![The west side of Lake Shkodėr included Montenegro's Skader Lake National Park](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942440.vw2X1PvJ.BalkansMay112985.jpg) The west side of Lake Shkodėr included Montenegro's Skader Lake National Park |
![I chose to drive around the east side through Albania instead](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942445.4s9Pcxs1.BalkansMay113393.jpg) I chose to drive around the east side through Albania instead |
![Welcome to Albania - ProCredit Bank](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942449.UwHYgLaP.BalkansMay113395.jpg) Welcome to Albania - ProCredit Bank |
![Signposts from the Sukobin-Shtuf (Ulcinj) border to tourist attractions of northern Albania](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942452.rDdIsHc9.BalkansMay113396.jpg) Signposts from the Sukobin-Shtuf (Ulcinj) border to tourist attractions of northern Albania |
![Billboard of the Europa Grand Hotel, where I had a reservation for the night](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942456.fyTWO7w3.BalkansMay113397.jpg) Billboard of the Europa Grand Hotel, where I had a reservation for the night |
![A NATO member since 2009, Albania proudly flies the NATO flag](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942458.UfKtKjLa.BalkansMay113400.jpg) A NATO member since 2009, Albania proudly flies the NATO flag |
![Villa along the road south of Lake Shkodėr](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942461.gO34u72v.BalkansMay113401.jpg) Villa along the road south of Lake Shkodėr |
![Albania is estimated to be 70% Muslim](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942464.t9w7gdPx.BalkansMay113402.jpg) Albania is estimated to be 70% Muslim |
![The wide Buna River, which flows from Lake Shkodėr to the Adriatic](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942467.OKfuMdnp.BalkansMay113403.jpg) The wide Buna River, which flows from Lake Shkodėr to the Adriatic |
![Nicely situated restaurant overlooking the Bunė River a short distance southwest of the bridges](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942471.QzvAfYGa.BalkansMay113407.jpg) Nicely situated restaurant overlooking the Bunė River a short distance southwest of the bridges |
![The new bridge over the Bunė River, apparently not yet open to traffic in May 2011](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942474.fODieCNE.BalkansMay113408.jpg) The new bridge over the Bunė River, apparently not yet open to traffic in May 2011 |
![Distant view of Shkodėr across the new bridge](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942479.VNLwwUSM.BalkansMay113411.jpg) Distant view of Shkodėr across the new bridge |
![View of the Bunė River and Rozafa Castle from a series of terraces built into the hillside](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942477.YtYIjW4B.BalkansMay113409.jpg) View of the Bunė River and Rozafa Castle from a series of terraces built into the hillside |
![Rofaza Castle from the new Shkodėr Bridge](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134944292.dmdrvvVM.BalkansMay113422.jpg) Rofaza Castle from the new Shkodėr Bridge |
![The old one lane bridge over the Bunė River, repaired after partial collapse in 2002](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134944300.RaQZH9h8.BalkansMay113710.jpg) The old one lane bridge over the Bunė River, repaired after partial collapse in 2002 |
![I had a local warn me to keep my windows closed and door locked here](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134944302.r9f9UbnQ.BalkansMay113711.jpg) I had a local warn me to keep my windows closed and door locked here |
![Notice the gypsy children running up as a car stops to wait for oncoming traffic](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134944304.bWaBEo3H.BalkansMay113713.jpg) Notice the gypsy children running up as a car stops to wait for oncoming traffic |
![While I was there, the thieving little buggers were trying to open my car doors](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134944305.iTCoXJ9U.BalkansMay113714.jpg) While I was there, the thieving little buggers were trying to open my car doors |
![One policeman controlling the bridge would have eliminated my only unpleasant experience in Albania](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134944308.zhRUq6nu.BalkansMay113718.jpg) One policeman controlling the bridge would have eliminated my only unpleasant experience in Albania |
![Problem solved once this new bridge is operational](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134944314.4UocdigK.BalkansMay113728.jpg) Problem solved once this new bridge is operational |
