Vancouver, Washington isn’t your mother’s Vancouver. The nearby Portlanders may refer to the city as “Vantucky” to indicate it’s in the sticks, but now it’s getting cool. The downtown and the waterfront is undergoing a revitalization and it’s cool to hang out in “the Couve”. As a guest, I took a brew tour with a brand-new tour company called “ExoBus Tours”. This innovative tour company visits the close-knit breweries around Vancouver WA. Exobus’ owner and operator Beny has a real passion for Vancouver beers, and it shows.
I was invited on an unpaid press trip to participate on this tour in return for my honest review.
Where Do the Exobus Brew Tours go?
The Exobus will visit 3 locations, with 3 generous samples at each. Locations can be one of any of the 15 Vancouver, Washington breweries or one of the tap houses. There is an opportunity to visit the brew operations of one of the breweries and ask questions to the brewer. Have you ever wondered how sour beers are made? What are the latest trends and innovations in beers? Here’s your chance to learn directly from the brewer. The tour also includes yummy eats at one of the locations.
Where
Did You Go on Your Exobus Brew tour?
We visited two breweries and one
draft house on our tour.
The first Brewery was Trap Door, a
brewery established in 2015 and located in the hip Uptown area of Vancouver,
WA. We tried their flagship beers of IPA
and hazy IPA, as well as a Mango Lassi kettle sour beer. Trap Door has a great outdoor area with food
trucks and a family atmosphere, with board games to borrow.
The second Brewery was Loowit
Brewing. Loowit is the Native American
name for Mt. St. Helens. Established in
2012, Loowit was one of the first of the new generation of brewers in Vancouver. Flagship beers include the 2-16 Red Ale named
after the trail around Mt. St. Helens, but they have lots of creative beers
such as a blueberry thyme kettle sour. The
backroom brewery is a location for events such as comedy and concerts.
And finally, we visited the Final
Draft Tap House. The highest rated tap
house in Vancouver is found in an unlikely location – in a strip mall
sandwiched between a tanning salon and a Coast Guard recruiting station. This tap
house hosts unique community events like writing and storytelling events.
What’s Cool About Vancouver, WA Breweries?
Your friendly brewer
Sure, the breweries are
competition but the recurring theme we heard from the local brewers is that the
brew scene is tightknit. If one brewery
needs a part or ingredients, the others are willing to help. The local brewers hang out and participate in
charities, earning $10,000’s annually.
The 15 breweries are participating
in a Brewcouver passport – drink at all 15 and get a trucker’s hat or a
haircut!
Is the
Exobus Vancouver a Party Bus?
No. This is meant to be a tour to learn about the Vancouver beer scene and socialize. The penalty for throwing up on the bus is steep, so don’t do it. If you’re unsure, check out the rules posted at the front of the bus.
What
other tours are coming up?
Beny
has lots of great ideas for tours. Some of the
upcoming and concept trips:
A DB Cooper themed tour
Coffee and Cannabis tours
Brews and views – on Sundays. May include hikes.
Parents night out – with babysitting provided while the adults are on tour.
May your own tour – the Exobus is available for private bookings.
According to one of my friends who grew up in Vancover, the downtown and waterfront used to be a ghetto, but this has all changed. Vancouver is very walkable, and the downtown is going through an amazing transformation. 2019 will see the opening of the new Columbia River waterfront facilities.
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If you follow this blog, you might notice I like to attend Tulip festivals, having visited festivals in Washington, Michigan, and Iowa. This year, I had a chance to visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon. These are my tips about the best time to visit Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival and other tips to enhance your visit. Thanks to the Wooden Shoe Farm for providing a ticket so I could photograph and blog about this wonderful place.
No crowds on a cloudy day
Best Time to Visit Wooden
Shoe Tulip Festival
Obviously,
the best time to visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest is when the tulips are
blooming, and that’s heavily dependent on the temperatures in February and
March. Warmer weather means the tulips
will bloom earlier. In 2019, it looks like the best time will be
around April 10th. On my
visit on April 2nd, the blooms were at 25%.
To avoid traffic, consider visiting early or later in the day. Also consider visiting on a weekday or a cloudy day.
The pink John Deere Tractor is the coolest!
Is it worth visiting the
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival if it’s cloudy or rainy?
Absolutely YES! The photography is great when the clouds are out. Visiting when sprinkling rain is also great as the tulips will have fresh raindrops and there will be puddles and chances to photograph reflections. All of the photos in this post were taken on a cloudy day, with rain sprinkles, and eventually rain.
Things to Do at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
Sampling wines at the Wooden Shoe Winery
Visit the Wooden Shoe Vineyards Tasting Room – your admission includes a couple free samples of wines… from whites and reds, roses, and sparkling.
Eat! There are loads of food stands from typical fair food, to BBQ, to wood-fired pizzas
Take lots of photos – if you’re really into photography, you can purchase a special admission to get you in before sunrise, the best time
Take a tour of the gardens
Enjoy the children’s rides.
Hot air balloon at sunrise!
Shooting Tulips!
Other Tips for Visiting the Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest
Visiting on a sunny weekend may mean traffic is backed up and it may take upwards of an hour to get into the farm. If you must visit on the weekend, try to approach the farm from the southeast direction of Meridian road. Alternative routes are available on the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival website, which contains load of other great tips and info for visiting the farms.
Raindrops on tulips
Things to Do Near the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
Shop til you drop at the Woodburn Premium Outlets, which are located only 9 miles from the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. Shopping in Oregon is great because there is no sales tax!!!
Visit Oregon wine country. If you didn’t get enough wine at the Wooden Shoe Tasting Room.
Go for a long hike at Silver Falls State Park. You can hike to 10 waterfalls, and walk behind three of them! Silver Falls is only a 45 minute drive from the Wooden Shoe farm.
