After a stop for cherries and apricots beside the road, a poppy field photograh opportunity and a rather futile hour looking for Illyrian royal tombs on extremely unsuitable roads, we arrived on the shores of Lake Ohrid (pronounced Ochrid with the ch as in loch, I understand).
The tectonic lake is shared with North Macedonia which is only a few kilometres away (you can do a walk to the border which is promoted by the town information centre). It’s a charming town with low-key amusements:
Our accommodation for the night is the usual excellent standard – our suite is magnificent (right hand side, ground floor), all for the princely sum of 60 euros a night (that includes breakfast).
The lakeside promenade is extremely long, with people strolling up and down, sitting on benches and taking selfies. The old men play chess and dominoes, though I had to be a bit covert about the photo.
And two more features of the town for you. First, the town square with the call to prayer in the background, if you turn the sound up:
And have a look at this charming fountain which is a book with quotations from two literary sons of Pogradec: a poet and a collector of old Albanian stories.
I visited the northern end of the lake 35 years ago when still part of Yugoslavia. Love the book fountain
Suspect it may not have changed vastly over that time. Agree book fountain v charming.
I feel as though you are in the setting for a French new wave film. I’m wondering which director you might choose. What an interlude in your travels. The roads don’t seem good generally, hope the rest of driving is easier.
The picture of the young people on the beach is very Eric Rohmer I think – it certainly was a place of considerable charm ( though we were a bit puzzled that none of the children were in school – we came across a sizeable number fooling around with pedalos this morning). Driving continues to be challenging ( more Chabrol than Rohmer).
The mix of architectural styles (and bubblegum aesthetic) through so many of your images has me as puzzled as the fresco styling. I seem to remember a book page fountain like that in Budapest, but the red is so much more … arresting!
Most of the towns are very modern with some quite brutalist architecture in parts. This little town had lovely tree planting though and a lovely rose garden about to burst into bloom
We never got here. What a mistake! Love the fountain although it feels like the water is going the wrong way unless they read from right to left……I just noticed that we stayed in the same hotel in elbasani.
You’re right about the page turning – I’m sure they read left to right!
I have been observing that Sue is a reluctant poser for the videos :))
Indeed. I usually duck and move behind M when she starts filming. Clearly I’ve not been quite quick enough on occasion!