tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post5239653219622204478..comments2024-03-16T20:29:10.881-04:00Comments on Travel with Kevin and Ruth: The Annunciation Monastery and Skotini Cave near Vanister, AlbaniaKevin Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05795747155781311686noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-54314256103762220812021-05-08T01:32:12.420-04:002021-05-08T01:32:12.420-04:00It really is hard to beat the views here. There is...It really is hard to beat the views here. There is gorgeous scenery everywhere you look. We are really enjoying the area and we know that we will be back this way again one day in the motorhome to see the things we missed on this trip.<br /><br />Other the the first couple of days when we arrived to this area we had fantastic weather, perfect for hiking. :-)Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136052866820208847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-258459158891467172021-05-07T15:01:49.785-04:002021-05-07T15:01:49.785-04:00What beautiful views on these last two days of hik...What beautiful views on these last two days of hikes! Perfect weather makes everything better too. Love the sheep photos.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15572905521059358017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-22100996039353400232021-04-29T10:51:33.483-04:002021-04-29T10:51:33.483-04:00Thank you Elaine and Chris! :-)
Thank you Elaine and Chris! :-)<br />Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136052866820208847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-87209581827974147782021-04-29T07:48:29.371-04:002021-04-29T07:48:29.371-04:00Ruth, I also thought you look slim and fit in that...Ruth, I also thought you look slim and fit in that pic of you on the path.Elaine Readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16070038707624961451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-75030308445258231362021-04-29T01:54:04.008-04:002021-04-29T01:54:04.008-04:00We figure someone has probably already gone throug...We figure someone has probably already gone through these bunkers with metal detectors already. Too be honest some of these bunkers you really don't even want to enter, some are pretty tasty inside!Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136052866820208847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-54379488211016988042021-04-29T01:51:49.135-04:002021-04-29T01:51:49.135-04:00Thank you for continuing to follow along with us a...Thank you for continuing to follow along with us and for taking the time to leave a comment, we really appreciate it and we are glad that you are enjoying our adventures. :-)<br /><br />Yes, some of the scenery definitely reminds us of Wyoming and Montana as well.<br /><br />Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone, once you have done it for the first time, you tend to be more comfortable about the language factor. We find enough people around that can speak at least a bit of English and we of course try to learn some of the basic words in local language wherever we travel to and Google translate makes things even easier. Don't let the language issue hold you back or you will miss out on seeing some beautiful places.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136052866820208847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-51450521894464872982021-04-29T01:45:26.518-04:002021-04-29T01:45:26.518-04:00The monastery was interesting, especially with us ...The monastery was interesting, especially with us being the only ones there other than the two worker guys, plus the views were outstanding.<br /><br />Those weren't goats, they were male sheep or rams and that is why they had the big curly horns, not all male sheep have horns so maybe this is why you have never seen horns like that before.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136052866820208847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-55818946909175349872021-04-29T01:39:35.648-04:002021-04-29T01:39:35.648-04:00Thank you Luci and Loree!
We aren't sure if t...Thank you Luci and Loree!<br /><br />We aren't sure if the monastery is still used. It certainly looks like people still go up there and light candles but I really doubt that it is used for services anymore. We don't think the curtains were for confessionals because it just opens into one room behind the "alter". You have to keep in mind that this was an orthodox monastery and church so things are set up differently to what we are used to seeing in a Catholic/Protestant church.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136052866820208847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-16726165199377209492021-04-29T01:30:30.503-04:002021-04-29T01:30:30.503-04:00Thank you, we enjoyed our day too! :-)
The monast...Thank you, we enjoyed our day too! :-)<br /><br />The monastery really was pretty cool to see, we love these kinds of finds when we are out exploring.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136052866820208847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-8184177749090418052021-04-29T01:29:23.269-04:002021-04-29T01:29:23.269-04:00Hi there Cat, yes the countryside here is gorgeous...Hi there Cat, yes the countryside here is gorgeous, we really are loving it here. This is definitely what we came to Albania for. :-)<br /><br />To be honest, some of our hikes we just go out on a road and hike it to see where it takes us. Otherwise we check Google maps to see if there are any places of interest marked off and then check them out on the internet and if they look interesting enough than Kevin pins them to his map on the phone. We also use Maps.me, sometimes it shows trails or sometimes little back roads it doesn't differentiate between the two, again if there is something of interest than Kevin pins it and we head in that direction. Unfortunately we haven't been able to find a good hiking map of Albania, either on the internet or in paper form. There is also Alltrails but it is a pay app and so far we seem to do well just the way we are doing things.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136052866820208847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-42312952475663706082021-04-28T18:26:56.832-04:002021-04-28T18:26:56.832-04:00Imagine if you had a metal detector the things you...Imagine if you had a metal detector the things you could find in a bunker like that! Ruth, you look fantastic! living.boondockingmexicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157433834193440923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-47825488539927786862021-04-28T14:16:56.374-04:002021-04-28T14:16:56.374-04:00We are still following you, daily, and wanted to w...We are still following you, daily, and wanted to write a note to say how marvelous it has been, having this trip with you! So much of the terrain looks like it could be in Wyoming or Montana. I would love to spend some time there, but the language issue might just prove to be more than I could handle!Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787062544799575559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-18395285970295303762021-04-28T14:00:58.712-04:002021-04-28T14:00:58.712-04:00Monastery was quite interesting. Never seen Goats ...Monastery was quite interesting. Never seen Goats with horns like that. Great scenery.<br />Be Safe and Enjoy your next hike.<br /><br />It's about time.Rick and Kathy Rousseauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05187734210342762674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-3233721886004012792021-04-28T11:54:03.922-04:002021-04-28T11:54:03.922-04:00Wow, those pictures are wonderful.. such OLD thing...Wow, those pictures are wonderful.. such OLD things! Is the monastery still used? Curtains in doorways? Confessional?<br />Lots of farming!Luci & Loreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05532319517164921110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-16586115865885134532021-04-28T11:39:18.865-04:002021-04-28T11:39:18.865-04:00Loved following your day today. The monastery look...Loved following your day today. The monastery looks fabulous! Bee & Thistle Hosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11688395618721055349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171307653508307040.post-79096958928906152972021-04-28T03:56:22.375-04:002021-04-28T03:56:22.375-04:00Hi, Such beautiful countryside. I'm interest...Hi, Such beautiful countryside. I'm interested to know how do you find such good hikes and trails? Is Albania well mapped? Coming from the UK, it was a surprise to us when walking in Europe how bad some of the maps were as many don't have an equivalent of an Ordinance survey style detailed map system. Would love to know what you use to explore as am hoping to do lots of walking as soon as Europe starts to re open more.<br />CatAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07353116356984966904noreply@blogger.com