Walk behind a waterfall at Silver Falls State Park
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Where to Stay Near the Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest
The town of Woodburn, OR is only 9 miles from the festival. There are several choices for hotel. Book early if you want to stay during the Tulip Fest. Staying in Woodburn is especially nice if you’re planning to visit the tulip fields for sunset or sunrise. Check Rates and Availability of Woodburn Hotels Here.
Do
you love tulip festivals? Check out
these other tulip festivals:
Many people go to Japan or Washington, DC for the cherry blossoms, but if you don’t have the time or money to go that far, you can see cherry blossoms at the University of Washington campus. The best time to see the University of Washington cherry blossoms is the end of March or early April. If there is rain or a windstorm in the forecast, make sure you go prior to the storm. After the first big rain storm, most of the cherry blossom petals will fall.
“The Quad”
The best place to see cherry blossoms at the University of Washington is in the area known as “The Quad”. It’s completely surrounded by old cherry blossom trees.
The Quad
Practice Your Macro
Photography
The cherry blossoms and other blooms, the moss, the bark, is great composition for Macro Photography.
Cherry Blossom macro photography
The Crowds
The crowds really aren’t too bad. We visited mid-day on a very sunny, warm Saturday at the height of the cherry blossom blooms. There was plenty of room to spread a blanket and have a picnic.
The crowds at the UW cherry blossoms really weren’t too bad
The Smells, the Wonderful Smells
I don’t know what this flower is, but it smells wonderful. If I could bottle this smell I would, because these blooms only smell great for a few days each year.
These blooms smell spectacular!
What Else Can You See at UW?
Check out the fountain, and the other blooms such as the magnolia trees and daffodils at the same time the cherry trees are blooming.
Drumheller Fountain at UW
More PHOTOS!
Twisting branches of cherry treesMagnolia tree bloomMagnificent Tree at the south end of the Quad
How to Get to the University of Washington Cherry Blossoms
There is parking around the UW campus, but it can be busy on the weekends when the cherry blossoms are blooming. There is free street parking on Sunday, but it might be tough to find a spot. I recommend taking a bus or the light rail to UW – there is the light rail station and bus stops on the south end of campus, near the stadiums, about a 10 minute walk from the quad. Alternatively, many buses to and from the Eastside stop at the Montlake Station along highway WA-520, which is only about a 20 minute walk to the quad.
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There are many things to do at the Salton Sea in California. It’s one of the most unique places I’ve ever visited in the USA… from scenic to quirky, to surreal, there is no other place like it. The Salton Sea is the biggest lake in California and one of the lowest spots in the world, with lake level around 227 feet below sea level. The lake was created when agricultural canals directed from the Colorado River over flowed in the early 1900’s. In the 1950s-60s, the lake was a vacation hotspot – at one point the Salton Sea got more visitors than Yosemite National Park and was frequented by Hollywood celebrities! But the water started to dry up and run off from the fields caused pollution in the lake. The abundant, tasty fish died, occasional algae blooms made the area stink, dust storms caused health problems. Despite the problems, most of the time, the Salton Sea is an incredible place to visit.
The
following is a list of the best Salton Sea Attractions – from South to North
along California Highway 111. Salton Sea
is great for photography. These places
are some of the best places to get some interesting photographs.
Salton Sea Attractions Map
Source: Google Maps
Although
the driving time is only a little over 2 hours for this Salton Sea Itinerary, I
recommend you take two days to do all of the activities.
Salton Sea Things to Do,
South End
Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge
California Quail at Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge
Sonny
Bono fought hard for the health of the Salton Sea in his time as a
politician. Sadly, he passed away before
finding a solution to it’s ails. Now
this National Wildlife Refuge spread over a couple spots on the far south of
the lake is home to many migrating birds.
Visit the main office to get
great info from the park rangers and watch some videos. Walk the Rock Hill trail from the visitor
center parking lot. This 2 mile round
trip walk is flat except the last bit which climbs a volcanic hill that
overlooks the sea. There are many water
birds in the ponds below the hill. Birds
seen here include Burrowing Owls and if you visit in winter you may see 1000’s
of Snow Geese. Entrance to Sonny Bono National
Wildlife Refuge is free.
Red Hill Marina
Remnants of Red Hill Marina
If
you want to see how far the Salton Sea has receded, it’s worth a stop to Red
Hill Marina. It’s appropriately called
Red Hill Marina because there’s a red hill behind a marina. Of all the attractions on the Salton Sea that
I visited, this was the place where the lake was the farthest beyond the broken
marina and parking lot – gives you an interesting view of how much the lake has
evaporated. Entrance to Red Hill Marina
is free. There are a few paid camping
sites behind the hill.
Salton Sea Mud Volcanoes
Salton Sea Mud Volcanoes
Heading from the Red Hill Marina you will go to what’s called the Davis-Schrimpf Seep Field which is also called the Salton Sea Mud Volcanoes and Salton Sea Mud Pots. These formations are miniature “volcanoes” of mud seeping out of the earth. The mud really does look like lava. Read more about the Salton Sea Mud Volcanoes here.
Slab City – Salvation Mountain and East Jesus
Salvation Mountain Mailbox
The
hottest spot on Instagram is Salvation Mountain, a shrine in the desert made
out of sand, straw, and lots of colorful paint.
Salvation Mountain is at the entrance of Slab City, the “Last Free Place
in America”, a “town” of people living off the grid. Venture a little further into town and you
can visit East Jesus, a collection of art at a compound. Lots of creative art made out of other people’s
trash. If you’re a camper, you can stay a few days. Chat with some locals. See what activities are going on –like open
mic night at The Range, or joining a drum circle, or sharing a meal. Entrance to both Salvation Mountain and East
Jesus are free, but they would really appreciate if you left a couple dollars
in the donation box.
