Everything is happening in Tirana this weekend, and I will miss it

The circus is in town, Miss Albania is being hosted on Sunday, and we might even get some snow in town. But I am going to miss it all because it is time to head home. Goodbye Europe and hello Sinny.

Ottoman Skopje

Here are some shots of Ottoman Skopje - they were here for a long time, but many of the buildings were destroyed during the 1963 earthquake, so only a few remain. The Ottomans' had one design for a bridge and they built it everywhere (see same bridge design in photo from Sarajevo), but it was not a bad looking brdige. Also, there is a shot of the baths, two of the old caravanserais from about 1500, which has been turned into a restaurant (fittingly), and one of the little streets that make up the old part of town.

Another chilly day in Kiev

Last shot of Kiev for the time being. Do I look like a Russian peasant with that hat?

Keeping warm Ukraine style

A snap from our field visit to Odessa. It was chilly, but our friend in the middle managed to combine style with warmth. Clever girl.

Odessa

A very quick trip to Odessa to visit the Opera and Ballet House (where we saw Swan Lake) and the famous steps from Eisentein's 1925 Battleship Potemkin. It is a lovely 19th century city on the Black Sea with a long history - the Greeks were there, then the Romans, then the Byzantines, then the Ottomans, then the Russians, and then me.