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An invitation to go back to our basics Not because of any polarity with modern medicine, but only as a means to help "rediscover your place in nature and our ecosystem. Plant medicine offers not only gentle remedies for everyday ills, but also a means of nurturing yourself, bringing powerful element of self-care to your life that will inspire and awaken your senses - from smell and taste to sight and tough - and loop you back into the wonderfully nurturing cycle of food and flowers, healing and health." A snippet from Bloom & Thrive. Thanks Brigit Anna McNeill for your inspiration. Bloom & Thrive Old Fashioned Fire Cider It takes longer to forage the ingredients than to make it. It's simple. It's easy. It's tasty. Basic Ingredients Apple cider with “mother” in it (32 oz) Fresh horseradish (1 cups peeled and diced) Fresh turmeric (1/2 cup peeled and diced) Fresh ginger (1/2 cup peeled and diced) Garlic cloves (1 cup peeled and diced) Sweet onion (1 cup peeled and diced) Habanero chili peppers (2 split in half (leave seeds in)) Lemon (1 quartered, and thinly sliced crosswise) Orange (2 quartered, and thinly sliced crosswise) Peppercorn (2 teaspoons of whole black peppercorns) If you prefer: Fresh parsley + Rosemary or Thyme and Raw honey (1.5 cup or more to taste) Wide Mouth Half Gallon masor jar - 64 oz 64 oz Mason Jar will yield 32 oz of cider Plastic top for it (do not use metal tops) Parchment paper between mason jar and plastic top to prevent corrosion from the vinegar. Pro-tip: peel horseradish, turmeric, and ginger with a teaspoon instead of a peeler. Don't dice too fine. One inch cubes should do it. Throw all of the ingredients in and add the vinegar and honey in the end. Then let it sit for 3 weeks. Pro tip: It's best if honey is added in the last week of the process so the 'fire' ingredients make their magic before 'sweetness' is introduced. Make it in a big jar because the ingredients take a lot of space and you won't have enough liquid if you are looking to add this to your daily/weekly routine Turn it upside down daily for at least 3 weeks Add masking tape to the lid and write your prep date on it with a sharpie Don't leave it to cure near a window where the sun can warm it (let it do it’s thing in a cabinet in room temperature) Once ready, pour it in a new jar or bottle through a funnel. Cover funnel with a cheese cloth or use a fine mesh strainer. Serving Suggestions Straight up: a shot every day or every week Other uses: as a marinade, as salad dressing, try a few dashes for cocktails, drizzle over steamed veggies. Good for 6 months to a year. Nourishing Nettle Infusion The most nutrient-dense and mineral-rich plant and a superfood that grows right by our feet. Not only does this rich supply of minerals do you good on the inside, through addressing mineral deficiencies, it also shows up on the outside, through the gift of thicker hair, sparkly eyes and stronger nails. Drinking nettle infusion will give so many nutrients to your blood that the feeling of uplift can start to happen within a few days, while regular use will have long-lasting effects. Nettle goes well with mint, rosemary and mallow, so add a teaspoon of each to your infusion. . Use a quart/liter jar. Put 30g/1 cup dried herbs or 60g/2 cups fresh herbs in the jar. Pour boiling water over the herbs to the top of the jar. Cover with a lid. Leave to infuse for 4-8 hours or overnight. Drink 2-4cups daily or 3-6 liters a week. Dosage: Nettle is food based, so works slowly and gently. The reason it takes longer is because it invites your body to heal from the core, rather than just addressing the symptoms. The immensely powerful benefits of this plant will not b felt in their fullness for about 1-2 months. It’s therefore not a plant to be taken every now and then; instead try to commit to a regular routine for nettle infusions. You can keep taking nettle through the year or, if preferred, try taking it for 2-3 months, then have a break and go back to it the following month. Wake-up and Thrive Infusion This is a brilliant warming drink that supports and wakes up the body with a powerful boost of antioxidants and antiviral properties, aiding digestion, the immune system and gut health. Drink like a tea. Rind and juice of 1 organic, unwaxed lemon 5cm/2in ginger root, grated 1 tbsp honey; Raw or Manuka honey have the best medicinal properties; or maple syrup. 1-3 tsp apple cider vinegar; Optional 1. Place all the ingredients in a heatproof jar. 2. Pour boiling water over the top. Cover with a lid and leave overnight. 