Berat

For hours we drove along the spectacular coastal road, which again and again offered us magnificent views far out over the open sea. The winding road led us through picturesque landscapes and romantic little villages.

Around noon we reached Berat, the "city of a thousand windows," which enchanted us from the very first moment with its charming Ottoman architecture.

We first drove up to the castle by car, which sits majestically on a rock above the city.

Although it was incredibly hot again, we resisted the urge to jump straight into the pool of our hotel.

Instead, we set off to explore this dreamlike city.

Through narrow cobbled alleys, we descended into the center. Whitewashed houses stood tightly packed together.

Once in the center, we bought some souvenirs—both for ourselves and for our loved ones back home. We strolled through narrow, traditional alleys and also visited the wide, long pedestrian zone, at the end of which stands a very pretty church.

In a traditional tavern, we treated ourselves to delicious Albanian food.

We crossed the Osum River via one of the charming bridges—on the other side, the view was no less impressive. Here too, there were narrow alleys and the famous windows in the houses.

Later, we returned to our hotel, which was located on a hill. From the large balcony on the first floor, we had a breathtaking view over the city’s houses with their thousand iconic windows.

We then ended the afternoon in the pool, which was once again very welcome after the heat.

In the evening, we took another walk into the city. The narrow alleys exuded a very special charm in the light of the setting sun. The atmosphere was mystical.

We had dinner on the rooftop terrace of a very cozy, small restaurant. One last time we enjoyed the varied and tasty Albanian cuisine and ended the evening with a glass of wine.

Later, we strolled through the lively center again and treated ourselves to an ice cream. The city was full of life and we happily soaked up the atmosphere.

The next morning, we leisurely packed our bags and then set off for the airport, which we reached two hours later. There, we first returned our car, with which we had explored so many beautiful places. Then we treated ourselves to a late breakfast in one of the many cafés.

After checking in, we visited the duty-free shop. And soon it was time to board.

The flight home was just as pleasant as the journey there—though this time with much more melancholy. A wonderful vacation had come to an end, and we would carry the memories of it with us forever.