![A tented encampment outside Shkodėr](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134944295.DDgc2f8t.BalkansMay113680.jpg) A tented encampment outside Shkodėr |
![Lake Shkodėr, the largest lake in the Balkans](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134944310.mUu5QNK0.BalkansMay113720.jpg) Lake Shkodėr, the largest lake in the Balkans |
![The Montenegran western shore of Lake Shkodėr in the distance](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134944312.xxojPxxa.BalkansMay113721.jpg) The Montenegran western shore of Lake Shkodėr in the distance |
![Xhamia e Plumbit, Rofaza](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134944298.vYkofNm9.BalkansMay113683.jpg) Xhamia e Plumbit, Rofaza |
![Late afternoon passing below Rozafa Castle](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942482.ste6JaAD.BalkansMay113433.jpg) Late afternoon passing below Rozafa Castle |
![The church of Grilė on the eastern shore of Lake Shkodėr](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942485.EtkJaAv9.BalkansMay113805.jpg) The church of Grilė on the eastern shore of Lake Shkodėr |
![One of the famous mushroom shaped bunkers built throughout Albania during the Hoxha-era](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134906790.0F3sjOJw.BalkansMay113807.JPG) One of the famous mushroom shaped bunkers built throughout Albania during the Hoxha-era |
![There were fewer bunkers along the road than I had expected, this being a border area...](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942489.ylc5jjGF.BalkansMay113806.jpg) There were fewer bunkers along the road than I had expected, this being a border area... |
![Bar Restorant Brajan, Albania](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942492.PyTx0w6z.BalkansMay113808.jpg) Bar Restorant Brajan, Albania |
![Many of the houses are very well kept](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942495.XW3BHlvF.BalkansMay113809.jpg) Many of the houses are very well kept |
![Staying on the main road, you don't see much of the lake](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942498.MOFX6ijC.BalkansMay113810.jpg) Staying on the main road, you don't see much of the lake |
![Small vineyard in front of a house, Lake Shkodėr](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942502.HYJ3hAzv.BalkansMay113811.jpg) Small vineyard in front of a house, Lake Shkodėr |
![Keshtjella Xhafa Bar Restorant](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942505.dfvFGjPp.BalkansMay113812.jpg) Keshtjella Xhafa Bar Restorant |
![Many of the houses in northern Albania use these Mediterranean pastel colors](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942507.x6JRVGzo.BalkansMay113813.jpg) Many of the houses in northern Albania use these Mediterranean pastel colors |
![North Albanian Alps with fertile plain on the west side of Lake Shkodėr](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942511.1pxye5UA.BalkansMay113814.jpg) North Albanian Alps with fertile plain on the west side of Lake Shkodėr |
![North Albanian Alps](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942514.KaNVmctd.BalkansMay113815.jpg) North Albanian Alps |
![The quality of the road between Shkodėr and the Montenegro border at Hani i Hotit](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942517.TqgTJHLL.BalkansMay113816.jpg) The quality of the road between Shkodėr and the Montenegro border at Hani i Hotit |
![Some Albanians are doing very well for themselves....](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942520.pslMS5Jl.BalkansMay113817.jpg) Some Albanians are doing very well for themselves.... |
![Lake Shkodėr at Hani i Hotit, the only time the main road passes directly along the lakeshore](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942523.g7TjTT2I.BalkansMay113818.jpg) Lake Shkodėr at Hani i Hotit, the only time the main road passes directly along the lakeshore |
![Leaving Albania through the Hani i Hotit border post](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942526.nFBhzolc.BalkansMay113819.jpg) Leaving Albania through the Hani i Hotit border post |
![Welcome back to Montenegro](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942529.KrjcKWOW.BalkansMay113820.jpg) Welcome back to Montenegro |
![Please Drive Carefully!](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134942531.yuXetCal.BalkansMay113821.jpg) Please Drive Carefully! |
![BalkansMay11 3676.jpg](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134945630.jlIshrL3.BalkansMay113676.jpg) BalkansMay11 3676.jpg |
![BalkansMay11 3426.jpg](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/134974204.uyWrFVUa.BalkansMay113426.jpg) BalkansMay11 3426.jpg |