Adrian's First Family Vacation

While Mommy and baby Adrian are still in Kosovo enjoying another 3 weeks of family time, these photos show Adrian's first reunion with the Recica family and our 1 week holiday trip in Albania. He traveled very well and adjusted as best his little body could to the time change, the constant travel, non-stop love and handling from all the grandparents, uncles and cousins, a bunch of mosquito bites, long stints strapped in the car seat driving and time out in the hot sun or very cold sea waters.

Luckily, he had his own bed on the flight over as well as use of an old family crib during our stay.

Family members couldn't get enough of the little guy and we never had to worry about needing a seat to put him in while we rested.

12 hour car ride into southern Albania delivered us into the ancient city of Gjirokastër.

Our first island adventure was south of Saranda in a small island/peninsula area called Ksamil. As you can see the tiny beach and waters were some of the best I have ever seen. Since we were ahead of the season there were virtually no other tourists and we had the waterside restaurant to ourselves both nice for a perfect fresh seafood feast. Downside was we had to see 10 minutes away in the city a very dusty town where most of the buildings are not complete, destroyed as a result of building illegally or just not open yet for the season. Luckily we knew how to entertain ourselves.

As we made our way up the coast we encountered some of the natives...

And landed on a bit rockier beach with some cloudy weather south of Hvare for our seaside hotel room and a quaint town to stroll in at night or take longer beach walks on.

And climbing further north on the famous Albanian Riviera highway the wound up and over massive mountain ranges into new beach cites and planes.

Just south of Vlores we found a farm retreat for some more peace and quiet. Lovely set-up if it weren't for all the evening farm animals and mosquitos keeping us awake. Wierd how ones ears can sleep through sirens but not a rooster.

And our final stop at a resort in Durres I had done a conference at years back. We decided to treat ourselves to Western standards on the last leg of our trip and to get a wonderful warm baby pool for Adrian to play in for 2 straight days.

And our trip would not be complete if we did not cross back into Kosovo and stop in the wonderfully scenic town of Prizren to savor the famous Machiatto that Kosovars (and husbands of) live on. Ummmm. Perfect ending!