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Travel Info and Help

The Perils of Albanian (Dis-)information Centers!

This recent email from a lovely guest our ours was too good not to share, and represents a valuable cautionary tale!  It’s  also the latest news on the state of the pass to Theth – for all you happy hikers who’ve been writing to ask – this is how it was on-or-around-about the 29th of […]

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Travel Info and Help

Dear New York Times

Well.  It turns out the New York Times only reads Letters to the Editor of 150 words or less.  Thus, the 1,977 words it just took me to point out (some of) the inaccuracies in their recent article “Hiking Beyond Borders in the Balkans” hasn’t a hope in hell of getting published.  It’s not MY […]

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Travel Info and Help

The Ad-Hoc, Skiing in Valbona, Conversation-Piece Post

So!  A few years ago, an intrepid group of skiiers came (thanks to Outdoor Albania) to stay with Sose and Alfred.  They were exploring the possibilities of what I think is called “Ski Touring.”  Every winter since then there’s been one or two groups of pioneers arriving to explore the possibilities, and their articles are sprinkled […]

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Travel Info and Help

O Noble Hound on Zhaborrë

This is our dog, Pango.  At the time of this picture, he is lying quietly and patiently outside my tent, guarding me while I prepare to go to sleep.  He has not questioned why I’ve decided to sleep on top of a desolate stony mountain in late October.  Nor why we had to spend the whole […]

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Our “Save Valbona” video . . . .

that kind of needs to “go viral,” if you can help?   http://vimeo.com/49966905 Despite the fact that I seem a bit fat, and have terrible bags under m’eyes, this video that Italian filmmaker Florian Platter made this summer still cuts straight to my heart, stirs up all the stuff that keeps me awake all night, makes me feel […]

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Travel Info and Help

Quite Possibly the Best Cow Photo Ever

Many Thanks to Max et al. for taking and sending this (and several other) excellent photos!  If you all behave yourselves I’ll even post some more!

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Travel Info and Help

Baby the Hedgehog – Alive and Well!

It’s an ill wind that blows no good . . . . On Saturday night, Alfred and I realized we’d rented out every single sleeping space at Rilindja AND at the house.  In a possibly mis-placed fit of fellow-feeling, I’d even promised our tent to a lovely young man from Tirana, who’d been trying to make it […]

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Travel Info and Help

Mail from The Netherlands

  This is you working hard to clean the beautiful path you set out in the mountains. We met four weeks ago and visited with our Dutch group your beautiful place. We have had a beautiful time in the Albanese alps. I wish you a lot of success and all the best,   Robert The Netherlands

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Travel Info and Help

Does Anyone Recognize This or Know Where it Is?

A nice Canadian just sent me this picture with the name “Albania snaky cliff road” – asking where it is.  Does anyone recognize it? Alfred guesses “Logara?” and says “It’s Great!” Free beer when you get here, if you can tell us where it is!

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