BlackSeaRoamer

While working in Albania recently I read Ismail Kadare's Broken April . It seemed like a good time to read a novel by Albania's most...

I like Zagreb in summer. Half empty, as its inhabitants head off for the coast, it is quiet and peaceful. No problem finding a place to sit ...

One of the first observations almost all foreigners seem to make on visiting Tirana is that it's a lot nicer than they expected. And it...

This evening I went to the Queen's Birthday bash in Tirana. I always feel a little embarrassed on these occasions. Other countries have ...

Yesterday Tirana was full of flags, the black and red of Albania, and occasionally the blue with stars of Kosovo. Albania were playing footb...

I'm really impressed by Tirana. After the hard times it has been through it has emerged as an attractive, lively, pleasant city. Lots of...

I love wild strawberries. One of the most delicious fruits there is. And the pleasure is still greater for the joy of coming upon them durin...

I have often been a bit harsh about Prishtina. It is too easy to do. Prishtina is such an obvious target for criticism, that it almost becom...

Last weekend I was in Skopje again. Beautiful spring sunshine, sitting outside cafes and restaurants with friends, great. Skopje must be one...

A week in Macedonia (as an election observer) was such a pleasant interlude. It just has so many nice things that one struggles to find in K...