Salton Sea Things to Do, Mid-lake
Niland Marina
Niland Marina Sunset
My
secret location for some of the best sunsets on the Salton Sea is the abandoned
Niland Marina County Park. The entrance
is just north of the inland border control checkpoint. You might find a few boondocker campers out
here, maybe even a guy who’s referred to as “the preacher.” He will find you and give you bible
verses.
Fountain of Youth Spa
There’s nothing like a swim or soak after dark at the Fountain of Youth Spa
There are 4 natural hot springs a few miles south and east of Bombay Beach, off Hot Mineral Spa Road or Frink Road. Each have their own vibe. If you’re staying overnight, it’s best to stay at the Fountain of Youth Spa. They have the best amenities of the four spas. I will never forget all the nice people I met at “FOY” in my month-long stay. From early morning water aerobics to playing duplicate bridge, to riding around in the desert in Jeep Cherokees with 80 year olds! If you aren’t prepared for camping, they also have some villas you can rent for a night or longer.
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Bombay Beach
Bombay Beach Drive-In Movie Theater
Bombay Beach might be one of the quirkiest towns in America. Located on the shores of the lake, this ghost town is seeing a revitalization due to artists moving in and throwing a festival each year. Read more about Bombay Beach here.
Salton Sea State Recreation Area
The
Salton Sea State Recreation consists of a few campgrounds and day use sites
along the sea. There are great sunsets
here. Take a good look at the beach –
this is not made of sand or stones like a typical beach. Instead, you walk thru the spine bones of
dead fish to access the lakeshore. Fees
are collected for day use and camping.
No swimming is recommended, but there is a kayak launch from the
beach. Great sunsets!
Salton Sea Things to Do, North
End
North Beach Marina and Yacht
Club
One
of the last few clues of opulence along the Salton Sea is the North Beach Marina
and Yacht Club. The docks and building
look as though a lot of money was invested in this club. In recent years there are no boats, and it’s
hosted a community center and failed museum.
There are nice views of the sea if take the sidewalk around the
building.
International Banana Museum
Enjoying a Bananas Foster Shake at the International Banana Museum
You would likely miss this place if you didn’t know it was here – I drove right by it the first time. The sign says Liquor Store and Bait Shop, but the International Banana Museum takes up about half of a free standing liquor store. Look for the giant metal yellow banana shape by highway 111. This Guinness book awarded largest Banana collection was purchased a few years ago and is now shown in this quirky museum. It costs $1 to look around the museum and another $3 for a handmade banana shake. Try the bananas foster flavor – it was so yummy! They don’t post hours because they don’t always keep regular hours, but your best chance to visit is Friday to Monday from 12:30 to 5:30.
Oasis Date Farm
Oasis Date Farm
There
are many date palms in the area, with dates brought over from the Middle East
many years ago. If you want to visit
one, Oasis Date Farm is a great choice.
You can watch a video about date production in the Coachella Valley and
sample about 20 varieties of dates. If
you don’t get a belly full of dates, the also have a nice café serving
sandwiches and big date shakes. They
also have a wide selection of dates for purchase, some at great prices. I picked up 10 pounds of Barhi dates for
$30.
Best Time to Visit the Salton
Sea
The
best time to visit the Salton Sea is December to February. Temperatures are great, 70s in the day and
40s in the night, great camping weather.
Shoulder months of October-November and March-April are also nice,
although the closer to summer, the more insects are present. Travel
in the summer is not advised because daytime temps are well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hotels Near Salton Sea California
There are very few hotels along the stretch of highway 111 along the Salton Sea. Your best selection is about 20 miles either north or south of the sea – Brawley to the south or Coachella or Indio to the north
Salton Sea – Where to Eat
These
are a few of my favorite places to eat along highway 111 of the Salton Sea,
from South to North:
Calipatria –Donut Avenue – a mixture of Donuts, Burgers, Mexican food, and Pizzas! If you’re really hungry, they have some reasonably priced combo meals. Each comes with a free donut!
Calipatria – Market Square Grocery Store – some of the best burgers on the Salton Sea can be purchased at the deli of this moderately expensive grocery story.
Niland – Buckshot Café – This is a place for burgers and Mexican food. I can recommend the breakfast burritos. They have yummy salsa.
Bombay Beach – Ski Inn – There is typical bar food plus a few dinner choices at the bar, the lowest bar in the western hemisphere. Several beers on tap. Great prices.
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One of the best things to do in northern Albania is a ride on the Koman Lake Ferry, sometimes also spelled the Komani Lake Ferry. This day long ferry ride (3 hours each way) is one of the most scenic boat rides in Europe – rivaling the fjords of Norway.
Komani Lake
Komani Lake isn’t really a lake, it’s a reservoir. A hydroelectric dam in the small village of Koman blocks the Drin river in the river valley. The lake is also dammed at the other end near the village of Fierza. This creates a valley among the Albania Alps that’s stunning.
You will have views like this all day on the Komani Ferry
Komani Lake Ferries
There are several Ferries on Koman Lake. The Rozafa and Berisha Ferries take vehicles in addition to passengers. There is also one passenger only ferry, the Dragobia. The ferry runs from Koman to Fierza. In 2019, the cost each way is 6 Euro per person, or 5 Euro if you book in advance.
Day Trip or Multi
Day?
There are several options for a one-day trip and several
options for multi-day trips.
If you travel in the summer, there is an opportunity to take
the ferry half way and stop at a restaurant for multiple activities, including
swimming, kayaking, or taking a trip up the Shala River. The other option is to simply ride the ferry
all day… all the way to Fierza and back.
