This portfolio contains photos taken on a 19 day, 7 airport journey to 4 Balkan countries and Germany. 11,010 miles. The 7 airports – here are the IATA codes: IAD, CDG, OTP, TIA, MUC, CLT, DCA. By the way, IATA is an acronym for International Air Transport Association.
I started with an overnight flight from Washington DC to a transfer point at abysmal Charles De Gaule airport in Paris, and then took the much shorter flight to rainy Bucharest. After a 3 Romanian Lei (66 cent US) bus ride from the airport to my first night’s hotel, all was well. As I had flown in a day early, I was able to traipse around Bucharest, albeit under gray skies, most of the next day. Then the bus tour started, proceeding from Romania, to Bulgaria. Then on to North Macedonia, and finally Albania. Then a short flight from Tirana to Munich for a 3 day stay to cap the trip off at the tail end! A long flight from Munich to Charlotte, North Carolina was followed by the short flight back to DC Reagan National, and eventually home to Dunkirk.
There are 5 sections to this portfolio; One for each of the 4 Balkan countries and the city of Munich, Germany. I visited the capitals of all Balkan four countries on the itinerary; each capital had its own unique feel and vibe. Because I spent more time in Tirana than the other three, I probably captured the best collection of photos there. I really appreciated the stops in some of the smaller Balkan towns, including Kyustendil, Bulgaria and Esteban, Albania. Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia was a special gem.