Albania was the first country on our 4 week 2018 summer break. From the capital, Tirana, we headed south towards Greece to a valley village called Gjirokoster - described by UNESCO as "a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town".  We went on a couple of memorable day trips from Gjirokoster to the Blue Hole (a deep crystal clear spring) and some thermal pools in Langarica Canyon. 

 

Next was Berat - a city on the Osum River, in central Albania. It's known for its white Ottoman houses. On the hilltop is Berat Castle, a huge compound still inhabited by locals...and us for two days.

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The last leg, was a two day trek from Valbona to Thieth (and back).  These mountain villages are in the Albania Alps and to reach Thieth you need to hike over the aptly named Accursed Mountains.  A thoroughly tough, but pleasurable experience.  That first beer after 15 hours of hard yakka was 'manna from heaven'.