I only had a day to do the Komani Lake Ferry. If I had longer, I definitely would have done some hiking from Valbona to Theth National Parks. Hostels in Skhoder were selling 2 day/1 night and 3 day/2 night trips including meals and accommodation to the national parks for about 30-35 Euro per day per person.
Where to Eat on Your
Koman Ferry Day Trip
Dining choices are limited if you’re taking the shuttle (details
below) and ferry combination, as there is not time to stop at one of the nicer
restaurants between Skhoder and Koman.
We traveled in October in the last week the ferry was open and the
dining choices at that time were:
Koman Ferry Terminal – there was a snack shop, café serving coffee and not much else, and grilled sausages available outside.
On the Berisha ferry – There is a snack bar with limited snacks and coffee available
The stop in Fierza is only about an hour so there isn’t really time to go into the village for lunch. Additionally, the day we rode, the ferry return left 15 minutes early so we were super happy we stayed near the ferry dock. There is a small café that sells drinks and snacks. The closest thing we got to a real meal was a bowl full of a Spam-like canned meat. Did you know there is a Spam museum? Check it out.
Your own picnic. Skhoder has a well stocked grocery store, so your best bet might be buying picnic supplied and bringing them on the ferry.
If you don’t bring your own picnic, your lunch might look like this!
What Should You Bring
on the Koman Lake Ferry?
Make sure you wear layers on the ferry, and bring a rain jacket if rain is forecast. Our ride in October was very cold and a windbreaker was helpful. If you’re going on a day trip, don’t forget your swimsuit. If you get very cold, you can ride inside.
Inside seating on the Koman Lake Ferry – free movies!
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How to Get from Skhoder to Koman (or Tirana to Koman)
The best city for accessing the Komani Lake Ferry is Skhoder, Albania. There is a daily shuttle, costing 5 Euro per person per way, from Tirana to Skhoder to Koman when the ferry is running. The shuttle returns Koman to Skhoder to Tirana shortly after the ferry arrives in the afternoon. Make sure you book the shuttle at least a day in advance, as it leaves very early in the morning. You can book your shuttle directly with the ferry company or through your accommodation in Skhoder (Check Availability and Rates at Skhoder Hotels and Hostels). I don’t recommend doing the Komani Lake Ferry day trip from Tirana, as it takes more than 1 hour and 40 minutes longer each way and increases the shuttle costs. It would be an exhausting trip from Tirana, especially if only going for a day trip. The shuttle from Skhoder to Koman takes over 1.5 hours and is on winding roads along the Drin River. The ride is quite scenic, with views of lakes, fish farms, mountains, and the sunrise (yes, it’s really that early).
I’m Going to PUKE!
If you watch carefully, might see the street signs directing you to Puke, Albania. We had quite a laugh about those. But seriously, the shuttle ride from Skhoder to Koman is a rough, windy road so hopefully you’re not going to puke!
Staying
Overnight at Studenica Monastery guest house is one of the best things to do in
southwest Serbia.
About Studenica Monastery
Studenica
Monastery (aka Studenica Manastir) is an UNESCO world heritage site first
established in the late 1100’s. There
are several chapels in this Serb Orthodox monastery. Now it is one of the best monasteries in
Serbia. The artwork is divine – with the
special blue paint from Afghanistan that was once more valuable than gold.
Studenica Monastery Guest
Rooms
The Studenica Guesthouse was only added after the UNESCO designation, but the style makes it seem much older. The rooms are quite basic, but comfortable, with several single beds. The rooms have a bathroom with western style toilet and shower with hot water. Our room had a balcony looking away from the monastery, with a view of the surrounding hills and forest.
Studenica Monastery Guest
House Meals
Staying at Studenica Monastery, comes with half board, so you get dinner and breakfast with your stay. Breakfast was a choice of “meat” or “no meat”. After seeing the choices, I would go with the “no meat” option. Meat included several sausages with soup, fried potatoes, and salad. “No meat” was the same but with fish. Breakfast included lots of bread, spreads, tuna, pastries, and coffee or tea.
Studenica Monastery Wine
Many
of the monasteries in Europe make their own wine, and you can get some homemade
wine at Studenica to have with your dinner.
A bottle costs $7 euros and the red wine was quite good.
Studenica Monastery Guest
House Cost
It
cost $20 Euros per person for room and half board at Studenica. Half board included a full dinner (I
recommend ordering the fish rather than the meat option) and an ample
breakfast.
Advantage of Staying Overnight at Studenica Monastery
The advantage of staying overnight is you can access the monastery after the tourist groups have left for the day. One of the joys of staying was getting up early, sitting outside the chapel, and listening to the monks chanting their morning prayers.
Studenica in the moonlight
Getting to Studenica Monastery
Getting
to Studenica Monastery by public transportation is hit or miss. The biggest trick to this feat is to get to
the village of Usce. Once you are there,
there are buses up to Studenica. Ask
locally for times.
When
leaving Studenica Monastery, we wanted to get to Novi Pasar on a stopover on
our way to Kosovo which didn’t seem too difficult – it was a short ride to
Usce, which was on the main highway E-761, which was only 54 km away from Novi
Pasar along a main highway.
The ride to Usce was easy. The front desk at the monastery stay told us the times for several buses and we decided to catch the 10:30 to Usce which left exactly on time. Usce to Novi Pasar was a different story. Some locals told us where the stand along the main highway. Several other people were waiting and after a few minutes, boarded a bus to Raska. In hindsight, we should have gotten on this bus, which would have gotten us half way to Novi Pasar and would have taken us to a city where it would have been easier to get a taxi cab. Instead we waited and waited… we waited over 2 hours. A couple buses going towards Novi Pasar went buy… some didn’t stop. One that did stop told us they were completely full. No one could tell us exactly when a Novi Pasar bus would stop. Eventually we got on a bus to Raska which proceeded to drive 1 km out of Usce and then stop for 20 minutes for a bathroom stop and lunch. Luckily, we were standing outside and saw a Novi Pasar bound minibus drive by. We flagged it down and switched buses, arriving in Novi Pasar about an hour later.
