Two days in Berat, Albania

Leaving Durres early, we taxied to Berat (no trains here in Albania) and thoroughly enjoyed the UNESCO tourist town.

It's known as the city with a thousand windows

Staying in the heart of the old town, I hiked to the Berat castle on the Mangalem side of the Osham riverthe first day. There's the road route

Or the "short cut" that I took (quite a hike between these two pictures)

Lots of castle remnants (can you tell I like arches?)

Ruins of the red mosque and the white mosque (based on the brick colour)

The castle is a vast area, home to a small village of shops, homes, churches, restaurants, bars and hotels inside the castle walls.

Beautiful views from the top

On the way down, I stopped to look at Holy Trinity Church aka Castle Church
and continued down the other side of the hill.

On the second day, I first hiked up to St Michael’s church on the hill below the Berat castle. You can see it in the middle of the first picture on the hillside, taken from the street below.

Walking through the city streets on the way to the switchback trail...

I passed the former Sarays (palaces) of Ahmet Kurt Pasha (late 1700's)

And signs explaining the roles of some Albanian historical figures, including Alexander the Great, an Albanian, who apparently, was not allowed to compete in the Olympics because he was a foreigner.

I finally arrived at the entrance to the church

Took a couple of pictures inside

The gentleman who looks after the church (and collects donations) was happy to meet me and, upon learning I was Canadian asked me to wait while he played songs on his phone. He would play the song and see if I could guess the artist (not knowing that I have zero ear for music and don't know many songs or artists, Canadian or not). He then triumphantly announced the artist when I guessed Celine Dion every time He played Brian Adams, Celine (so I got one right) and Justin Timberlake, who I understand is not Canadian. Anyway, he was very sweet and didn't want me to leave, so he took down the barrier to another chapel and a view platform, where I dutifully took more pictures.

With smiles and thanks, I said goodbye and headed back down the hill. I saw a very steep and narrow trail that I assume led up to the castle from this side.

Then I explored a bit outside the old town tourist area. The very wide and very long pedestrian-only promenade

The Hotel Colombo overlooking the park at the end of the promenade

Tomori football (soccer) stadium, with a small peek inside

And the church of St Demetrius, which was completed in 2010, built on the same space as its predecessor which was destroyed under the communist regime.

Loved Berat!