March 9, 2014

Trip to Berat in Review

Last Saturday, March 1, a number of Lezha Academic Center teachers and the Shahini's took a trip to Berat in southern Albania near the home area of Klemetina. Here are a few vignettes I captured from our visit. The captions to the photos tell the story. We spent a large amount of our time at walking around the ruins of the Berat Castle and the houses that are still lived in inside of the castle. For more info on the castle begin with the Wikipedia entry.

our small bus to Berat, Albania

This Small Bus Transported Us to and from Berat (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

walking up to the Berat castle

The Rock Road to the Castle Used by Pedestrians and Cars (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

looking out at the hillside and mountinas beyond

From the Castle Looking at Some Nearby Houses and Distant Mountains (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

telephoto view of the distant mountains

A Telephoto Picture Brings the Snow-covered Mountains Close the the Nearby Hill (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

we are tourists with cameras

Valentina, Lisa and Lois Explore and Photograph (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

man at work clearing some brush

A Local Worker Clears Unwanted Brush on the Castle Hill (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

the meandeering Osumi River through Berat

The Meandering Osumi River and Part of Berat (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

statue of Constantine

Statue of Constantine inside the Castle (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

church within the Berat castle

A Probable Byzantine Era Church Inside the Castle (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

a greenish yellow wild flower

Close-up of a Wild Flower (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

multiple wild flowers

More Wild Flowers--Half-inch (1 1/4 cm) or Smaller (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

being tourists again

Elsie, Dini and Valentine Explore the Castle (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

mason fixing a stone wall inside a house in tside the castle

Stone Mason Repairs a Wall Inside a Home (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

storm drain or might it have been an open sewer

A Storm Drain in the Middle of the Road (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

some of the sloth items made by local persons for sale insdie the castle

Fabric Crafts Made by Local Workers on Sale in the Castle (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

a woman knitting inside the castle

MA Woman Knits while Standing (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

getting read for a group picture

Getting Ready for a Group Photo (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

close-up of Jordan Shetler

Jordan--Up-close and Friendly (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

a small view of the city of 1000 windows

Past of the "City of One Thousand Windows" and a Modern Coca-Cola Sculpture (1-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

Then it was home and to bed after a long day exploring some more of the history and culture of Albania.

March 7, 2014

Getting a Leg Up

Late last week while Elsie and I were starting our walk to the school, in my impatience to get there, I did not notice a metal post directly ahead of me. So I ended up clobbering it really good. An open scrap on my skin and a big knot were the result. Below is a photo of two of these posts. They are just under knee height.

two posts along the street, one of such I ran into

Metal Posts at the Edge of the Sidewalk to Keep Cars from Parking (5-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

It was getting better until Tuesday evening when I complained to Elsie about it. She looked at it and then went to get Phil Moyer, the retired physician who was teaching biology like I was teaching physics at Lezha Academic Center. After he checked out my leg, he and Elsie went and bought some antibiotics for me at a nearby pharmacy. Below are Phil and Betsy drinking coffee at My Bar in early February a week and a half or so after both of us couples had arrived in Albania.

Phil and Betsy Moyer drinking coffee at My Bar

By Wednesday morning Pil had set up a consultation at the local hospital and a venous ultrasound to make certain that I did not have a blood clot in my leg.

Elsie and I waiting to be seen by the infection doctor

Dini kindly took us to the hospital where we met Dr. Tonin Rumiga, Alba's husband. (Alba teaches literature at LAC, and we have met Tonin a few times.) He shepherded us through the ultrasound and a consultation with a specialist in infectious diseases.

Dini and Dr. Rumija at the hospital

For those wondering what the ultrasound of my leg looked like, here is a photo of the photos. The top one shows the infection and the second one shows the hematoma from my initial run in with the metal post.

the ultrasound pictures

And if you can read physician's hand writing and the Albanian language, below are the radiologists comments.

the radiologist's notes on the ultrasound

The diagnosis is Cellulits or Erysipelas --not sure which. The upshot was that they started some IV antibiotics in the Emergency Room of the hospital which Elsie is now continuing at home through tomorrow morning (Saturday), After that I will be on oral meds. Apparently I gave Elsie back some memories and reinforced her experience of many years as a critical care nurse.

Oh, and to explain my heading, I am to keep my leg up as much as I can to help reduce the swelling. But I am not real compliant, butg I have cut out added salt from my diet during this time.

Dr. Rumija helops me get ready to leave after my first IV med

It was good to have good friends to walk with us through tall of this. Thanks Phil, Dini, and Tonin!! And I especially am grateful for Elsie's support and knowledge. Thanks, Honey!!

Phil and Elsie both assess that my leg is getting better, so I try to wait, hope and pray.

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