Exploring Elbasan and Tirana: Heartbeats of Albania and the Legacy of Skanderbeg When you wander through central Albania, two cities capture the soul of the nation: Elbasan and Tirana. Each offers a distinct glimpse into the country’s past and present—Elbasan with its Ottoman echoes and quiet charm, Tirana with its colorful, buzzing energy. And standing […]
Skanderbeg’s Albania: Heroes, History and Hidden Gems Read More »
Bulgaria offered many surprises. History and charm of course, but Roman theaters still in use, the golden orbs of Orthodox cathedrals in the night sky, Ottoman courtyards, a modern café scene that felt effortlessly cool and a chance to see Les Mis performed in Bulgarian. More on that later… Plovdiv – A City Woven Through
Two Cities, One Amazing Journey to Plovdiv and Sofia Read More »
Nestled in the mountains above the winding Yantra River, Veliko Tarnovo keeps the secrets of its thousand year history. Once the proud capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the city still carries itself like royalty, reaching its golden age under Tsars Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II before being slowly conquered by the Ottomans in the
Beautiful Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi: Bulgaria’s Tsarist Capitals Read More »
Day One – First Taste of the City Bucharest greeted me with the hum of a summer afternoon as I walked the few blocks to the city’s charming Old Town — …with café terraces spilling onto cobblestoned streets closed to traffic, Gelato stands on every corner and shops brimming with souvenirs. I found the famed
Three Days in Bucharest: My Glimpse of Life After Ceaușescu Read More »