Gibraltar- A territory of UK stuck in South Spain
The start of my Africa trip began on a flight from Uk to Gibraltar for two nights. Although we could not stay in Gibraltar because of the size of our truck, we certainly spent some time there!!!!

We stayed in a little tiny campground in Spain and went into Gibraltar for the day. Even though it was only 7 Km sq, it had its fair amount of historical sites, as well as restaurants and pubs. Situated on the Iberian Peninsula, it has always been a strategic site in Europe. From the Moors, to Spanish, to British, to a decisive victory by Admiral Horatio Nelson in the Napoleonic Wars, to a strategic site during WW2, this place has seen its share of battles. Along with the aforementioned, they also have a sizable Jewish, and Muslim population that lives peacefully among one another.

They also have the only airport that you may walk across the runway from Spain to actually enter Gibraltar !!!!
The highlight of the trip of course is the Barbary Macaques which are tailless monkeys that roam freely near the top of the mountain!!!! Better watch yourself if you have food as they love to snatch things and are extremely intelligent!!!!

A great start to the beginning of an exciting trip……

NOVEMBER 15, 2015…IT STARTS…

1 Big Continent,
1 Backpack 20 kg’s,
1 Day Pack 10 kg’s,
1 Camera Bag 10 kg’s
2 Passports,
6 Plus Vaccinations,
9 Plus Months
30,000 Plus Kilometers,
275 Plus Days,
20 Plus Currencies,
25 Plus Undiscovered Countries and Terrain,
25 Plus Visas,
20 Plus Regions with Varying Temperatures,
100’s of risks in every country,
100% Fun and life experience!!!!!!

Already being on the road for 5 months including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Egypt, Greece, Germany, Austria, Tunisia, Albania, USA (Texas, Oregon, and Tennessee), as well as 58 plane flights in an 11 month period, I AM READY TO GET THIS TRIP STARTED!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a tad bit over three years now, I have been planning and looking forward for this trip. How many people can see they went across the whole of Africa while camping and cooking off the beaten trek? Along with this I will get to meet people that have no contact with the outside world, experience dangers from animals and people alike, do various excursions that you only see in movies, and see animals that are either endangered or you would see in Zoos!!!!  INCLUDING THE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS!!!!
My home for the next 9 months….

What will a day be like? I can imagine, getting up very early, packing up our stuff, driving to different places in heat or cold, and cooking all the time. Will it be dangerous? Yes of course, but look at your own various countries as there are dangers lurking around every corner.
What is the approximate route I will take? SEE BELOW, but it could deviate at anytime based on disease outbreaks, civil war, sickness, extremist groups etc…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will it be difficult? Hell yea!!!! Digging the truck out of the sand, being on places with no paved roads, camping for 9 months without some of the most basic amenities, and living off basic things!!!!. But this is how people live life in most of the world. This is something I think everyone should experience!!! This in my opinion is one of the last of the Outback’s in the world. Everything is very basic including restrooms and campsites (when we are not bush camping).

I am excited and nervous and ready to get this started!!!!!

Cairo see you sometime in August, then back to work!!!!

A rapidly developing country with an old world charm
Five years ago I made a bold prediction that Albania would become the next big destination in Europe (Please read Albania 2010 and 2011) It looks like in my prediction I was not that far off as Tirana and all of Albania have changed so much in this time, FOR THE BETTER.  I love it here!!!!! Between food and cafes and bars, your options are limitless for a very cheap holiday!!!!

(Read about American Sports Bar in Tirana)

With an influx of foreign investment, great public transportation, as well as an amazing service industry, this place is expanding for tourism at an exponential rate.

 

Question:  What is a George Bush statue doing in a few thousand person town in Albania?

Answer:  He was the first US President to visit post Communist Albania.  They named the square after him and erected a statue

FREE ALBANIA WALKING TOUR!!!!!!

I had an opportunity to hang out with an Albanian local named Gazi for a better part of my stay here and he showed me around as well as took me down south to see some of the other small towns.

Gazi has his own tour company and is an excellent guide that knows so much about the history, geography, and culture of not just Tirana, but all all over Albania and the Balkan Region. He can give you an in depth look at what is what like growing up in Communist times and how it differs from now. He gives the only free walking tour in all of Tirana and takes you to the main points in the city center. He also does different day or overnight excursions to other hot spots all around the country. He can tailor your experience to whatever you want it to be.

His website and information is found here:

Free Tirana Walking Tour

   

He took me all around to different parts of the south and also to places a little nearer to Tirana. Thank you Gazi for all you did as I consider you a very good friend!!!!

Besides Tirana, this country has very good places to visit.  Some of the towns take you back to a time where people lived a simple life years ago, and some are thriving tourists destinations!!!!!!  You have anything from Greek and Roman Ruins, to Ottoman style Castles and fortresses in which people live inside the walls and they have started making hotels in them.  The pictures do not lie about this magnificent beautiful country!!!

Tirana(Capital and most Cosmopolitan City)

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Kruje(fortress on a hill and also home to liberal Muslim Sect)

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Elbasan(Ottoman Fortress)

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Gjirokaster(Unesco City)

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Apolonia(Greek and Roman Ruins)

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Berat(Middle Age Fortress overlooking the city)

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Durres(Coastal and Second biggest city)

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Duff- An American sports bar in the heart of Albania!!!!

From Hoxha’s stronghold to Nightlife Central…..

Brilliant CNN Article on THE BLOCK and Duff Sports Bar

In the middle of the ever so bustling Albanian capital of Tirana lays a bar like no other. The Bars name is Duff (based off Homer Simpson’s favorite beverage), and it can be said this is more of a sports bar then some American bars.

Situated in the once infamous “Block” which was where Enver Hoxha, and a somewhat secretive area, this place now boasts one of the most vibrant hangouts in the Balkan Region. Bars, Restaurants, and Café’s line the area which you can compare with Austin, Texas famous 6th Street.

Duff Bar is owned and managed by Stefi Ilo(lived in the US) and Ledion Ilo . The walls are adorned with memorabilia from different sports teams across the United States. The different televisions around the bar enable patrons to watch different American or European sports simultaneously, and the big screen outside is situated around tables to watch any big sporting event. Inside and outside on the patio you will find stools at the bar, couches, bar tables and eating tables.  They also have a table to play beer pong in which they hosted a tournament with different teams of Albanians and Foreigners!!!!!

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They use European sports stations to get the different games on, whether it be NFL, NBA, College Sports, Hockey, or Soccer, there is something for just about everyone. The stations they usually use are the following:
ESPN UK
Sport US1 Germany
Canal+ Deportes1 and 2
Sky Sport 3 Italy
Sky Sport 3 UK

Literally there is something for everyone!!! In addition to the sports, different types of liquor and coffee’s, there is a menu based around bar food you would find in most sports bars in the United States.

The menu of food includes different types of Burgers, Fries, Wings, Chicken Strips, Hot Dogs, Mozzarella Sticks, Chips and Queso, along with specialties of the house on certain days. All the meals will usually run you no more than 450 LEK (3.50 USD), for a meal that would typically cost 6-8 dollars at a sports bar in the United States. I can attest that the Chips and Queso, Bacon Burger, and Wings were all fantastic and would definitely order them again!!!

If you head to the block (which you will if you are in Tirana), then be sure to make the Duff Bar one of your many stops as I have done!!!!!

Contact info: Duff Bar, Rruga Brigada VIII, Tirana, +355 694 03 4376

You can also contact them on their Facebook Pages:

Duff Tirana

Duff Sports Bar