Peaks of the Balkans-Day 7
I had not been looking forward to this last challenge of the trek. And it lived up to its reputation, with myriad switchbacks and trails that were so narrow that faster hikers could not easily pass me.
Places
The Svaneti Towers of Northern Georgia
Because of the steep valley walls, it was difficult to build one fortress to encompass each village, so individual defense towers (called “koshki” by locals) were built within villages.
Peaks of the Balkans-Day 5:Rekë e Allegës to Drelaj
Becca and I were getting hiking weary. The steep daily ups and downs were taking their toll on our knees and feet.
Peaks of the Balkans-Day 4: Milishevc to Rekë e Allegës
We started out walking uphill on the road out of Milishevc. Then we had to climb a steep hill with no real trail—just using our GPS to get us up to the main trail. Even then, the trail was non-existent in places, and we had to rely on GPS and the occasional Peaks of the Balkans trail markers.
Peaks of the Balkans-Day 3: Doberdol to Milishevc
This was the longest stage so far….We enjoyed long easy walks up and down along ridges and over some low passes from one valley to another.
Progressive Supper in Istanbul
Rebecca and I created our own progressive supper in the Kadikoy neighborhood of Istanbul….We spent well over three hours eating and drinking.
Peaks of the Balkans-Day 2: Çereme to Doberdol
Today, as we had expected, was easier overall. There was an easy uphill until about the halfway point. Then we had lovely rolling hills and ridges to traverse for the rest of the day. There were no real hurdles.
Peaks of the Balkans-Day 1:Valbona to Çerime
It was not without some trepidation that we started out on our Peaks of the Balkans circuit … We knew that our choice to go over the Prolipsit and Borit passes would test our strength—almost 20 kilometers with an elevation gain of 1422 meters.
Peaks of the Balkans-Getting Ready
We decided to start our journey in the small town of Valbona, then hike counter-clockwise (anti-clockwise for my British friends) around the trail circuit ending in Theth.
Training Trek for the Real Trek!
This training culminated last week as we did a three-day test trek in the Zagoria Valley near Permet in Southern Albania
A Collection of Turkish Breakfasts
While you are meant to linger over dinner in most countries, in Turkey, it is not uncommon to see people nibble on their breakfast feast for a couple hours.
Three Days by Train in Turkey
I could have flown (ugh!); I could have taken the overnight bus (double UGH!). But instead, I created an itinerary that, in a small way is reminiscent of the way people traveled 100 years ago.
A Lesson in Staying Open
When chance encounters waylay your travel plans, staying open to the possibilities may mean that you experience something much more valuable.
I Got Naked for My Birthday in Istanbul
Eliff led me to the bath chamber where hot water was run into large basins. We could temper the water with a cold tap if we wanted to. But you want to use it as hot as you can stand.
The Monasteries of Meteora-Part 2
Varlaam was indeed a fascinating place. The museum there provided an excellent opportunity to learn not only the history of the Meteora Monasteries, but also to learn about the way of life
The Monasteries of Meteora, Part—1
While researching a different trip … I came across some articles about the monasteries of Meteora in Central Greece. Not only do they have a fascinating history, but being precariously perched on the tops and sides of cliffs, they compel visitors to examine them more closely.
So…I am in Mexico…in the Midst of a Pandemic
Being a permanent nomad can be a bit confusing. I often am asked, “Where are you from?” and I find myself in a pickle. How do I answer? Especially now…when I am supposed to be “home”—wherever that is
My Favorite Peruvian Places & Experiences: Arequipa and Lake Titicaca
This post accompanies my LIVE YouTube broadcast on 28 March 2021 about my explorations of Arequipa and the Lake Titicaca area of Peru.
My Favorite Video Shorts I
Two years of travel adds up to a LOT of photographs and video footage. Today, I am going to put together a kind of montage of a few of my favorite very short videos and tell the stories behind them. These were taken in Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan.
Invasion of the College Students
Imagine my surprise when seven (count ‘em SEVEN) adorable young college men walked into the room. Imagine THEIR surprise!