Albania! Day 7 & Moving On!

I heard the call to prayer broadcast at 5 AM, but I turned over and went back to sleep!  I have been saying a prayer in the churches we visit.  I am blessed!

Final comments on Albania.  I’ve seen signs for Coke, Pepsi, KFC, and even Burger King, but no McDonald’s.

4

Toilets have a light and a full flush.  It makes a lot of sense!  I also saw this in Dubai so many countries probably do this.  Maybe we have them in the US.  If not, something to think about USA!

It’s time to leave Albania and head to Croatia via Montenegro.  I really need to learn geography because I am missing the gene OR never studied it in school OR studied it and forgot it!  Our guide, Denis, who has shepherded us and taught us about his native country will hand us off to our next guide for Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia.  I will miss Denis!

Off we go, but we have about a 6-7 hour van ride with Denis, and he has more information for us…blood feuds and sworn virgins!

In the 15th century, there were laws in northern Albania about property ownership and self-justice.  If a member of your family was murdered, all the men of the village or particular area would meet with the local priest or imam who would try to make peace.  The men of the murdered family member would give the “Albanian promise” that they would do nothing for 48 hours.  After this period, hunting the killer could begin and last up to twelve years until their revenge was satisfied.

If the killer was caught and killed, his face would remain unmarked so that a family member could go to the now dead person’s home and say justice has been done…there is justice in the house.  This tradition went on for hundreds of years, but it is no longer practiced.

At one time, male offspring were much preferred over female babies.  If a father only had female children, at least one of the girls may declare themselves to be a “sworn virgin”.  They would agree never to have sex nor marry, would dress like a man, smoke, be the leader of the family, and keep the family’s name.  When they died, the family bloodline and name died with them.

There are currently about 20 sworn virgins in Albania and most are over 65 years old.

People are becoming more open-minded about the LGBTQ+ community.  Some people want parliament to approve marriages of these groups.  However, Denis feels the Albanian Orthodox, Catholic, nor Muslim religions will ever accept it.

We pass through the border into Montenegro, and the roads become much bumpier and narrower.  I thought we were on a one-way road until a car was coming towards us.  Our van slowed down and sometimes came to a complete stop as car and van pass each other.  Montenegro’s super coastal highway!

Montenegro is 90% mountains, but it has some beautiful seaside resorts on the Adriatic Sea.  We stop for lunch overlooking St. Stefan’s Island where movie stars and famous people have vacationed.  The restaurant’s decor…

  

is beat by their blueberry and raspberry crepes for dessert.  Before…

and after!

However, the views from the balcony are pretty stunning!

  

A short ferry ride carries us across a narrow fiord.

  

Well, isn’t this an interesting advertisement!

Before we reach the border, we stop for a “smile break”.  It’s also time to say good-bye to our guide and now friend, Denis, and to meet our new guide for the main trip, Damir.  I mention my cough, but he has been alerted by Denis, and a COVID test awaits me in Croatia!

Through the border, and we are in 2 miles of “No man’s land” until we reach the Croatian border and go through their border check.

We immediately start learning about Montenegro which means “black mountains” in Italian. I was trying to take notes but the bumpy roads and maybe a long day of traveling and coughing have worn me down.  I don’t feel bad, but I don’t want to make the others sick!

Our Croatian hotel is a resort!  Robyn and I are traveling as singles, and even though she was a good roommate in Africa, it is so nice to have a room to myself!  Especially with this cough!

Damir comes to my room, and it’s the first time I’ve had someone else administer the COVID test.  I’ve always done it myself.  We talk and wait for the results, and…

…it’s NEGATIVE!  I still have a cold and cough but not COVID-19!  I go tell Robyn!

Dinner is a huge room filled with a food buffet at the hotel restaurant, and we begin to meet our new fellow travelers. 

I know I will be learning much more about Croatia and Montenegro over the next few days so don’t despair.  Travels with GJ will pass it along!