Albania

December 27th found us in the country of Albania just across the Sea straight over from the "heel" of Italy. Jill teaches in the capitol city of Tirana. Like us, she works for Quality Schools International. The school is located on an old East German compound. There is only one class per grade so many of the grade levels have their own house. Jill's classroom is in a former apartment building. The school is breaking ground for a new campus about 10 miles away on the edge of the city. New apartments nearby will hopefully house the staff.

Some of the campus.

Jill's school building.

Albania International School is home to two critters, Vincent Van Goat and Donkey-xote!

The first couple of days we walked around the city of Tirana. We loved the environment. The people were especially friendly and kind. 

Our first adventure took us north to Shkodra an Ottoman City. We stayed in a 400 year old Ottoman  Hotel. The hotel was unique to say the least. The end of the dining hall had an enormous fireplace. The owners cooked our meal over the open fire.

Just outside of the hotel was the most unique Creche we encountered on our trip. I couldn't resist showing it !

Our first excursion was to the castle, Rozafa. Rozafa Castle is said to be an almost impregnable fortress; a legend about the fort said that one of the wives of the builders (named Rozafa) was walled up in it during construction for unknown reasons. Clearly the moral is, never marry a mason. The fortress was first constructed about 350 BC.

A Shepard came up over the steep hillside with his herd of goats.

Kenton at the top of a minaret.

Next we headed to the neighboring country, Montenegro. It was a clear day with striking mossy green hills sloping to the sea. Montenegro was a heart grabber, located at the beautiful Adriatic coast, offering everything - from long beaches to great hiking trails - the country of black mountains.

We drove along the coast to Sveti Stefan. We expected to gain entrance onto the island and experience its history, but to no avail. The island is now a private resort for use during the summer months. We did however eat just above it along the hillside and enjoyed the view of the Adriatic Sea.

New Years found us back in Tirana. We walked around the city and found a few interesting locations. How about a tribute to President Wilson and President Bush? There is also a clock tower rebuilt with monies from the United States. The people here love Americans and we were surprised at how many knew English.

Skanderbeg is the "hero" of Albania. Skanderbeg was born in 1405 to the noble Kastrioli  family, in a village in Dibra. Sultan  Murad II took him hostage in 1423 and he fought for the Ottoman Empire during the next twenty years. In 1443, he deserted the Ottomans during the  Battle of Nis and became the ruler of  Kruje. In 1444, he organized local leaders into the League of Lezhë, a federation aimed at uniting their forces for war against the Ottomans. Skanderbeg's first victory against the Ottomans, at the Battle of Torvioll in the same year, marked the beginning of more than 20 years of war with the Ottomans. Skanderbeg's forces achieved more than 20 victories in the field and withstood three sieges of his capital,  Kruje. His Statue stands prominent in the square of Tirana. One of our days we visited the city of Kruje just south of Tirana. What a treat. The city is entirely made up of cobblestone and boasts a reconstruction of Skanderbeg's Castle. The shopping here was unbelievable. Antiques from years gone by, military memorabilia, watches, olive wood bowls, old wooden weaving needles and much more. I watched women weave tablecloths and rugs...for a mere $20. Kruje is a candy store for shoppers!

New years was the craziest we've ever been to. First of all fireworks were in great abundance. Anything and everything was available. Kenton couldn't resist a Roman Candle! Friends from San Diego, California arrived late in the day to join us for the festivities. We went to dinner and bowled a few games. Then we joined the rest of the citizens for a fireworks show like none other. Now mind you, Jill's director had told her not to go to the fireworks display..."You will die," he told her. Well that never stopped our family! The fireworks were placed all around the top of the buildings in Skanderbeg's Square. What a display! Fire shooting everywhere like we've never seen. Jill's local friends told us that just until a few years ago they were shooting off real firearms in the very same location. They are grateful for their freedom!

After recovering from the New Year we headed south to Apollonia, an ancient Greek city. one of the two most important Greek colonial settlements in present day Albania. It was founded in 600 BC on a hill near the sea, and near what was then the course of Vjosë river by settlers from Corfu and Corinth. Prior to an earthquake in the 3rd century AD, the harbor of Apollonia could accommodate as many as 100 ships. The hillside has years of archeological digging to be done.

The city of Berat is to the south of Terana. During the 18th century Berat was one the most important Albanian cities of the Ottoman Empire. Berat Castle is built on a rocky hill on the right bank of the river Osum and is accessible only from the south. After being burned down by the Romans in 200 BC the walls were strengthened in the 5th century under Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II, and were rebuilt during the 6th century under the Emperor Justinian I and again in the 13th century under the Despot of Epirus, Michael Komnenos Doukas, cousin of the Byzantine Emperor. The main entrance, on the north side, is defended by a fortified courtyard and there are three smaller entrances. The fortress of Berat in its present state, remains a magnificent sight. The surface it encompasses made it possible to house a considerable portion of the town's inhabitants. The buildings inside the fortress were built during the 13th century and because of their characteristic architecture are preserved as cultural monuments. The population of the fortress was Christian, and it had about 20 churches (most built during the 13th century) and only one mosque, for the use of the Muslim garrison, (of which there survives only a few ruins and the base of the minaret). The churches of the fortress have been damaged through the years and only some remain. We had one of the most fantastic meals of the trip in a small restaurant within the walls. The owner dawned our table with an excellent four course meal and Baklava to top it off. We all wished we had a number of days to spend in Beret.

Steep climb on cobblestone!