Rila Monastery is one of the best monasteries in Europe. While most people do a day trip to visit, there’s something cool about staying overnight at Rila Monastery in Bulgaria.
Overnight Stay Reservation for Rila Monastery Guesthouse
It’s
best to make a reservation for your stay, and it appears this can only be done
by telephone to a Bulgarian phone number.
We made a couple attempts to contact via e-mail but these were all
ignored. We had to dial several numbers
to finally be connected to the correct reservations line. The phone number is +359896872010
Please
note that English is not spoken at the reservations number. We called one day ahead and tried to make a
reservation in broken Italian. The next
day, the nun didn’t have our reservation and initially said they were full. Luckily, they did have a couple rooms in the
older part of the monastery, so we were lucky to get to stay.
Cost For Overnight Stay at
Rila Monastery
The
cost to stay is 20 Bulgarian Lev (approx. 10 Euros or $12) per person. You cannot pay by credit card.
Rila Monastery Accommodation
– Check-In
The
posted check in time is from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 6:00-7:00 pm. The day we visited there was no one in the
office but when we asked at the museum, we discovered the nun who checks in
guests was selling candles in the church.
If you are coming from
Macedonia, keep in mind that Bulgaria is one hour ahead and how that affects
the time you should arrive.
Rila Monastery Accommodation
– The Rooms
The
rooms in the older building are quite basic. The rooms pretty much consist of painted
cement walls, creaky hardwood floors, and creaking beds. The beds are bad… I had to put the thin
mattress on the floor to sleep, there was no way I could sleep on the sagging
springs of the bed. The bathrooms are
outside of the rooms and only include squat toilets. There is no wi-fi for overnight guests, but
there are electric outlets in the rooms for charging.
We
stayed at Rila in late November when the nights were quite chilly. The rooms in the older portion of the monastery
don’t have heat, but the nun lent us a portable heater that worked quite well.
Inside the rooms at Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery Accommodation
– The Rules
We
were told several times to stay off the corridors outside of our rooms. Even though there was a rope barrier between
the courtyard and the upper floor corridors, the nun did not want us to be
outside that would encourage other tourists to enter the upper floors for
photos. That being said, the best views
of the monastery are from the upper floors, so a stay overnight is the only way
to get these great shots without breaking the rules. The Rila Monastery dress code is covered knees
and shoulders.
Rila Monastery Lodging – What to do for Meals
Unlike
our stay in Studenica Monastery in Serbia, the Rila Monastery doesn’t serve
meals. However, there is a full-service
restaurant out the east gate of the monastery. They serve dishes such as lamb, rabbit, and
trout. Bulgarian wines and beer are served.
The food is a bit on the expensive-side,
and it’s definitely not the best restaurant, but there’s little choice on the
grounds of Rila.
Rila Monastery Guesthouse Curfew
The
gates to the monastery are closed at 7pm, but curfew isn’t until 9pm. If you come back between 7 and 9pm, you must ring
the bell to have the guard let you inside.
This gives you time to get dinner outside.
Breakfast
At
the time of our visit, there were only two options for breakfast. You could get a full breakfast at the
restaurant out the east gate of Rila for a reasonable price. For about $3, I had tea, a boiled egg, lots
of cheese, cucumber and tomato, bread, butter, and jam. The other alternative is coffee from the
vending machine and fresh yogurt and donuts from the small bakery. Only one type of donut is served, and you can
coat it with provided powdered sugar. If
not at Rila, you must try the Bulgarian yogurt when you’re in Bulgaria. There is a special type of bacteria that only
exists in Bulgaria.
Rila Monastery Currency
We
had erroneously believed we could pay for our Rila Monastery visit in Euros,
but only Bulgarian Lev was accepted. Neither
the accommodation nor the restaurant takes credit cards. Luckily, there was an ATM at the edge of the
Rila parking lot, but I would recommend bringing plenty of Lev just in case the
ATM is not working.
Rila Monastery Overnight
Review
Overall,
I enjoyed my stay in Rila. I wish they
provided meals and Rila, but the nearby restaurant was adequate. My biggest gripe was the bed – if you have a
bad back, you are better off sleeping elsewhere.
The
biggest advantage of staying overnight at Rila Monastery is the views! Since only overnight guests are allowed on
the upper floors you will get some great views of the monastery, not seen by
others – including views from above, views after dark, and views without loads
of tourists in the way.
View of the Monastery from the guest floors
Other Rila Monastery Lodging
If you want to stay somewhere a big more comfortable and less restrictive, there are several other hotels and guesthouses in the vicinity of Rila Monastery that cost about the same amount if Rila is full. This post contains affiliate links. This website earns a small commission for items purchased through these links with no additional cost to you.
There is only one direct bus from Rila Monastery to Sofia per day and this is at 3:00 pm and costs 11 Lev. But if you stay overnight at the Monastery, you may not want to stay the full day until 3 pm so you have two options:
#1
Take the 9:00 am bus to Dupnista for approx. 5 Lev. This will drop you at the Train/Bus
station. From there, you can catch the
hourly bus to Sofia for approx. 7 Lev.
#2 Take a taxi. A taxi to Sofia will cost 120 Lev, but this isn’t so much if you are traveling with a group and you can travel at your selected time, save over an hour of transit time, and get dropped at your accommodation in Sofia (Check Rates and Availability in Sofia).
