Shkodra (pop 135,612)

Republic of Albania

Republika e Shqipërisë 

May 11, 2015

Buongiorno,

Pizza. Pizza. Pizza!

Isn't there anything else to eat here in Northern Albania?

Apparently not.

My driver, Mr. Edmond * and I search and search and search for some local or traditional Albanian fare along the main pedestrian promenade here in Shkodra (Shkodër).   Finally we find an outdoor café and order, you guessed it, pizza.  We also order a salad and a meatball dish that passes for “local” food.

Dubrovnik  (pop 42,615)

Croatia

June 9, 2015

Hello,

The crowds in Dubrovnik are overwhelming. 

(If you’ve been here, you know what I’m talking about.)

Wikipedia says, “Dubrovnik is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic Sea.”

The Old Town is swarming with tourists and passengers on an excursion from their cruise ships.  (Yes, ships!  Every day, ships!) 

Once again I employ my “Split Strategy.”

Kuldiga

Latvia

August 30, 2014

In this quiet, charming town in western Latvia, the sounds of children’s laughter emanate from the bright yellow building that serves as a library and community center here 

But in the recent past, on a fall day that is fast approaching, a date on the Jewish lunar calendar, the First Day of the month of Tishrei, the sounds of the shofar would have been heard in this building, echoing through the streets and into the homes and into the hearts of the residents of the neighborhood. 

The Rabbi or Cantor of the synagogue blasts the traditional, mesmerizing cadences from the shofar, the ram’s horn.  The cry of the horn heralds the start Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.  The congregation stands quietly and listens attentively to the familiar and plaintive tones.  The men and women pray for peace and for good health for themselves and for their children in the coming year.

Now, here in Kuldiga, (pop 13,500), the call of the shofar is heard no more. 

July 21, 2015

The Kingdom of Denmark

Copenhagen, the capital city  

A lovely city …

A bright city …

A colorful city …

A walkable city …

A modern city …

A traditional city …

And yet, a city where anything goes?

Copenhagen

Denmark

July 22. 2015

Dear Friends,

As its name implies, Copenhagen is a town that has a long history of international commerce and trade. 

The name of the city reflects its origin as a harbour and a place of commerce. The original designation, from which the contemporary Danish name derives, was Køpmannæhafn, meaning "merchants' harbour", or Hafn or Havn ("harbour").

Wherever I walk, I find water: rivers and canals and the open sea.

Gjógv

Eysturoy

Faroe Islands,

July 24, 2015

Makiko and Hiroshi are excellent travel companions.  We meet by accident somewhere on the island of Eysturoy and since I am driving and they are taking the bus from place to place, they eagerly accept my invitation to travel together.

We decide that the town of Gjógv would be our intermediate destination.  The small town sits at the northerly tip of the island.  The map shows that there is a restaurant there.