On the way to Kosovo

 When we left Montenegro and passed back through the border into Albania we drove to Shkodra to spend the night before driving in to Kosovo the next day. It is located in the north western part of Albania next to the biggest lake in the Balkans. 

And again we stopped for some of that tasty Albanian soup, this was their version of pea soup…

Some of the scenery on the way…

There were lots of small farms some of them still quite green, while others had already been harvested.

Lots of lakes as we go…

Lots of women along the way selling clothes…

By the lake, it was Sunday so a lot families out enjoying the nice weather and having lunch.

We next visited Shkodra Castle that dates back to the 1st Millennium. It was still in good repair and provided wonderful views of the area…

It is located at a point where three rivers meet…

It is said that the castle and fortress were built to fight off the Romans in 168BC, so its’ been around for awhile! 

Some pictures of the remains….

Don and Mali, our guide checking out the well…

There is a lot of history in this place dating back to very ancient times and it is nice to see that they remember and celebrate the past.

We then headed into the town of Shkodra to spend the night. It is an ancient city which has been occupied by different cultures and peoples including the Romans, the Serbs, the Venetians and finally the Ottomans. It has shaped the city and produced residents who are very proud of their city. We stayed next to a great pedestrian area so had a chance to people watch. One thing we have learned so far about Albania is how safe it is to be here. The country has very little crime and we feel safe everywhere we go. In fact it is ranked safer than many other Western European countries like France, Sweden and the UK. 

This is Ebu Bekr which is the main mosque in the city. We were awakened by the call to prayer. 

This was the view of the mosque in the morning…

Next morning up early for a breakfast provided by the hotel and on our way to Prizen, Kosovo. 

Flower displays everywhere and the places have been so clean.

We are looking forward to Kosovo and our stay there.