“Travel is never a matter of money, but of courage.”
This is a blog where I am going to share with you photos that are taken around the world and show you an unseen part of our lovely planet .
Located in the southwest of Albania, it is approximately 30 minutes drive from the city of Sarandë (there are a number of local buses to Butrint or you can hitchhike).
Also, it is very close to the Greek border. If you’ve got your own car, it is well worth catching this ferry as it’s so unique. It is a border crossing point not many people know about and makes a great story to tell friends!
It costs 700 lek to get in for foreigners (approximately €5), and you can easily spend a few hours walking around beautiful Butrint National Park.
Butrint is a microcosm of Mediterranean history. It has seen the rise and fall of a number of great empires who have dominated the region, each one developing the city in their own way and adding their own imprint.
There are so many layers to Butrint, and the more you walk around the more you peel back a new layer, delving deeper and deeper into the history of the area.
What you see today is an amalgam of monuments representing a span of over two thousand years of history from the 4th century Hellenistic period to the Ottoman defences created in the early 19th century.
With the rise of the Roman Empire, Butrint expanded to become a flourishing Mediterranean city.
Monuments like the theatre give it a Roman aspect, and after Julius Caesar and Augustus founded a colony here the city was extended via a bridge and aqueduct across the channel and onto the plain, causing commerce to boom.
Over the centuries that followed the fortunes of Butrint rise and fell much like the empires surrounding it, but during the 13th century Butrint thrived again. A castle was built on the acropolis and its fortification walls were repaired again.
By the 19th century, Butrint had become a small fishing village clustered around the castle, though today it probably sees more people walk through its walls than 100 years ago.
When you are walking in beauty such as Butrint, I suggest you take a packed lunch with you, sit in the ancient theatre or by the church, and take it all in. Trust me, it’ll be worth it. Also, there aren’t many places you can buy lunch, so taking one with you is a win-win situation.
After seeing a fair few ancient Roman cities around the world, I can honestly say Butrint is one the best I’ve ever come across, and it is just another amazing reason to visit Albania.
Butrint National Park is open from 9am till 4pm.
Be warned, during midday and around lunchtime it can be extremely busy at the site. Also, if you’re visiting during summer, it can be very hot too. If you can, I’d really recommend visiting either early in the morning or later in the afternoon when things have quietened down.
Worked by:Klarisa Sota
Albania, on Southeastern Europe’s Balkan Peninsula, is a small country with Adriatic and Ionian coastlines and an interior crossed by the Albanian Alps. The country has many castles and archaeological sites. Capital Tirana centers on sprawling Skanderbeg Square, site of the National History Museum, with exhibits spanning antiquity to post-communism, and frescoed Et’hem Bey Mosque.
Throughout 2019, Albania has been impacted by a number of earthquakes, the most significant being 6.4 on the Richter scale in November 2019. A number of cities have experienced considerable damage, particularly Durres and Kruja near Tirana. This has been a devastating event for Albania. At this stage, the number of reported deaths has surpassed 50, thousands of people have lost their homes and more then 100,000 continue to be affected.
Since returning from an extended stay in Albania and publishing my guide to visiting the country, I’ve been receiving regular emails from readers wanting to know more.
Surprisingly, for me, one of the most common questions I’m asked is whether it’s safe to travel to Albania. I admit to finding this question a little perplexing. Aside from a brief period of unrest in 1997, Albania hasn’t been in a conflict since WWII.
Even during the Communist period when the country was mostly closed to outside visitors, it was still possible to safely travel around the country.
Random acts of violence are practically unheard of and even pickpocketing is uncommon.
As with all European nations (possibly with the current exception of parts of Ukraine) Albania is completely safe and welcoming of tourists. To answer certain reader questions, Albania is safe for children and safe for dogs.
You might find it reassuring that Albania will likely join the EU in the next few years. The only reason they are late to join is due to issues of corruption, not safety.
I would even go as far as to say in recent years, in particular in 2015 to 2019, Albania has changed considerably, becoming safer than ever. Add to that the fact Albania is one of the cheapest countries in Europe, it’s a great time to visit.
New Orleans
New Orleans is known for colorful nightlife, a bursting festival calendar and a decadent local cuisine — but the Big Easy is also an undercover gem for budget travelers. Let’s start with the basics. Most NOLA must-dos are free: people-watching in the French Quarter, house peeping in the Garden District and bar hopping the live music venues on Frenchman Street. But get creative. Need to cool off after all that strolling? Head to fun and flirty The Country Club, where entry to the pool out back costs a reasonable $15 a day and the bar provides a steady stream of frozen cocktails. Worked up an appetite? SoBou and Commander’s Palace are two of many local restaurants keeping the 25 cent martini weekday lunch alive. You read that right. Order lunch, and martinis are a mere quarter — though most enforce a limit of three, because, as the menu states, “that’s enough.” Need to work off all that indulgence? Head to one of the several free weekly fitness events thrown by Move Ya Brass. They have a calendar of running clubs, yoga classes and dance-based workouts heavy on local music and flavor. Need a place to recharge so you can do it all again tomorrow? Check in to the Catahoula Hotel, a chic boutique design hotel in the Central Business District with rooms starting at a mere $100 a night.