3. In the morning, strain and reheat, if preferred, until warm but not really hot. Albanian Remedies For inflamed or sprained limbs Chunky Mediterranean salt and chopped onion wrapped in plastic For hemorrhoids St John’s Wort flowers (Lule Basami) and leaves dried fusion in olive oil in the dark for 40 days For spider veins and for tired legs 2 spicy dried red peppers, 5 garlic cloves infused in raki for 5 days. Crush and create rough paste. Effect will show within four/five days of rubbing legs with paste. For infections or burns Tomato heels infections and burns over night. Create paste of crushed tomatoes and wrap in plastic around the would. For younger feeling face/skin Make a water and starch paste in a bowl, apply to face every night before bed, wash away after 5 mins Similar to fire cider, prevents colds, sickness. A boost to your immune and digestive system. Diced chunky garlic infused in a jar of honey. Take a teaspoon daily. Liver therapy For five mornings Half an ounce of EVOO Half an ounce of fresh lemon juice A pinch of cayenne pepper Rose Petal Elixir Rose is a safe medicine, bringing calm to an emotionally fraught heart, and helping to soothe anxiety and nerves. This is my favorite medicinal recipe, handed down to me by my grandmother. It’s soothing, recuperative and uplifting, like a hug in a bottle. Carry this elixir around and take one or two dropperful of it as a pick-me-up when needed. Fill a jar with rose petals. Fill half the jar with honey. Raw or Manuka honey have the best medicinal properties. Fill the remaining of the jar with brandy. Place a lid on top and let it infuse in a cool place for 4-6 weeks or longer. During this time, try to take the lid off and stir the mixture as often as possible, inviting the melding of plant medicine, honey and brandy, so they can become one. After 4-5 weeks, strain and bottle the liquid. Take one or two dropperfuls when needed in times of anxiety, worry, stress, or hurt. Happy Spray 30 dro ps of mixture of these essential oils: lavender, lemon balm, frankincense, bergamot. 20 ml/1 1⁄2 tbsp vodka 80 ml/5 1⁄2 tbsp spring water or rose hydrosol Mix the essential oils with the alcohol, then add the water or hydrosol. Pour into a spray bottle Spray your bedsheets, clothes or hair. Sage Tea Albanians say it builds emotional strength, promotes wisdom, heals grief, and if that’s enough, it helps the digestive system, relieving bloating, gas and abdominal pain. Drink before or after meals, it will be huge benefit for those who cannot digest fats well. Put 1-2 tsp dried or 2-4 tsp fresh herb in a mug and fill with boiling water. Infuse for 20 minutes. Happy Tea Blend This is a good blend to make from dried herbs to keep in a jar for when needed. You can make it as either a tea or a stronger herbal infusion. 3 parts lemon balm 2 parts chamomile flowers 2 parts nettle 2 parts Siberian ginseng root 1 part St John’s Wort 1 part oat straw For a cup of herbal tea: Use 2 tsp per cup/mug and steep for 20 mins. Strain. For an infusion: Put 30g/1 cup of the dried herb mix in a liter/quart jar and cover with boiling water. Put on the lid and leave to steep for 4-8 hours. Strain. Birch Juice The sap directly tapped from (white and silver) birch trees can be immediately consumed fresh and/or when naturally fermented. When fresh, it is a clear and uncolored liquid, often slightly sweet with a slightly silky texture. After two or three days, the sap starts fermenting and the taste becomes more acidic. The fresh juice is light, more like flavored water than pulpy thick juice. To stop fermentation, the juice can be stored in the fridge up to 1 year. I was first introduced to it by a Latvian friend during a visit to her house in The Netherlands. She had a collection of birch trees on her property and proudly explained that her ancestors have been using it for generations for revitalization and to prevent cancer. "If nothing else, it's great for skin and hair. My little girls and I wash our hair with it and rub it as a face mask on our special girl-and-mommy-time days" she said. Her husband explained that harvesting it is hassle free. "Between fall and spring you put the tap in and collect it like maple sap for syrup. Every 24 hours, from only 1 tree, you get 1.5 liters of fresh juice without having to process it." And when I asked why he started collecting after the last leaf fell and stopped in the spring before the first bud, he answered: "Because the trees need their strength. We