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Kosovo is the newest country in Europe and there are lots of great sites packed into this little country. If you have limited time, you can do the best things to do in Kosovo in this 3-Day Kosovo Itinerary, which includes a 48-hour car rental. This is a Kosovo Travel Blog of what I was able to see in Kosovo in only 3 days.
Day 1 of 3-Day Kosovo
Itinerary
Pick up Your Car by
Mid-Day
Perhaps you arrived in town
in the morning. Pristina is connected by bus to Novi Pazar, Serbia
and Skopje, Macedonia, among other destinations.
You will pick up your car
at noon. There are a number of car rental agencies both in the
center of the city and at the airport. If you’re busing into town or
spending more time in Pristina, I recommend renting from one of the central
agencies. We rented from Hertz at the base od the Grand Pristina Hotel. Although
there are buses that connect the main cities, many of the most interesting
sites are best visited by car.
Gadime Cave (Marble Cave)
& Lunch
Marble
Cave is a beautiful cave in the village of Gadime. It was only discovered in the 1960’s and is
largely unexplored, but you can take a guided tour in a portion of it. I was amazed by the formations and
crystals. Have lunch at the restaurant
outside the cave. They have excellent
salads.
Ferizaj Town Center
From
the cave, you’re going to take the scenic route of highway R115. Your next stop is the town center of
Ferizaj. Walk the pedestrian street,
snack on some of the street food, and visit the iconic sight of a mosque next
to a cathedral. Chat with the friendly
locals.
Mountain Road to Prevalla
From Ferizaj, head south
for a short while and head west on highway R115. This mountain road
has great views. If you visit in fall, you can see fall colors and
buy freshly picked walnuts. Take a break from the driving and stop
at the charming mountain village of Prevalla. This small hiking and
skiing village houses many vendors that sell wares including honey, cheese,
walnuts, syrups, and fresh doughnuts.
Selection of Kosovo Honey in Prevalla
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Prizren Dinner and Nightlife
From Prevalla you can continue on R115 into Prizren to check into your hotel. There are several hostels in town and lots of choices for hotel. There are some excellent hotels in the Prizren city center for very reasonable prices (Check Rates and Availability).
After checking in, take a
stroll and have dinner near the river.
If it’s the weekend, stop into one of the lively bars on the south side
of the river.
Day 2 of 3-Day Kosovo Itinerary
Today will be a busy day,
so make sure you have a good breakfast and coffee!
Hike to the Prizren
Fortress & Visit Prizren Old Town
Leave your rental car
parked at the hotel and set off on foot to the Old Town. Follow the
signs up the hill from the main mosque to visit the Prizren Fortress for the
most incredible view of the second largest city in Kosovo.
Gjakova
After
your hike and an hour drive, it’s time for a coffee break. Head immediately to the “Old Bazaar” which is
a pedestrian street lined with coffee shops and restaurants. If the weather is pleasant, you can sit outside
and enjoy a beverage and people watch. You
can get a light lunch such as a salad or wrap.
Visoki Decani Monastery
From Gjakova you will head north to Decan (or Desan), then west towards the mountains. We almost thought we were going the wrong way as we started seeing military compounds, road blocks, and menacing warning signs to not take photos. But we continued on and found ourselves at Visoki Decani Monastery, a heavily fortified Serbian Monastery deep in Kosovo. This monastery is protected 24-7-365 by the United Nations. We had to give up our passports and have our bags heavily searched to go inside the church grounds. No cameras were allowed, but they did allow cell phones to take photos on the exterior of the church. The armed UN peacekeepers outnumbered the Serbian monks.
I
have seen some beautiful monasteries in my life, but this one was so beautiful
it brought me to tears. The 14th
century monastery is jamb packed with frescos, many painted with a rare blue
paint from Afghanistan that at one time was more valuable than gold. After visiting the monastery, make sure you
stop at the gift shop. Not only can you buy
religious items such are rosaries and icons, you can also buy locally crafted
honey, cheeses, liquor, and wine. You
can even sample the wine (the monk giving us samples seemed like he had sampled
a little too much that day)!
Patriarchate of Pec
If
you haven’t had your fill of monasteries, head north to Peja then west on the
M9 road to the Patriarchate of Pec Monastery.
This monastery is less remote and has less security and more tourism
facilities. While not as pretty as
Visoki Decani Monastery, the red exterior is dramatic in the wooded hill surroundings.
There is a small entry fee and audio
guide in English for rent, as well as a well-stocked gift shop.
M9 Mountain Road
The
M9 Mountain Road goes up over the mountains to Montenegro and offers some of
the most dramatic scenery in the country.
Follow the windy road up the mountain and stop to fill your bottles with
spring water and stop to view ribbons of waterfalls. There are several restaurants serving local
trout if you want an early dinner.
Get Some Dinner in Peja
By now it might be getting dark. Head over to Peja (home of the most famous beer in Kosovo) and take a walk on the pedestrian road along the river. For dinner, you can’t beat the restaurant at the Hotel Dukagjini – huge selection and reasonable prices. Drink some Peja beer on tap in the city of Peja.
Stay in a Kulla
If
you’re up for a rustic historical homestay, you can stay in a traditional
Albanian Kulla, a square tower with housing for farm animals and humans. The accommodations are quite rustic – you may
or may not have running water and electricity (we had neither after a rain
storm).
Today it’s time to head east and return to the capital city of Pristina. Have breakfast at your Kulla, hotel, or hit one of the many Kosovo bakeries as you head east on the M9.
Bear Sanctuary Pristhina
Before you return your
car, it’s well worth the detour to visit the rescued bears at the Four Paws
Bear Sanctuary Prishtina. It’s only a
few dollars to visit the bears, and support the housing of these bears rescued
from captivity. Most were previously
caged in restaurants in Kosovo to attract customers. Now they have many acres to roam. Find out if it’s feeding time and you can get
some great photos. Before you leave,
have some soup or coffee at the Bear Sanctuary café.
