Picture
Caption: BALKANS 2 weeks backpacking in the
Caption: In May 2016 I traveled for 2 weeks in the Balkans.
I left home without a real plan. I only knew I was going to Dubrovnik on a bus from Trieste.
Picture of Trieste
Caption: Day 1: Trieste Day 1: Trieste
Trieste
Caption: I had seen many pictures of Dubrovnik and dreamt of seeing it in person.
Picture of Dubrovnik
Caption: I was not disappointed
Picture of Dubrovnik
Caption: Day 2: Dubrovnik
Picture of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Caption: From Dubrovnik I decided to go to Kotor, Montenegro, just a couple of hours away by bus.
Picture of Kotor
Caption: Day 3: Kotor Day 3: Kotor
Kotor
Caption: A walled town quite small but incredibly charming.
Picture of Kotor
Picture of Kotor
Caption: Traditional dances during the celebrations of Montenegro Independence Day.
Kotor
Caption: From Kotor I did a day trip to the Durmitor National Park in the North. Astonishing natural beauty.
Picture of Kotor
Picture of Ostrog Monastery
Caption: Ostrog Monastery carved in the rock.
Just in time for the sunset.
Ostrog Monastery
Caption: Only 2 hours from Kotor there's Budva, another incredible walled town by the sea.
I stopped here a few hours on my way to Ulcinj.
Picture of Budva
Caption: Day 5: Budva
Picture of Budva
Caption: Budva is a favorite holiday destination by Montenegrins and tourists from Russia and Ukraine.
Budva
Caption: The same day I continued my trip to Ulcinj.
I spent the morning of Day 6 visiting its beaches and the citadel.
Picture of Budva
Budva
Caption: On the afternoon of Day 6 I crossed the border with Albania and stopped in Shkoder.
Less tourists and so fascinating with the Venetian buildings of the old town!
Picture of Shkodër
Caption: Day 6: Shkoder
Picture of Shkodër
Shkodër
Caption: The following day I crossed Koman Lake (an artificial lake) on a ferry and went up to Valbona.
Picture of Shkodër
Picture of Valbonë
Caption: Quiet mountaineous life in Valbona.
Picture of Valbonë
Caption: The hotel Rilindja where I stayed was like home away from home. Or even better.
Picture of Valbonë
Caption: One day trekking and tea with the shepherds.
Picture of Valbonë
Caption: Back to Shkoder on day 9. It's quite a long ride to and from Valbona.
Valbonë
Caption: Next: Tirana.
What I loved about this place? The cafes culture! There's a café at every door basically! And some have beautiful outdoor sittings.
Picture of Tirana
Tirana
Caption: Day 11: Berat.
The town of the thousand windows.
Its peculiarity are the ottoman houses that traditionally have many windows.
A Unesco Heritage Site.
Picture of Berat
Picture of Berat
Picture of Berat
Caption: Coffee grains or fresh ground coffee at this shop: I could smell it from the street!!!
Berat
Caption: Day 12: Gjirokaster.
Another amazing ottoman town and Unesco Heritage Site.
Picture of Gjirokaster
Caption: The main crossroad in Gjirokaster.
Picture of Gjirokaster
Gjirokaster
Caption: During the communism were built in Albania thousands of anti-nuclear bunkers.
The one in Gjirokaster is particularly big, with a long tunnel and many rooms. Creepy!!
Picture of Gjirokaster
Gjirokaster
Caption: Day 13: trekking near Gjirokaster to see a roman amphitheatre and two abandoned monasteries up in the mountains.
No tourists in sight.
Picture of Gjirokaster
Picture of Gjirokaster
Gjirokaster
Caption: Next: ferry Durres-Bari.
I took a stroll in Bari before my 7.30 hours train back to Vicenza.
My first time in Bari. In awe.
Picture of Metropolitan City of Bari
Metropolitan City of Bari
Caption: Thank you for reading this!
This is just a tiny portion of the Balkans. But I fell in love with what I saw and what I experienced. I hope to go back soon!!
If you have questions, please do ask on the comments.
Picture of Metropolitan City of Bari
Caption: You can also find me on:
Instagram: @tiakatty
Twitter: @tiakatty
Periscope: tiakatty
Snapchat: tiakatty
Blog: www.tiakatty.com
www.facebook.com/tiakatty.blog
