Hotel Krela Vlore

... bewoelkt ist ist es immer noch 30 Grad und recht schwuel.<br><br>Berat besteht aus einer Burg auf einem Berg. Diese enthaelt ebenfalls Kirchen und auch heute noch bewohnte Haeuser. Am Berghang gibt es dann einen alten Vorort und auf der anderen Flussseite, durch eine Steinbruecke verbunden, einen weiteren Vorort. Drumherum gibt es heute aber natuerlich auch eine moderne Stadt mit guter sozialistischer Architektur. <br><br>Gruss<br>Ralf<br>

... and sometimes struggle to start.<br><br>The ride is very bumpy but shows how rural population lives. Most people have used their yards as gardens, growing grapes, corn &#8230; Many buildings are half built. Effigies are common but can't tell what they are for. Deserted factories. Trash everywhere. Concrete military bunkers are all over the strategic locations (eg, town entrances, hills, bridges). I am taking photos from the bus but ...

... from the old days when the Turks occupied this territory. I had a wander before and was pretty impressed, as I was standing on the wall looking into the valley below I could see a huge mountain with a snow capped peak in the distance. The Muslim call to prayer was being played in the town below and was echoing through the valley like a chant. It was a cool moment because no one was around and I couldn&#8217;t help but ask &#8220; Where the F%$% am I?&#8221;. The hostel I am ...

... of joining the PC). Thru her I learnt a lot about how people live in this region, including a ritual called &#8220;gyro&#8221; , which is kind of like our &#8220;cruising&#8221;, but on foot. Every evening in the summer a section of the main street will be closed to traffic between 7 and 9 pm, and people, especially the girls, put on their best and walk up and down the street. All men and women of any age can join in, but most of them are younger ones. The men ...

... enjoyed the people and the food thoroughly, and even got a little more than a tourist insight through our volunteering. <br><br>Scott is an English ExPat who was looking to open a hostel somewhere that has a lot of tourism potential. He fell in love with sleepy Berat, and bought a world heritage building to convert into a hostel. What he needed from us was some finishing touches. During our ...

... forward. People have mentioned about how bad the roads were but I have found them fine. If you have been to Africa or certain parts of Asia the roads are nothing compared to those. Albania is also classed as the poorest country in Europe and it definatley is the hardest to travel in but it is extremely rewarding. Berat is a really nice little place. It is home to a lot of Ottoman buildings that ...

... one can also find historical places like The Church of Marmiroi in Orikum, one of the monuments of culture remaining from the anticity. Is one of the oldest churches in the Balkans as old as Orik City. Other places like the Castle of Ali Pasha are points of historical interest. The National Park of Llogora is a very kind place with pine forests and an amazing view at the Ionian Sea. Its highest point is ...

... if pricey little bar down the way then, sharing a hookah between the group of us for a little relaxation. Good times, but it made for a rather brief rest. Since the transportation system is at its most reliable in the earlier hours of morning, I didn't want to risk sleeping in too much. So, despite hitting the sack just before 3am, I got myself up and at 'em by 7:45. There's always the furgon to sleep on (which is exactly what I did). A few others were heading the ...

... During the 13th century, it fell to Michael I Ducas, the ruler of the Despotate of Epirus. Latter in the 13th century Berat again fell under the control of the Byzantine Empire. In 1280-1281 the Sicilian forces under Hugh the Red of Sully laid siege to Berat. In March 1281 a relief force from Constantinople under the command of Michael Tarchaneiotes was able to drive off the besiging Sicilian army.[2] It passed to the Serbs in 1345, who renamed it Beligrad or ...

... but sometimes has difficult comprehending Sarah. That makes 2 of us out of our small party of three. We went out for a beer the other evening and decided it would be nice to have a nightcap in our hotel, especially as the staff are friendly and we are the only guests. As we walked into the bar we noticed the staff were all in there, plastered. As we sat down with them, one of them took a shine to yours truly ...