Tirana revisited

I sincerely hope I never have to drive here again!
 Small section of motorway but the rest like a narrow country lane full of potholes, heavy traffic and insane driving. Got back to the city in good time to drop off the car but spent almost one hour trying to reach the dropoff point. Without my navigation app I would still be there!
At least the promised rain didn't start until I was safely on the bus to Shkoder.

 This building was designed by Hoxha's daughter, probably the ugliest ever constructed.
Spent the whole day travelling, just arrived in Shkoder in time to exchange cash.
Decided to skip straight to Montenegro in the morning.

Lake Ohrid

Drove along the lakeside to another rather depressing town called Pogradec. To be fair its Sunday and most of the shops are closed and it's about 12 degrees with a bitter wind blowing off the mountains.

An old guy asked me to take a photo of his grandson. 

                        Men playing chess

One of dictator Enver Hoxha's many concrete and iron bunkers.

Seems, looking around, I was lucky to find this hotel. Only 15 EUR. Comfortable and excellent service. Breakfast not exactly what I would chose but that would be yogurt, fruit and meusli. You have to be adaptable in this game.

Tirana and onward

Bus from Berat to the capital-Tirana, ugly all the way.
Nice, lively city.

Didn't stop, picked up hire car and headed straight out, ( more or less) to the Eastern mountains and Lake Ohrid.
I said before that the roads and driving were bad. I have to revise that, they are appalling.

Beautiful, rather dark, foreboding mountains.

I was feeling quite sad about Albania when I came across this stunning lake and the most delightful little village called Lin.
It is perched right on the edge of Lake Ohrid.

The mountains are in Montenegro

 Actually met some people, very friendly.

This is my house!

 I could live here if it were not so remote.

 Something wrong with this one.

Found a hotel along the road next to the lake. Tried fish for dinner, since its next to a lake, cookedtodeath seems to be the preferred method here. Excellent service though and half a carafe of complimentary wine from the manager.

 Having a rest day catching up on blog and planning trip.
Not actually house hunting but thought I may as well see something of the country while I'm here.

Berat

Another ancient city surrounded by ugly concrete and a smart new promenade next to the river.

 It's known as City of a Thousand Windows

View from hotel balcony. So much of what is lovely here has been spoilt.

They have banned the building of high rise blocks but it will take a long time to get rid of them.