We had a wonderful time together for Christmas. We are blessed to know Christ as our Savior, Redeemer, and Friend. He has supplied us with all our needs and now much more than we could have ever imagined. To God be the glory, great things He has done.

Winter in Almaty

The first major snow storm came on December 1st. We had planned to go to a special ethnic bazaar at one of the event centers...it poured snow, heavy with water, branches broke and the travel was treacherous. But never fear...we boarded the local bus with our friend Jenn and braved the elements.

 

Here is a woman demonstrating silk painting. Their work is stunning. I bought a number of presents to bring home this summer. The vendors were from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan.                

 

 Some of the power lines were loaded with snow and collapsed to the street.

 

 

Monday, December 3rd, was a holiday. The President's birthday. We spent the day with Jenn and her friend Dinara from Almaty. After a little shopping and a long time at Costa Coffee Shop we decided to walk around downtown Almaty and view the New Year's Lights. New Year's is celebrated here with lights and gifts on the first day of the new year and the week following. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on the 7th...the day the Magi visited Jesus.

 

 

We've been enjoying a few sports here in Almaty. One weekend ski jumpers from Europe convened upon Almaty for one of their circuit destinations. It was a nice day, the sun was shining, the seating was great, and the price was FREE! The facilities were built in 2011 for the Asian Winter Games. Of course, us crazy Americans have to cheer the loudest. We know how to applaud our team!

 

 

We also attend hockey games without missing hardly a one. The Browns and the Finkbeiners are regulars and we are trying to inspire others to come along. Many of our colleagues are joining us and cheering. Kim Brown has made signs, we have made friends with some local young men with a drum, and we have just plain fun. Lyzzat, is our music teacher and fantastic fun! We asked her why there isn't much cheering she said, "We haven't been free very long. We're learning!" Well, they are learning from us Americans because we cheer our hearts out! When we first attended the team played their game and left the rink. Now they stay on the ice, salute the crowd, and bang their sticks on the ice! It's been great to see them appreciate our enthusiasm. One more fun bit about hockey, at the end of every game they win (only lost 2 at home)"We Are The Champions," comes over the sound system...in English! It's hilarious. Terry received an Almaty hockey jersey for Christmas from his class...we bought one for Joey Brown and they later bought another for the kids. We're decked out at hockey each game! They are currently 3rd in their division.

 

 

 Christmas was amazing at Almaty International School. The parents were extremely generous with us and gave both of us wonderful gifts of appreciation. Terry's parents gave us tickets to the symphony and the opera. Both were wonderful. The music was superb at both venues. The symphony had a guest conductor from China. We heard, Brahms, Wagner, and Hayden. The opera had outstanding vocalists performing Traviata, sung in Italian and subtitled in Russian. No hope for us! But we were given a program in English. These pictures are poor quality...none allowed but Ididn't let that stop me! I have to take pictures of everything!

 

 

December found us taking off for Italy and Albania to meet our children for Christmas. We really needed this reunion! Kenton had never been to Rome. Jill came in 2000 with the Art Club from Connell High School. All of us had a great time. We visited all the notable sites and ventured out to several new ones.

 

 

One unique visitor attending with us was "Flat Stanley." Stanley came from a friend, Tricia Clary from Mesa Elementary. Some poor child in her class has us as Stanley's companions. The way I understand it he has to research everywhere Stanley goes. I hope he can keep up! Stanley had the unique experience of spending the night in the Capitol building. I dropped him there without knowing. The next day Jill and I went back in and there he sat on a cupboard waiting for his owner. Someone probably thought a child would be devastated if he weren't found. Nice.

 

 

One of the highlights of this trip was viewing the Caravaggio's found in Rome. We saw seven of them...many more were in one of the family museums which we didn't have time to attend.

 

 

 

There are local artists everywhere in Rome. We watched for several nights as two young men recreated a Vermeer work of art with chalk on the sidewalk. Wow!

 

Christmas Eve was spent in Vatican City. Kenton and Jill went on the Vatican Museum Tour and we all toured St. Peter's Basilica. At midnight the bells from the hundreds of Basilicas around the city rang in tandem proclaiming the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Christmas in Rome is beautiful. The lights were hanging from the sky above the streets. Each alley way had its own style. The Piazza Navona was filled with a carnival-like atmosphere. Booths were set up with games and prizes, food stations, and local artists selling paintings, jewelry, music, and amazements. On Christmas Day we went back to one of our favorite spots, Trevi Fountain. As we walked around the side of the fountain we saw that a museum was open. We went inside and discovered the exhibit highlighted the building of the Trevi Fountain and its maintenance. We watched a film on how they clean it and scoop up all the millions of coins thrown in every year. Upon turning to leave the curator motioned for us to come toward the enormous cascading  curtains along one side of the room. She took us through and opened  the windows...below us was the Trevi Fountain! It was magnificent! What a special treat. It seemed to me that this rarely happens, or so I would like to think so.  Following our time at the Fountain we went back and spent time in the Piazza and had dinner just outside of the Pantheon.  It was a wonderful day.

 

 

One of our days in Italy was spent at Pompeii. We took the bullet train down to Naples and over to Pompeii. It was a misty day so the crowd was almost nonexistent. Great for us. The city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman city. Pompeii was partially destroyed and buried under 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft) of ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Pompeii was lost for nearly 1700 years before its rediscovery in 1748. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of the city. Pompeii was an amazing site. The amount that has been uncovered and so well preserved by the volcano shocked us.

 

 

 

 

Next Albania.