Tirana-Shkodër, Albania

From Ohrid, Macedonia, we drove down to Tirana. That is just over 130KM, but it takes a little while as you drive down from the mountains on narrow roads into the urban areas. Traffic will slow you down.

Albania. The country that the rental agency did not allow us to cross into. Unsure why. I do know that many cars stolen in the West eventually end up on the Albanian streets - or so they say. We did see a surprising high amount of BMWs and Mercedes on the road. They take good care of them. Every other turn I saw a car wash, often improvised with just a parking spot and a garden hose, but surely they love keeping them looking clean.

The traffic leading into Tirana was chaotic, but the city center itself was calm and peaceful. Sat down near the main square for a beer, walked around a bit and went somewhere for dinner - I cannot remember where or what I ate. The next day, we drove up north and visited some of the many different castles that are dotted in the hills with all of them proudly waving the national flag.

Stopped for lunch in Shkodër and then crossed into Montenegro.