My name is Marion Vermazen. I am a traveler, hiker, reader, Sun alumnus, computer geek, YouTuber, Spanish and French language student, knitter, weaver and genealogist.
Author: marionvermazen
I am a traveler, hiker, avid reader, Sun alumnus, computer geek, Spanish and French language student, knitter and genealogist. I am retired after working for almost 30 years in the Computer Industry. I live in Reno, Nevada with my husband Duke.
The garden tables for breakfast at the Hotel Epidamn in Durrës were idyllic. Even though the garden was inside there were lots of live plants and peaceful music.
Duke at breakfast
After breakfast we went to find the Roman amphitheater we had seen signs for.
Sign for Roman Amphitheater
The amphitheater is only a block off the Main Street. It was built at the beginning of the second century and was uncovered between 1966 and 1970.
Durrës amphitheater Going into the amphitheater
From Durrës we drove just over an hour to a hotel up on a hill overlooking the route we had just driven. We rested and took a walk and then had nice dinner overlook the valley.
Out for a walkThe view from our roomGoat baked in yogurt
It was raining hard in Tirana when we woke up this morning. We had good internet at the Mondial Hotel where we stayed in Tirana so I worked on our YouTube video about our visit to the Water Buffalo Dairy in Italy and posted it before we left.
Around noon we walked about a mile to the rental car place to pick up our car.
Walking to the rental car place in TiranaOn the way to get the rental carAt the rental car office
We drove back to the hotel, picked up our luggage and drove west to the town of Durrës on the coast. We had drinks and a pinsa on the sidewalk outside our hotel.
Leaving TiranaDrinks in DurrësOur pinsa
After our snack we went for a walk. According to Wikipedia Albania is 59% Islamic. As we were out walking we passed the local mosque during the call to prayer. It is interesting that we have only seen a few women wearing hijabs but we have seen very little alcohol consumption among the people we assume are locals.
The Durrës Mosque
We went to the TripAdvisor top rated local restaurant for dinner, a beef restaurant, Westwood Meathouse. We had a wonderful dinner
Beef at Westwood Meathouse
On the walk back to our hotel we passed the mosque all lit up.
The adventure continues. Our bus ride today from the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica to the capital of Albania, Tirana was supposed to take a little under four hours. All was going according to plan when we crossed the border.
But then shortly after we crossed the border our bus had a flat tire and we spent two hours waiting while the driver got it fixed.
The bus jacked up to change the tireDuke waiting for the tire to be changed
About 4:30 we arrived in Tirana and walked to our hotel. After changing some money we went up to the roof top bar for a drink and a snack.
We had an excellent dinner in the hotel.
My pork with apples and ginger Duke’s beef slices
At the end of the meal they brought us some Rakia, the Albanian National drink.
Montenegro is a little bit smaller in area than the state of Vermont with a similar population. Today we checked out of the wonderful Lazure Hotel in the coastal town of Herceg Novi and took a bus inland to the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica.
At the bus station
The bus ride took three and a half hours. The scenery was stunning. Much of it along the coast reminded me of the fjords of Norway. Unfortunately the bus windows had some kind of a film on them so it was impossible to get good pictures.
The view through the bus window
We walked from the bus station in Podgorica to our hotel. The area around the bus station was, as in many cities not the nicest. Our hotel, Hotel Viya is a in a very pretty area.
Walking from the bus station in Podgorica Near our hotelOur hotel room
We rested a bit and then went out for a walk.
Independence Square in Podgorica Millennium Bridge across the Morača River
For dinner we went to a nearby pizzeria, Pizzeria Calabrian.
It is great to spend two nights in one place again. When we woke up this morning it was raining. We had a great breakfast buffet at our hotel, the Lazure.
Part of the breakfast buffetMore of the breakfast buffet
The rain stopped and we walked the mile and a half down the coast to old town Herceg Novi.
The walk to old town Herceg NoviThe church in the main square of old town Herceg NoviHerceg Novi FortressHerceg Novi Fortress
When we got back from exploring old town we went for a short and refreshing swim.
DukeWe took turns taking pictures.
For dinner we had appetizers and beer in the restaurant. We didn’t want a big dinner like last night but still I am very full.