won't ever harm the trees. We only collect when they are hibernating." I tasted both fresh and fermented and couldn't pick my favorite - they were different enough and both delicious and unique. I was sent home (to my hotel) with two 1.5L bottles of it. I drank from them every day until the last drop before I checked out. I am not sure if I became an ambassador of birch juice because of its uniqueness, health effects, or taste first. But all were encapsulated and fortified by the family and story time I was honorably a part of. That's what sealed the deal - witnessing ageless healthy living remedies passed down through consciousness and subconsciousness, entwined in modern day interactions between husband and wife, mom and daughters, family and guests, from one part of the world to another. . These teas have been cultivated in the Mediterranean region for thousands of years, They can be enjoyed both by drinking, inhaling, and even topically applying this tea to the skin. Sage Mountai n Te a anti oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancerous, improves blood sugar control, promotes oral health, healthy skin and wound healing. Sideritis Mo unta in Tea anti-microbial, ant-ulcerative, anti oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant, pain relie ver, carminative mood enhan cing, and anti-depressant Red Oregano Mountain Tea anti-inflammatory and antioxidant Nettle Tea from dried leaves anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, and it purifies the blood and destroy the toxins from the body. Nettle Tea from dried roots & stems treats hey fever, enlarged prostate symptoms, and lowers blood pressure, joint swelling, and estrogen metabolites. Dandelion Tea from leaves relieves constipation and soothes minor digestive ailments. prevents urinary tract infections, anti-cancerous Dandelion Tea from roasted roots best known as 'liver' tonic, it helps detoxify the liver, can be used as a substitute for coffee Dried Crab Apple Tea prebiotic - enables good gut bacteria, immunity booster, anti-inflammatory, aids in weight loss Thana Tea and more... Thana, known in Latin as Cornus Mas and in English as Cornelian Cherry , is a special, less known plant, native to southern Europe and south-western regions of Asia. Dandelion Honey Dandelion honey isn't honey made by bees, but rather it is really dandelion syrup made from the flowers and sugar. You're the bee converting flowers into sweet goodness. You can weed those pesky dandelions from your lawn and make a treat from the flowers. Dandelion honey is a good substitute for honey for vegans or anyone who may have an allergy to traditional bee's honey, with a surprisingly similar flavor. T he consistency is thinner than most honey. It has a very similar appearance in color. If you have a lawn dotted with dandelions and you are sure there haven't been any chemicals applied, you can forage for the flowers. If spring has sprung but the bees aren't yet buzzing enough to make honey, this is a fun seasonal substitute. Prep:75 mins Cook:90 mins Steep and Soak:6 hrs 5 mins Total:8 hrs 50 mins Servings:16 serv ings Ingredients: 4 cups dandelion petals 4 cups water 3 lemon slices (1/4-inch) 1/2 vanilla bean, split in half 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar Directions: Pick dandelion flowers during the daylight while in full bloom. Remove the petals, then measure the petals only. Discard the center of the flower and the stem in your compost. Soak petals in cold water for five minutes to allow time for any insects to exit, then drain. Place petals in a heavy saucepan along with water, lemon slices, and vanilla bean. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let steep for 6 hours. Strain dandelion tea through a cheesecloth and discard solids in your compost. Place dandelion tea in a heavy saucepan and bring to a low boil. Gradually add sugar to boiling liquid while stirring until sugar is dissolved. Lower heat and let simmer uncovered until it reaches desired syrupy thickness. This may take about 1 hour. It will thicken more as it cools. Store covered in the refrigerator. It should keep for about six months. It also freezes for longer storage. Not es: Some cooks leave the flower heads intact, but this can add a bitter note to the honey. It's best to use only the petals and eliminate any green parts. If you're concerned about who or what was tiptoeing through the dandelions before you picked them, the rinsing and boiling processes should eliminate any lingering bacteria . Picking the dandelion flowers will keep them from going to seed and propagating more dandelions. That's good news if you want fewer, but bad news if you discover you love dandelion honey and want lots more flowers the next season. Try using orange slices in place of the lemon slices for a different citrus flavor. You can add a little bit of fresh herbs such as thyme, sage, bay leaves or lemon verbena to the petal-water mixture. Remove them as soon as you're happy with the level of herbal flavor, before any delicate floral notes get overpowered. Albanian Remedies: Teas Elderflower Syrup Elderflower is the flower of the elder tree. An extract of the flower is used to make medicine. In addition to tasting like summer, this wonderful syrup treats the common cold, the flu (influenza), swelling of the nasal cavity and sinuses. Elderflower prep Best if you collect your own flowers in a clean forest. Do not wash or rinse to prevent pollen from coming off. Carefully pluck the flowers. Remove as much as you can of the green part because it will add bitterness. Making the syrup Put 350 g of Elderflower into a 5 liter jar Pour in 2.5-3 liters of water Add lemon juice by squeezing 2 organic lemons Mix softly to blend everything together Cover the top and let it rest in the fridge for 72 hours Everyday, carefully push the flowers down with a wooden spoon Filter the syrup through a cheese cloth For the sugar and citric acid add-ons, start out with adding a little, mix, taste, and repeat until you reach your desired taste. Add sugar (up to 0.75kg) Add citric acid (up to 2 tbsp) Store in fridge in glass bottle(s) For drinking it as a cold brew, add 50/50 syrup and water in a glass. Fun Fact: Elderberries grow from the same tree as elderflowers. The flowers (white and small in bunches) bloom from July to July while the berries (blue, dark purple, black) ripe from September to October. European black elder trees are called Sambucus Nigra. The elderberries from this tree are used to make the Italian liquor called Sambuca. Homemade Calcium Calcium, the most abundant mineral in our body, helps with our bones and teeth and maintains a healthy heart, nerves, muscles, and an ideal weight. Here’s a home remedy from my aunt Hana. 12 eggshells 5 organic lemons Freshly squeezed lemon juice 32 oz glass jar with plastic lid Wider glass bowl as a deep tray for glass jar Wash the eggs well before cracking with warm water. Instead of baking or boiling them, because they are my chicken’s eggs and fresh, I don’t have to worry about bacteria and use them raw. Hand-crush the shells and fit them into the jar. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over them and close the lid. Place in the fridge for 5-7 days and shake twice a day. Place a wider glass bowl as a deep tray for glass jar to catch any leaks that drop from the lid during fermentation. Before using, strain to separate the eggshells from the thick white liquid. Put back in the glass jar and close the lid. Store in the fridge. Take a teaspoon a day. Its wood was used from the seventh century BC onward by craftsmen in southern Europe to construct spears, javelins and bows, the craftsmen considering it far superior to any other wood. Today, it spectacularly presents itself in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in distilled Rakia. During full fruit bearing, 20–80 kg of fruits can be picked from one tree. Less known and unique uses are that the leaves can be used as a tea substitute and provide a good source of tannin; oil may be obtained from the seed, and a unique red dye from the bark. The thin trunks make excellent walking sticks and canes. Bay Leaf Tea The Greek word for laurel is Dafni (similar in Albanian, Dafinë ) named for the Daphne of Greek mythology. Laurel was prized during ancient times. Its leaves were considered as a symbol of wisdom, peace, and protection. They were used in Mediterranean religious ceremonies and believed that the smoke from burning bay leaves could ward off evil spirits. Wreaths, crowns, and garlands of the herb were worn by emperors, heroes, doctors, and poets. Doctors wore crowns of bay leaf due to the belief that it provided support for maladies from indigestion to bad dreams. Bay Leaves have been used for 1000s of years for cooking, essential oils and traditional medicine. As you have probably guessed already, it can also be brewed into a delicious and healthful herbal tea. Because the leaf is full of essential oils, its taste is similar to those of eucalyptus and menthol with hints of pepper-like spic, and it's complimented fantastically with honey. Among countless health benefits, the most noteworthy one is that laurel leaves are high in vitamin C and vitamin A, and excellent for your immune system. WILLOW TREE ASPIRIN The acid from a Shelgë or willow tree is aspirin. The ancient Sumerians, circa 2000 BC, recorded the use of willow leaves to treat inflammation. The Ebers Papyrus, circa 1500 BC, one of the most important medical documents of ancient Egypt, references the use of willow leaves as a general purpose pain reliever. And Hippocrates himself advocated the use of willow bark tea to reduce fever and alleviate pain. Jumping ahead to modern times, the first ever recorded clinical trial was centered around willow bark, when in 1763 Reverend Edward Stone sought a treatment for the symptoms of malaria. Any special remedies you'd like to share?

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Spread the fjalë

A DIARY Across the Peaks of the Western Balkans The ambition: 7 countries, 700 kilometers of walking, love, history, unity, hard work, good food, great fjalë. THE ILLYRIAN WAY Get your copy today! Nina, Nana Lullaby In The Press Book Description Shortly after a life-shifting diagnosis fractured the silence of everyday life, the author set out with her husband on a three-month pilgrimage through the wild heart of the Western Balkans. The Illyrian Way is more than a travel memoir—it's a deeply personal journey of grief, healing, heritage, and discovery. Crossing seven countries and three legendary long-distance trails—Via Dinarica, Peaks of the Balkans, and High Scardus—the pair embrace mountain solitude, cultural resilience, and unexpected joy. Packed with trail maps, intimate photos, local recipes, and luminous vignettes of alpine meadows, Sharr dogs, wild horses, and warm family tables laden with raki and homegrown fare, this book is a love letter to connection: to history, land, and strangers turned kindred spirits. It’s a mosaic of encounters—world travelers, village heroes, ancient ruins, and a search for the author's own Illyrian roots. With quiet strength and playful reverence, The Illyrian Way invites readers into a tender expedition that celebrates nature’s drama and human grace. Whether you're a backpacker, a dreamer, or simply curious, this journey will awaken your wanderlust—and just might guide you toward your own version of home. Get your copy today. From the author The Illyrian Way is a physical trail along mountain peaks, forests, and the Adriatic Sea. There are three established long-distance trails that I have stitched together for the hiker enthusiast to experience 7 countries in the Western Balkans in one go. These established trails are called Via Dinarica, Peaks of Balkans, and High Scardus. Altogether they make up over 965 miles of hiking in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania. I personally walked 450 miles of it. The Illyrian Way is also a mental journey of discovering culture from the comfort of your own home through this book. It depicts a unique cultural blend of West and East, of Christianity and Islam, of communism and democracy, and of various ethnic identities, the larger two being Slavic and Albanian, that have shaped the region. It is so much more than a place you may associate with corruption, poverty, and conflict, due to mainstream media often focusing their reporting on grief rather than celebratory human stories. For me, The Illyrian Way is a spiritual journey , a pilgrimage into my own heritage. One in which I embarked on out of personal grief, history, and fear but that left me feeling hopeful, proud, and joyful. Read more... VIA DINARICA is ~1,000 km or ~620 mi trail system in the Dinaric Alps or Dinarides. The Dinarides are named after Mount Dinara (1,831 m), a prominent peak in the center of the mountain range on the border with the Dalmatian part of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The trail begins in Razdrto at the foot of the Nanos plateau in Slovenia, and roughly follows the Croatian mountains of Velika Kapela, Velebit and Dinara. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the trail passes through the Hercegovina region, and then through the mountains of Central Montenegro. The route ends in the Valbona valley in the Albanian Alps in Northern Albania. PEAKS OF BALKANS is a ~192 km or ~120 mi trail system in the Accursed Mountain Range, the southernmost subrange of the 1,000-kilometer-long Dinaric Alps range (Dinarides). The Accursed Mountains (in Albanian: Bjeshkët e Nëmuna; in Serbo-Croatian: Проклетије, Prokletije; both translated as "Cursed Mountains"), also known as the Albanian Alps (Albanian: Alpet Shqiptare), are a mountain group in the western part of the Balkans. The official trail extends from northeast Albania to southern Kosovo and northeastern Montenegro. It does not include the other half of Accursed Mountain Range in northwest Albania, nor the Sharr or Korab Mountain Ranges in Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia. HIGH SCARDUS trail is a ~362 km or ~225 mi trail system which leads through the untouched mountain world of the Western Balkan countries of Kosovo, Albania, and Northern Macedonia. The start point is in Staro Selo in North Macedonia and the end point is in Sveti Naum at Ohrid Lake also in North Macedonia. When hiking the High Scardus Trail you cross the mountain ranges of Sharr, Korab, Deshat, Jablanica and Galichica - one more beautiful than the other. The best time to hike the Trail is from mid of June to Mid of October. The sea level stretches from 700m to 2.764m - so a certain basic physical condition is needed - especially when hiking the longest stage with 8 hours and a length of 26km (stage 8 "Brod - Radika") but boy, is it worth it! The longest stage by altitude meters is stage 10 ("Strezimir - Radomire") with 300m up and 1.600m down (you cannot miss this one either). Below is a journey that combines VIA DINARICA & PEAKS OF BALKANS & HIGH SCARDUS trails and includes official and unofficial trails. A portion of the VIA DINARICA official trail overlaps with the PEAKS OF BALKANS official trail. Th e northwest Albanian region of the Accursed Mountains (Malësia e Madhe region) is NOT part of PEAKS OF BALKANS official trail today; however, it is well marked and is not something you should skip, as it will offer you complete authenticity . Trails along the Sharr Mountain Range and Korab Mountain Range are part of the High Scardus trail . They are not part of VIA DINARICA because these mountain ranges are not part of the Dinaric mountain range. The Sharr Mountain system is about 80 km or 50 mi long and 10–20 km or 6–12 mi wide and does NOT have an official trail system. The Korab Mountain system stretches over 40 km or 25 mi and does NOT have an official trail system. These mountain ranges offer the best cheese in the Balkans, are arguably the world and similar can be said about the views and the trails. Remote, raw, barely explored, but the natives are friendly and will give you a wonderful experience, every step of the way. Our journey across the PEAKS OF BALKANS Slovenia/Slovenija Lake Bohinj Mt. Vogel Lake Bled Mt. Triglav Mt. Viševnik Mt. Snežnik Cro atia/Hrvatska R isnjak National Park Mt. Risnjak Northern Velebit Premužić Trail Middle Velebit Split Senj Opatija Pag Island - Star Novalja Bosnia & Herzegovina/ Bosnia i Hercegovina B lidinje National Park Jablanica Mostar Sarajevo Umoljani & Lukomir Sutjeska National Park Montenegro/Crna Gora Durmitor Mo untain s Prokeletije Mountain Range and National Park -Babino Polje - Plav - Mt. Talijanka (Maja e Vajushës) - Grebaj - Karafili Peak - Vusanje - Kolata Peak Kosovo/Kosova Pejë Accursed Mountain Rang e and Bjeshkët e Nëmuna National Park - Maja Hajlës (Hajla Peak) - Gjeravica Peak - Marijash Peak - Guri Kuq Peak Prishtinë Prizren High Scardus Trail - Sharr Mountain Range and National Park - Korab Mountain Range Macedonia/Makedonija Sharr Mountain Range Ma vrovo National Park Jance and Galicnik Korab Mountain Range A lbania/Shqipëria Kora b Mountain Range Korab-Koritnik National Park Theth and Valbona National Parks Accursed Mountain Range - Maja e Harapit (Arapi Peak) - Vuk ël - Tamarë - Vërmosh - Lepushë - Bogë - G rykë e Lugjeve - Theth - Maja Jezercës (Jezerca Peak) - Çerem - Dobërdol Bogë Shkodër Lake Shkodër Tiranë THE ILLYRIAN WAY DAILY ITINERARY Start Now EC ME LEZET! Peaks of Balkans & High Scardus Trails along the Accursed, Sharr, and Korab Mountain Ranges spanning Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia Accursed Mountain Range Accursed Mountains (Bjeshkët e Nëmuna in Albanian and Prokletije in Serbo-Croatian), also known as the Albanian Alps, are a mountain group in the western part of the Balkans that are the southernmost part of the Dinaric Alps. Maja Jezercë, standing at 2,694 m (8,839 ft), is the highest point of the Accursed Mountains and of all Dinaric Alps, and the fifth highest peak in Albania. Accursed Mountain range extends from northern Albania (Malësia e Madhe, Theth National Park, and Valbonë Valley