Big birthday

Ola had a birthday in May, a big one, as she moved into a new decade!! The date coincided with a planned visit to the seaside town of Vlore where we needed to finalise arrangements for 3 projects!!

Overlooking the bay of Vlora and the Adriatic sea.

We love our mission because with our humanitarian work we get the chance to see new places and have fun (a lot of)!

 After 6 months spent mainly in Tirana, the sight and sound of the sea was just magnificent...

These are views just outside our window where we stayed......

And the luxury was almost too much to handle!!

On the day of my birthday Elder and Sr Volz who are the couple serving  in Vlore, took us on a trip over the mountains south of Vlore towards Himare. We were heading for Porto Polermo and the castle of Ali Pasha!!

We met this goatherd  jingling their way along, all with bells round their necks.....

And we discovered the 3 billygoats gruff!!!

We were heading for the Ionian Sea

 After a spectacular drive we reached the voast and arrived at Ali Pasha's castle. It's in a little cove, all intact and original.

 The door was open and we just went in.....if it's locked you find the man who lives in a little caravan nearby and he lets you have the

key for 100lek($1)!!

They are discussing how they could buy the castle and make it a tourist attraction!!