Kruje - Michael's Adventure and the Albanian Hero Skanderbeg

Mount Kruje towers over the town of Kruje, located at its base at an altitude of 2000 feet

Friday, July 8 - Trip Day 9

Michael's adventure - while I was relaxing back at the Sea Cloud - is documented by his excellent photos posted here.  The Nat Geo group set out on an hour bus ride to see the town of Kruje.  Kruje is Albania's ancient capital,  from about 1000 AD to late 1300's AD, during the time of the Kingdom of Albania.

The town is dominated by the Kruje Castle and the Skanderbeg Museum, located near the ancient castle.  Skanderbeg, as Gjeorj Kastrioti was called, was a feudal lord and military commandar who became a national hero by liberating the Albanians from Ottoman rule in the 1400's.

Walkway through the old town market

The tour included a walk through the old town's market and bazaar, along cobblestone streets, a walk up to the location of the castle, where the Skanderbeg memorial and ethnographic museum is located, and a lunch with a local folk dance presentation.

Very slippery cobblestones - especially when wet on a rainy day

Walk up to the castle and the museum

Entrance to the Skanderbeg Museum

Statue of Skanderbeg

The Ethnographic Museum

Views from the castle of the surrounding countryside

The old market and walkway up to the castle and museum

Michael was excited enough by this collection of signs, he got someone to take his photo

Primarily, he said,  because it had New York City listed (Hi Adam and fam!)

The Nat Geo group made it to the restaurant just in time, before the big rainstorm started. They enjoyed a lunch of typical Albanian dishes (sorry, no photos).  After lunch, Albanian music and folk dancing.  They arrived back at the Sea Cloud around 4 PM. So ends my narration of Michael's Albanian Adventure.

Lunch location for our Nat Geo group

After lunch entertainment

Lovely dance exhibition with Albanian and American flags

A panorama of the countryside taken from the restaurant - beautiful scenery, even in the rain: