Ancient and new trails with dizzying vistas
We walked the oldest known “road” of the island on the second day of our hiking trip and had a beautiful wild beach all for ourselves. On the third day we followed a much younger road that was never used as originally intended. Then on the last day we did two days’ distance in one.…
Springtime hike on Lanzarote
Let me show you the cheerful springtime face of Lanzarote with lush vegetation and flowers as we saw it on our 4-day carneval hike in late February. The end of February is carneval time in the Canaries and a week-long school holiday. In 2020 it was the last festival people could celebrate freely (though we…
Pinched grapes and a clumsy thief
Balkans Cycling Trip, days 39-40 13-14 August 2017: Permët- Gërmenj Out of two options, we choose the shorter and more difficult one, but it is more interesting and quieter for sure. This day offers probably the most beautiful landscapes of the whole trip as we leave the Vjosa valley and reach Leskovik. We ride past…
Swimming in River Vjosa and meeting Paul, the sheep
It’s an easy day without any steep sections and the road is very good quality between Gjirokaster and Permet. We meet a proud coffee merchant and swim with local boys and girls in the River Vjosa. Then after a nap in Permet’s central park we find the worst equipped campsite ever. But Paul and Marika,…
Stray dogs and rooftop camping
Balkans cycling trip, Days 28-29 2-3 August 2017: Qeparo – Ksamil A short day’s cyling along the picturesque Albanian Riviera and coffee stops in some lovely villages on the way. Then another day by the sea – perhaps we’re getting lazy? Rooftop camping in Ksamil is highly recommended! Distance: 52 km Total distance: 1373 km…
Goats and bridges
Day 16 (21 July): Shengjin – Ulez Distance: 50 km Total distance: 917 km The last night in Shengjin I checked the map and our route once again and I noticed that the road we wanted to take was not just very low category (meaning that it could easily be a gravel road) but it…
Watermelon and grubby workshops
Days 14-15 (19-20 July): Shkodër – Shengjin Distance: 65 + 20 km Total distance: 867 km Three years ago when Aron and I were on our way back to Montenegro, we spent two days on the beach in Shengjin, a popular holiday destination for Albanians. We liked the laid-back atmoshphere and the campsite, where hens,…
Hairpin bends and helpful priests
Day 13 (18 July): Vermosh – Shkoder Distance: 89 km Total distance: 782 km After a wuthering day of doing practically nothing, we were all ready to cross the mountains although we knew it wouldn’t be an easy ride. Two passes were ahead of us. The first one, 1355 m over sea level, seemed to…
A near miss and friendly neighbours
Balkans Cycling Trip, day 8 We climb the first serious hills of our trip in Central Serbia and I nearly get hit by a careless driver. Breathtaking views of artificial lakes and another heartwarming experience with the friendly Serbs 13rd July 2017: Tatinac – Bistrica (Nova Varos) Distance: 85 km Total distance: 505 km The…
Donkeys and lots of rakiya
Balkans cycling trip, Day 7 A relaxed day with new friends, both human and non-human, and lots of rakiya. Just for the taste of it. 12 July 2017: Chilling out in Tatinac village Distance: 17 km Total distance: 420 km The churchyard was quiet and we knew we only had to cycle a few kilometres…