How cute?
Drop off the Car
Know
your car rental return time and give yourself a little extra time as traffic in
Pristina can be bad. Drop your car and
check into your hotel so you don’t have to worry about storing your bags. It’s time for an afternoon walking tour of Pristina.
Mother Teresa Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa is one of the most prominent buildings in Kosovo. Mother Teresa is highly respected in this area of the Balkans, as she was ethnically Albanian like many people from Kosovo. Make sure you visit the inside to see the many stained glass windows, some depicting Mother Teresa herself.
World’s Ugliest Building (National Library of Kosovo)
The National Library of
Kosovo, One of the world’s ugliest buildings is near the cathedral on the
grounds of the University of Kosovo. Make
sure you visit the inside as there are some great art in the rotunda.
Bill Clinton Statue
Another person revered in
Kosovo is Bill Clinton, you can visit his statue along Bill Clinton Boulevard. The statue is waving so you can get your
photo taken giving him a high five, or maybe something more X-rated (think
Monica).
Sheshi Zahir Pajaziti Pedestrian Street
One thing I love about
Kosovo is the pedestrian streets. Every
city seems to have one and Pristina is no different. This street is like a park, with plenty of
street food like roasted chestnuts and popcorn.
Check at the national theater to see if there is a good play or opera to
attend that evening. Make sure you also
visit the famous Newborn Statue, just a couple blocks away.
Where to Stay in Pristina
There are 100’s of places to stay in Pristina. On the budget end, I recommend the White Tree Hostel, a hostel with a bar popular with locals on a quiet street that’s home to several embassies. On the upper end, you can’t beat the Swiss Diamond. Check Rates and Availability in Pristina.
Do you like my Kosovo Travel blog? Are there any other things to do in Kosovo that you suggest? Please leave a comment below.
But I have many people who ask me how I feel safe when I’m camping alone. For the most part, I’ve felt quite safe while camping, but there have been several occasions when I’ve found myself a little on edge. There was a time I was tent camping, and as I made my way down to a remote spot on a river there were two guys in a car that were exiting the area at the same time. All alone along the river, and after eating dinner I tried to go asleep but heard some noises. My mind was racing with bad thoughts so I ended up driving back to the main road and sleeping in my car that night. A couple nights I’ve been camping in my van but found myself alone in a public campground. It seems like every time I parked and set up for a night in one of these campgrounds, some guy in a rusty 20-year old car with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth would drive around the campground at about 2 miles per hour checking out my van. When this happens, I tend to not sleep so easy. The first time I ever slept at a rest area, I arrived at midnight and (literally) the first thing I saw was a guy coming out of the men’s restroom with a baseball bat in his hands!!! Despite the creepy guys, I’ve never had any problems with someone trying to get into my van or tent. That being said, it’s worthwhile to follow some basic safety rules.
These solo camping tips work for many occasions:
Camping
alone in a campground
Camping
alone in the wilderness
Camping
alone in a van
Camping
alone in an RV
Camping
alone in a ten
Car
Camping
Solo
road trips
These
tips aren’t just for solos – these tips are also great for camping in a group
or a couple
Disclaimer
The statistical chance of something bad happening is very low. But by following a few simple, intuitive rules, camping alone doesn’t have to be scary. This post contains affiliate links. This website earns a small commission for items purchased through these links with no additional cost to you.
Solo Camping Safety Rule #1 Tell Someone Where You’re Going
It’s
wise to have a friend or family member back home to whom you can simply text or
e-mail your location each time you arrive at a new camp place. You can send the name of the campground or
even send a google map pin.
Solo Camping Safety Rule
#2 Stay in Cell Phone Reception Range
It is best when help is only a 911 call away. While there are many campsites that are so remote there is no cell phone reception, there are many with great reception and this seems to get better each year. When staying in low populated places, the best cell phone reception will be within 2 miles of Interstate and main highways. If you are camping at more remote places, it may be worth investing in a cell phone signal booster. Not only will you have cell coverage, but you will also have data!
Solo Camping Safety Rule #3 Don’t Share Your Location Publicly
While it’s fun to share your camping photos on public pages on Facebook and Instagram (check out my Instagram here and subscribe), please do not show your location until after you’ve left the area.
Solo Camping Safety Rule #4 Lock-up and Keep Valuables and Yourself Out
of Sight
Always
leave your valuables hidden out of sight.
If you have a van with windows, use blackout windows or curtains so
people can’t see you sleeping inside. When
I’m relaxing in my van after dark and while sleeping, I always lock my
doors. If you’re a woman camping alone,
you might leave a decoy in visible sight indicating a man might be around. For example, you can leave a man’s cap on the
dashboard, or leave a pair of men’s boots outside the door.
Solo Camping Safety Rule #5 Pick Your Weapon
Statistically
you will probably never use these camping protections, but it’s assuring to
have them on hand:
Tactical Flashlight/Torch
If someone is breaking in, it’s wise to have a blinding flashlight, also called a tactical flashlight. For my day to day lighting use, I have a headlamp but it’s nice to have this extra flashlight if I don’t have spare batteries for my headlamp.
Pepper Spray
When used properly, pepper spray can temporarily incapacitate an attacker and give you enough time to escape. I like the kind that you can easily snap on and off your key ring. I like to snap it on when I go outside to the toilet in the middle of the night. Do note that it is illegal to have pepper spray in Canada and some cities in the USA.
Bear Spray
Bear spray is basically a giant can of pepper spray. I like carrying bear spray because it has two uses – it means I have an extra protection in my van, and it provides bear protection if you camp and hike in areas that have both black and grizzly bears. Note that only certain types of bear spray are allowed into Canada.
