ALBANIA

ALBANIAN RIVIERA
Himare
Beaches
●Gjipe Beach – pull off Albanian “coastal highway,” just past Ilias village where sign reads Manastiri A. Thodhoros; follow gorgeous walk along rocky road that winds around hill on Adriatic Sea’s edge; gorgeous beach with almost no one goes there.
●Jali Beach – has good atmosphere, with umbrellas to rent and good restaurant, Taverna Peshkatari, offering freshly caught seafood.

Restaurants
●Taverna Viron – 011-355-69-221-8728 or 011-355-69-425-5755; Greek food.

Sights & Sites
●Himare Castle – on town’s northern edge, up hill from Alpet station; medieval.


BALKAN ALPS
Trails
●Peaks of Balkans – peaksofthebalkans.com; transnational hike that winds through remote and wild Western Balkans; following footways and shepherd, trail goes over high alpine mountains, through wild mountain scenery, to lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and remote villages.


BERAT
Sights & Sites
●Old Town – Mangalem; UNESCO World Heritage Site; well-preserved Ottoman town.


VALSH
Sights & Sites
●St. Premte Chapel – repository of now irreparably damaged frescoes from 16^th Century artist Onufri, among most important post-Byzantine period artists.


VLORE
Sights & Sites
●Bulevardi Vlore-Skele – main drag, where old men smoke like chimneys and engage in vigorous chess and domino games.
●Llogara National Park – about 40 kms from Vlore, between Himara and Vlora; beautiful Ionian Sea views.
●Museum of Independence – L. Pavaresia, Rr. Sadik Zotaj; 011-355-632-9419; in 2-story house where 1^st prime minister, Ismail Qemali, after independence from Ottoman Empire.