Wow this place is something else!

Firstly, I need to set the scene. This is a village built in geographically the most stunning of all places. I question if I have ever been in a U shaped valley of this size before. Dropping down in to the valley from Sarandë to the south west you see the widest flat bottom valley, I am guessing a mile wide, fertile with a river running chaotically through its centre. A river that you can see from the sediment and rocks spreading either side of it that at certain times of the year it grows to 8 times it’s size. That torrent must be one hell of a show to see. What is so stunning is that gargantuan mountains rise up from either side of the valley floor to mind bending heights of 8000 feet and whole rows of them either side of the road for 20 kilometres. The smooth edges of them, if my school geography serves me well, suggest that a whopping great big glacier past this way millennia ago. Wow, wow, wow, all I can say it is breathtaking!

Then you come to Gjirocrastra which like all villages in the valley are built off the valley floor, no doubt for defence from marauders but also as flood resistance from that menacing river below, the Drino River. Yet here, there is also a spur of land backed by a deep inset valley. A top of the spur is a medieval castle. A perfect castle. Shaped like a long boat and filling ever edge of that spur making it seem impenetrable. Beyond and around the castle are then a tumble of Ottoman style houses, square, multiple octagonal windows across their facade and tiled roofs. Its is a stunning place.

All of this makes another UNESCO heritage site. Attracting visitors to climb up treacherously smooth cobbles to get to the castle, see its many sights, browse the streets of tradesfolk and sit in cafes drinking and eating, or if you are like me, to soak up more of those mountains.