Something Sharp
If someone did manage to break a window while I was sleeping, I’d like to have something sharp by the bed. After considering several tools, I decided a fireplace poker was best – it has a long handle, it’s heavy, and it has a sharp end, yet it takes very little space. And this weapon is useful for rearranging your campfires too! Score for something that has multiple uses! Hiking poles would be another good tool for protection.
Firearms
I personally am not an advocate for having firearms around as there’s a higher chance of hurting yourself, suicide, or hurting someone you love, but some people don’t feel safe without one. I’ve met people that carry a BB pistol that looks realistic, but this could be more lethal if confronted by someone with a real gun.
Follow these rules and you might just sleep a little sounder, but please be responsible for any weapons you might carry or use.
If you’ve ever wondered what a post-apocalyptic USA might look like, look no further than the Salton Sea Ghost Town of Bombay Beach, California. The sign on your drive into Bombay Beach, CA says “Population 295, Elevation – 223 feet.” That’s right – negative 223 feet. This town is probably the lowest town in America. This quirky town is a place you either love or hate. It’s a place where it’s easy to get sucked in and befriend the locals in the local watering holes. Bombay Beach is a Salton Sea Ghost Town that just keeps on ticking.
A Little Bombay Beach History
Dead fish on the beach of Bombay Beach
The Salton Sea was created by accident in 1905, but it was eventually developed for tourism with it’s heydays in the 1950’s and 60’s when Hollywood celebrities made their way to resorts in newly developed towns like Bombay Beach, where swimming and waterskiing were popular activities. Eventually the water of the sea started to rise, and Bombay Beach built a levee to protect itself from the rising water. But then the sea levels started to fall without replenishment. The tasty Orange Mouth Corvina fish and others started dying. The levee was now causing water to pool on the wrong side of the levee – bogging the town down with mud every time they received significant rain. Bombay Beach could easily be a Salton Sea ghost town, but it has some year-round and snowbird residents as well as visitors coming to see the unusual town.
The Beach and Former Dock Area
You
can drive up the levee (believe me, it’s safe to drive up and in the parking
area but don’t try to drive down on the beach – see the photo later in this
post to find out why). There are various
art installations and dusty boats in the sand.
Take a good look at the sand – you will discover the white sand is actually
crushed fish bones ☹. If it’s been raining, the beach is especially
soft and quick-sand like, so walk with caution.
The Town & Structures
The
town is primarily made up of mobile homes and RVs, but there are a few
permanent homes. One of the locals
approximated 50% are occupied, even if it doesn’t look that way.
Bombay Beach Art Scene
It’s fun to explore the streets of Bombay Beach and look for hidden and not hidden art. Try to find the house made of mirror balls. Some of the art may be an eyesore to some, but I think it’s brilliant. The beach is especially full or interesting structures. In March, there’s a newly formed arts festival called the Bombay Beach Biennale that features music, dance, and visual arts. It’s high on my bucket list to come back for this festival someday. The locals speak highly of the Biennale.
The Bombay Beach Drive In
The
coolest art installation in Bombay Beach is the “Drive-in” Movie Theater. Except these cars can’t exactly drive-in. Classic cars, trucks, and boats make up the
vehicles pointed at the movie screen (the back of a semi-truck, painted
white). From time to time there are movies,
even premiers, shown at this funky movie theater, with bonfires ablaze in the
hollowed out engines of the parked cars.
Bombay Beach Sunsets
Sunset at Bombay Beach, at Christmastime
The sunsets in Bombay Beach are to die for. Bombay Beach can surprisingly be one of the most Romantic Getaways In California.
Friendly Locals
You
can meet the locals at either of the town watering holes. I met one guy out walking his adorable
bulldog named “Humphrey Bogart”. This
dog was a movie star, literally. The
film “Tyger Tyger” was being filmed during my visit to Bombay Beach and his dog
was an extra!
Ski Inn Bombay Beach
The Ski Inn is the lowest bar in the western hemisphere. It’s the kind of bar you walk in and all the locals say hello. My favorite sign on the bar says “Please don’t talk about yourself. We’ll do it when you leave.” Great prices – a pint of domestic beer at $2.50 and cheeseburger and a side for $6.50. A great selection of classic hits on the jukebox. Can it get more appropriate than playing Garth Brooks “I’ve Got Friends in Low Places.”?
Bombay Beach American Legion
Not
to be undone by the Ski Inn, the American Legion is a place where you can get a
cold drink and a meal. The Legion has a
different meal available most days of the week including Taco Tuesdays and
other times dedicated to burgers, spaghetti, and steak.
Inspiration for Grand Theft
Auto V?
I gave a fellow traveler a tour of Bombay Beach and he exclaimed how eerily similar it was to the setting for a character named Trevor, a meth-head that lives in a trailer in a dusty desert town. Trevor’s neighborhood contains deserted trailer homes, a cell tower, a couple shops, levee, and a lake – nearly identical to Bombay Beach. It wasn’t until later when my fellow traveler drove me around in the Grand Theft Auto V game that we discovered the windmill house… this exact house is in the game.
The “live” version of the Grand Theft Auto V Windmill House
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A Little Salton Sea Ghost Town Advice
Don’t drive on the “beach”. It’s really mud. You only need to look at this picture to understand why:
Bombay Beach California – Where
to Stay
There are a few Airbnb’s in Bombay Beach, but I didn’t see any of them. However, I can highly recommend the Fountain of Youth RV Spa, which is only a 10 minute drive away. You can pitch a tent, van, or RV camp at this all ages resort with 2 pools, 4 hot tubs, steam room, private mineral baths, great showers, and loads of activities from playing Pinochle to Pickle Ball. (Check Rates and Availability)
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