A lot of home pats roam here and tracksuit and rubber boots seems to be uniforms for every seasons. There are herdsmen in the mountains during the summer and no tourists, no signs of track marks and geting the map was also a problem. These mountains seem to be greater and larger than anywhere in Europe. Within the specific high altitude there there are plenty of old oaks and pines. The mountains don’t have a continuous ridge, maze of a relatively sharp peaks, and between them deep valleys.All these have quite big  impressions on my perceptions. So I thought to myself to persuade some of my friends and set out together to this destination in winter.During my preparation time I have found out that there is no information about winter resorts in Albanian mountains. The only source I got the information from was in the book called "Skiing Around the World" by Jimmy Petterson ( it would be great if somebody translated in into Czech) and a couple of information form my friend "Kastanek". Only the brave one from many respondents, was Mara, for who I am much obliged. About Albania itself you will read  in the second and third episode, because before we got there, we saw few interesting things that we want to share too.

The date of departure we have set for March 1, 2011. After a bad fuck of my  Ford, which two days before departure broke (a turbo issue), we had to switch on second option which was Mara's quick Skoda Fabia 1,2, with light illuminating a engine problem, the interior dimensions etc. These car was predetermined especially for long trips with cargo and spending overnight in the back:-). We already had the opportunity to try it on  Hungarian-Serbian border around midnight, where we figured out that our green card (insurence card) has expired a clever way how to disguise failed aslo.  We crossed the Hungarian border even 2x, always with a new idea how to solve the problem on Serbian side, but after the third unsuccessful return to Hungary and a few phone calls to the Global assistance, we made our bed in our car and moved the problem to next "this morning". Approximately around noon next day  we tried it again but this time with faked insurance card.  When we finally crossed the border, policeman explained that all the equipment that carrie with us have to bring back. We did not get that, but during the journey we were starting to understand. Through police check points and their questions , many questions and seemingly generous, but not quite readable offers from people nearby ski resorts. We enjoy the first of many victories and slowly beginning to feel the special atmosphere of "wild" in the east countries, where surprisingly was about 20- 30 of fresh pow.  In the evening, around midnight, we arrived at the border with Montenegro, where, after crossing it, we camped in the car. Due to weather forecast we postponed Albania and in the morning headed to Zabljak where we accommodated.

Sunrice around 11 and so we went to check local ski resort  Savin Kuk. Snow condition is quite good, but the sun changed its quality fast. Luckily the atmosphere of the resort campensate it back. Old reliable machines, lift operators lying and smoking  on t in the sun, security = 0, people occasionally fall from the chairlifts after start. On the top chairlift dare to go just  about 10 skiers from of total  50. Up there we had a short hike and a few rides which ended in the local pub. We ordered a limb "Čevapčiči", I guess it was from a donkey, and a Beer "deer", the taste expressed the characteristic gesture of the bartender.

The next day was in the name of kites. A short trip on the skins, a couple of short runs and the wind stoped blow and we pulling back our kites instead of they should dragged us back. In the evening we were checked the weather, drink wine and eat sausages and beans.