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Albania to Austria
Spent a week organising a new vacuum pump to replace the temporary fix. Finally chased one down, although it probably would have been quicker to get it from OZ in the long run.
Anyway it needed replacing which meant we had a chance to unwind at ‘Lake Shkodra Resort’ near Shkoder, some 40klm from the Med coast.
Niko, the owner, was a great host and couldn’t have been more helpful. Although not a ‘Resort’ by Australian standards, Niko has the best in Albania, and easily the best value camping ground we have stayed at in Europe.
Our neighbour for a couple of days was Pierre, from guess where. At 67, Pierre was relatively new to Europe’s 4x4 fraternity, but he was enjoying touring through places as diverse as Iceland and Albania, etc.
As I mentioned before, Albanian’s are very welcoming, but they have to be some of the worlds worst litterers. The term ‘******** in your own nest’, comes to mind. A beautiful country, endowed with some great alpine scenery, but I couldn’t recommend it.
Next border crossing was into Montenegro. A postage stamp sized country, even smaller than Tassie, but stunning scenery. And clean! They appear to have pride in their country and rightly so.
Part of the old Yugoslavia, they are now part of the EU.
Montenegro is covered with garbage bins, and so is Albania, the big difference being that here they get emptied.
No Niko here though. The camping is basic to say the least. Though the locals don’t camp as such, they chalet. No tents or camper cars here. Little, itize bitzi, log cabins are the go.
Montenegro appears to be quite heavily forested and alpine. Not big trees (no doubt regrowth), but pine, ash and oak cover the mountain slopes. Any flatish alpine land, is given over to agriculture. It appears to us that Switzerland may have looked something like this before it was ‘discovered’.
All the males, and a lot of females, in this part of Europe sound like Vladimir Putin in that they have a low gutteral growling type of drawl. It’s scary but it almost makes our Australian version of the English language sound almost lyrical. Only joking!
From Montenegro we briefly enter Bosnia to travel south along the border with Montenegro to get back to the Med coast.
There does not appear to be much movement of people from, and through neighbouring countries in the Balkans. Basically it appears that they hate each others guts! Not surprising with their volatile history of tit for tat wars.
Croatia’s next on the move northward. We had heard a lot about the coastal scenery and it didn’t disappoint.
Dubrovnik in the south was worth a sticky beak. A large walled port city with pretty easy access this time of year, it being shoulder season. From there we traveled the coast road up to around Zardar where we headed inland to Plitvicka Jezera National Park. Here you get to walk around a series of cascading waterfalls, with what appears to be more than half the population of Asia. The rest come next month.
Moved on to the coastal island's of Krk and Cres off Croatia's coast. This requires the use of a couple of ferries to island hop. A lot of Balkan's bikers on board, with faces only a mother could love. We now move away from the Med coast and won't hit a coast again until before we cross to Sweden. Still feel sorry for the Europeans, in that, from what we have seen up until the present, they don't have a decent beach.
Driving north takes us briefly through Italy, then into Slovenia. Slovenia another surprise with b***** all tourists (mostly kayakers), scenery along the Italian border to rival Switzerland, and another clean one. For those who prefer 'the nature', a much preferred destination than the big name drawcard countries with their over the top tourist infrastructure.
Into Austria and we find our first supermarket with cheesecake. Yes, what a day it has been! The downside of course is that with the cheesecake comes the cheesecake consumer. The weather is about to turn as we enter Austria, with rain and cooler temps expected for the next few days. But must not grumble, as the weather up till now has consistently been in the mid twenties and sunny.
Spent a week organising a new vacuum pump to replace the temporary fix. Finally chased one down, although it probably would have been quicker to get it from OZ in the long run.
Anyway it needed replacing which meant we had a chance to unwind at ‘Lake Shkodra Resort’ near Shkoder, some 40klm from the Med coast.
Niko, the owner, was a great host and couldn’t have been more helpful. Although not a ‘Resort’ by Australian standards, Niko has the best in Albania, and easily the best value camping ground we have stayed at in Europe.
Our neighbour for a couple of days was Pierre, from guess where. At 67, Pierre was relatively new to Europe’s 4x4 fraternity, but he was enjoying touring through places as diverse as Iceland and Albania, etc.
As I mentioned before, Albanian’s are very welcoming, but they have to be some of the worlds worst litterers. The term ‘******** in your own nest’, comes to mind. A beautiful country, endowed with some great alpine scenery, but I couldn’t recommend it.
Next border crossing was into Montenegro. A postage stamp sized country, even smaller than Tassie, but stunning scenery. And clean! They appear to have pride in their country and rightly so.
Part of the old Yugoslavia, they are now part of the EU.
Montenegro is covered with garbage bins, and so is Albania, the big difference being that here they get emptied.
No Niko here though. The camping is basic to say the least. Though the locals don’t camp as such, they chalet. No tents or camper cars here. Little, itize bitzi, log cabins are the go.
Montenegro appears to be quite heavily forested and alpine. Not big trees (no doubt regrowth), but pine, ash and oak cover the mountain slopes. Any flatish alpine land, is given over to agriculture. It appears to us that Switzerland may have looked something like this before it was ‘discovered’.
All the males, and a lot of females, in this part of Europe sound like Vladimir Putin in that they have a low gutteral growling type of drawl. It’s scary but it almost makes our Australian version of the English language sound almost lyrical. Only joking!
From Montenegro we briefly enter Bosnia to travel south along the border with Montenegro to get back to the Med coast.
There does not appear to be much movement of people from, and through neighbouring countries in the Balkans. Basically it appears that they hate each others guts! Not surprising with their volatile history of tit for tat wars.
Croatia’s next on the move northward. We had heard a lot about the coastal scenery and it didn’t disappoint.
Dubrovnik in the south was worth a sticky beak. A large walled port city with pretty easy access this time of year, it being shoulder season. From there we traveled the coast road up to around Zardar where we headed inland to Plitvicka Jezera National Park. Here you get to walk around a series of cascading waterfalls, with what appears to be more than half the population of Asia. The rest come next month.
Moved on to the coastal island's of Krk and Cres off Croatia's coast. This requires the use of a couple of ferries to island hop. A lot of Balkan's bikers on board, with faces only a mother could love. We now move away from the Med coast and won't hit a coast again until before we cross to Sweden. Still feel sorry for the Europeans, in that, from what we have seen up until the present, they don't have a decent beach.
Driving north takes us briefly through Italy, then into Slovenia. Slovenia another surprise with b***** all tourists (mostly kayakers), scenery along the Italian border to rival Switzerland, and another clean one. For those who prefer 'the nature', a much preferred destination than the big name drawcard countries with their over the top tourist infrastructure.
Into Austria and we find our first supermarket with cheesecake. Yes, what a day it has been! The downside of course is that with the cheesecake comes the cheesecake consumer. The weather is about to turn as we enter Austria, with rain and cooler temps expected for the next few days. But must not grumble, as the weather up till now has consistently been in the mid twenties and sunny.
- comments
Ken LEE TET Thanks again for the great travel blog, and fantastic photos! Love you!
Ron & Lynne Fellowes Looks like you’re having fun. Love the scenery - it’s awesome. Must put these countries on our bucket list.