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February 4, 2015
From Albania to Virginia: Scenes in Review

Below are a few select senses from our four months in Albania and then two in Virginia, USA--from August through January. First is an archway cut through a piece of mountain on the road from Tirana (in the west not far from the Adriatic Sea) heading toward the eastern border with Macedonia. 

a short tunnel on the road east from Tirana, Albania

Heading East from Tirana on the Way to Korçë (3-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

A few weeks later back in Lezhë where we live and work, I photographed the following two very familiar scenes--the alleyway to the Lezha Academic Center and a hallway in the school.

along the alley to Lezha Academic Cetner, Albania 

The Alleyway to the LAC School Building (21-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

the third storey hallway of LAC 

The Third Floor Hallway in the LAC Building (21-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

One evening while waiting to pay for our pizza, I noticed that one could see clear into the wood-fired oven. What an interesting sight.

a wood fired pizza oven in Ldezhe, Albania 

Baking Pizza in a Wood-fired Oven in Lezhë, Albania (24-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

In the middle of November, most of the American and Albanian teachers from LAC took a trip to Berat for the English Language Teachers Association in Albania regional conference. Berat is a city in the central region of southern Albania. The four photos below are vignettes from that city.

Orthodox church in Beerat, Albania 

Orthodox Church in Berat, Albania (14-Nov-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

Muslim mosque, Berat, Albania 

Muslim Mosque in Berat, Albania (14-Nov-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

pedestrian bridge, Berat, Albania 

Pedestrian Bridge over the Osumi River, Berat, Albania (14-Nov-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

walking the promomad of Berat, albania

Evening Promenade through the Center of Berat, Albania (14-Nov-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

On December 10 wee flew back to the US so that I could undergo hip replacement surgery and recuperation from it.. Here are two photos from the early part of that flight.

northern coasst of Albania along the Adriatic Sea 

Looking toward the Adriatic Sea from a Plane over Northern Albania (10-Dec-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

inside a plane from Tirana to Frankfurt 

Inside the Airplane Flying to Frankfurt (10-Dec-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

On Christmas morning, Elsie and I had a late breakfast with our daughter and son-in-law, Heidi and Holden Byler, and their three-year-old daughter, Sydney. I was fascinated by the metal bell ornaments that were on their Christmas tree.

a white Christmas tree bell ornamanet

A White Bell Christmas Tree Ornament, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (25-Dec-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

a red Christmas tree bell ornamanet 

A Red Bell Christmas Tree Ornament, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (25-Dec-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

More than a month later after a two-inch snowfall, I captured this scene of the backyard and shed behind the apartment we were renting from Elsie's sister and husband. The dark sky looked like it could begin making more snowflakes at any minute, but it never happened.

snow on a shed in Harrisonburg, VA, USA 

Two-inches of Snowfall Beautifies the Harrisonburg Landscape (30-Jan-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

I enjoyed capturing these views as I saw them. I hope I can find even more of such vistas. 

--©2013-14, Richard L. Bowman

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