Jamaica
Though Jamaica is a legendary beach destination, 2019 will be the year to discover Kingston, an untapped, culturally rich capital of the Caribbean. Still rough around the edges but with a soul that is impossible to resist, Kingston is the place to experience the heartbeat of Jamaica, in ways simply not possible from within a beach resort — and for a much cheaper price tag. Rhythm rocks the streets from sunup to sundown. In fact, in 2018 Kingston opened the Peter Tosh Museum, which rounds out the city’s musical offerings, in addition to the Bob Marley Museum and the Jamaica Music Museum.
Experience the local dance halls, tour the Trench Town Culture Yard and see a side of the country that few Americans take the time to truly experience before they jet off to the beaches of the north. That said, with the recently opened high-speed highway that connects Kingston to Ocho Rios, visitors can easily make the trip north to weave together a city and beach vacation in one trip, especially with the new S Hotel in Montego Bay, a sleek-and-sexy, South Beach-style spot that will open in January. End your jaunt with a ride through reggae music history as you depart from Sangster International Airport. VP Records, the world’s largest independent reggae music label and publisher, is kicking off its 40th anniversary with an installation chronicling its indelible contribution to reggae music.
Lisbon
Lisbon is the affordable European city you’ve been dreaming of visiting. It offers a rich history, incredible architecture and delicious local cuisine and wines, all without the high price tag of Paris and London. Bargains abound around every corner. Indulge in the city’s decadent custard-filled pastel de nata for just 1€ at the historic Pasteis de Belém café. A Lisbon city pass is 19€ and gives you 24 hours of admission to everything from modern museums to historic monasteries, as well as all transportation, including rides on the Lisbon’s scenic tram cars and stunning elevators that lift passengers up the steep city hills. Thirsty? Local wine bars charge less than 3€ per glass of wine; even swanky restaurants offer bottles for under 10€ (try that in New York City, where you’ll be lucky to find a glass of wine for that price). Extra bonus: Lisbon is great for families. There’s a fabulous aquarium and science museum on the waterfront, not to mention a real castle to explore. Centrally located, family-friendly Martinhal Chiado offers full-service apartments with kitchens starting at around $150 a night. Included in the reasonable rate: free use of baby equipment, including everything from bottle warmers to strollers; a complimentary kids club that runs late so parents can go out for dinner on their own; and a free breakfast that includes made-to-order pancakes and those amazing nata tarts.
Tallinn
Only a short ferry ride away from Finland, Tallinn is a cheap alternative to visiting Northern European cities such as Helsinki or Stockholm. Accommodations run for a fraction of the price compared to most of Europe, and public transportation is easy to navigate, as well as cost-efficient. Make sure to pay a visit to Tallinn’s UNESCO-protected medieval old town, a preserved walled area with many restaurants and shops. For an exceptionally special experience head to the restaurant Olde Hansa, located in the old town’s center. Providing medieval musicians performing nightly, meals prepared using 15th-century recipes and authentic medieval attire, this restaurant is reason enough to pay Tallinn a visit. To learn more about Estonian folk culture and art, make sure to add both the Estonian Open Air Museum and Kumu Art Museum to your itinerary.
Cooperstown
Although this charming town may be internationally known for being home to the iconic National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cooperstown has more up to bat than just baseball. Strolling down the historic main street you’ll find an array of cute shops, antique stores, cafes and my favorite — the bountiful Cooperstown Farmers Market, where you can find affordable (and incredibly delicious) bites made locally. During the day, you can find plenty of inexpensive fun, like a tasting at Ommegang brewery ($10 for a tour and tasting), a visit to Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard (complimentary tastings), a tour of the Farmer’s Museum ($12 entry) or a stroll around the Fenimore Art Museum ($12 daily pass). Even for those who aren’t baseball fans, make sure to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame this year to celebrate its 80th anniversary. With Cooperstown being situated in prime farming country, this town is home to some very tasty restaurants. Head to the greenhouse-chic Origins Cafe (entrees around $12) or splurge on dinner at the lakeside Blue Mingo Grill (entrees around $30). For an inexpensive yet historical hotel, stay at the Railroad Inn (rates starting at $85 a night).
Barga
Tucked within the mountainous Serchio Valley is Tuscany’s best-kept secret. Not yet overrun by tourists, Barga is a quiet medieval town that takes you back to old-world Italy where mama cooks for all and wineries are still run by families. The art scene is alive and well, the Duomo di San Cristoforo atop the town is worth the walk and the food, well, that goes without saying. A local highlight is the lunchtime tour at Podere Concori, a biodynamic winery with a passion for cultivating the purest of products. Winter season here is ideal for budget travelers; rates at the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa are as low as €112 per night. With views of the entire valley from your balcony, you might even catch snow falling as you marvel at the watercolor-like sunsets. Located just over an hour from Florence, you get the best of both worlds when you fly into the city for a stopover before heading to the countryside for mountain biking, hiking and thermal pools, too.
Worked by:Klarisa Sota
Albania is a small country, not that popular as well. Even through this land of Albania is blessed and beautiful. Here is a footage taken here that truly show that even in not known places a beautiful panorama is hiden.
Worked by:Klarisa Sota
Hi! Thank you for choosing our blog to “explore” the planet !
We are a group of teenagers and by this blog and our photos we want to show everyone how amazing the planet that we live on is and how lucky we are to have all these beautiful places .
It is very sad to see that so many wonderful cities or villages are not explored before by other people and that is what we want to do , we want to show a part of the Earth that isn’t seen before .
Enjoy!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/streetcar-in-new-orleans-699112771-5a98de0d1f4e130036d2e855.jpg)
Around the World 
