away from other tourists. We could think about what it could have been like to live "back in the time" in Kotor.    Read more

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    War on Dubrovnik, farmstead visit

    October 2, 2023 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We were given a view of the signicant damage to Dubrovnik from the artillery shelling (1991-1995) as seen from a mountain viewpoint. Old undamaged roof areas are darker, and roof tiles that needed to be replaced are brighter orange in color.

    In the afternoon, we visited a family farmstead where olive oil production has been ongoing for generations. The owner of the farm gave a very detailed presentation. That was followed by wine tasting. It seems that nearly everyone makes their own wine here. Then we had dinner with live folk music.

    Later, we walked around the old town til dark.    Read more

    Trip end
    October 15, 2023