National Park) to southern Kosovo (Bjeshkët e Nëmuna National Park) and northeastern Montenegro (Prokletije National Park). They are ethnographically and sociologically diverse with many tribes living in the region as sheep herders; primarily, Hoti, Kelmendi, Shkreli, Kastrati, Gruda, Dukagjini, Shala, Shoshi, Nikaj, Krasniqi, Gashi, Kuci and Rugova. It includes the highest mountain in Montenegro and second highest in Kosovo. - Zla Kolata (2,534 m or 8,314 ft) part of accursed mountain range - Gjeravica (2,656 m or 8,714 ft) part of accursed mountain range Accursed mountains are world renowned for its dense old growth forests and high biodiversity. The range was formed by the folding resulting from the collision of the African and Eurasian plates. After the Alps, these mountains are the most glaciated in Europe south of the Scandinavian ice sheet. They have very steep limestone slopes with abundant karst features. Its engulfed by active glaciers, glacier lakes, rivers, waterfalls, karst caverns, protected wetlands, wildcat, lynx, fox, deer, boar, wolves, chamois, falcons, brown bears, partridge, owls golden eagles, ancient black pine, hundreds of medicinal herbs, blue grass, glacial flora, beech, fir, maple, spruce, Petasites doerfleri is only found on the Jezerca peaks, and the Albanian lily Lilium albanicum and Viola ducagjinica are only found at the top of the Maja Radohimës slope, and last but not least, t he Accursed Mountains are also the only European area where the Tertiary relic Forsythia europaea grow. Fun Fact: Albania has 42 mountains that are 2,000m or 6,000ft and above . Sharr Mountain Range Sharr Mountains (Malet e Sharrit in Albanian) is a mountain range extending from southern Kosovo to northeastern Albania to northwestern North Macedonia. The sections in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia are national parks (Korab-Koritnik National Park in Albania, Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia, and Sharr Mountains National Park in Kosovo). These mountains are among the highest on the Balkans, with ~30 peaks higher than 2,500 m or 8,202 ft and 70 above the 2,000 m or 6,600 ft. There are 70 glacial lakes along the range. The dog breed Šarplaninac (aka Illyrian dog) comes from this area. Sharr Mountain Range is NOT part of the Dinaric Alp system and therefore not part of the VIA DIN ARICA Trail but part of the High Scardus Trail. Count on this trail to deliver arguably the best cheese you have tasted in your life - the Sharr Cheese. Korab Mountain Range Southwest of Sharr mountains, Korab Mountain Range is a mountain range around the border triangle of Albania, North Macedonia and Kosovo. It’s across three national parks (Korab-Koritnik National Park in Albania, Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia, and Sharr Mountains National Park in Kosovo). Great Korab or simply Korab peak stands at 2,764 m or 9,068 ft and is the highest peak in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. A kind of double peak, that of Korab II is about 150 m or 160 yds northwest of the peak within the Albanian territory. On the same ridge are two other peaks rising over 2,700 meters or 8,900 ft: Shulani i Radomirës and Small Korab or Korab III. Korab-gate (Albanian: Maja e Portës së Korabit; Macedonian: Korapska Mala vrata) is another peak about 2 km or 1 mi to the southwest. A few hundred meters south is another peak, Maja e Moravës. Fun Fact: Korab is the highest mountain in Albania and the fourth-highest mountain located entirely in the Balkan Peninsula, standing at 2,764 meters or 9,068 feet. The official trail systems extend primarily from northeast Albania to southern Kosovo and northeastern Montenegro. It does not include the other half of Accursed Mountain Range in northwest Albania, nor the Sharr or Korab Mountain Ranges in Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia. The information above is to promote the official extension of the current trail to include ther half of Accursed Mountain Range in northwest Albania, the Sharr and Korab Mountain Ranges in Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia. List of top 60 Accursed peaks Maja Jezercë (2,694 m or 8,839 ft; in Albania) Gjeravica (2,656 m or 8,714 ft; in Koso vo) Maja Grykat e Hapëta (2,625 m or 8,612 ft; in Albania) Maja e Radohimës (2,570 m or 8,432 ft; in Albania) Maja e Popljuces (2,569 m or 8,428 ft; in Albania) Maja Briaset (2,567 m or 8,422 ft; in Albania) Maja e Hekurave (2,561 m or 8,402 ft; in Albania) Rodi e Kollatës (2,556 m or 8,386 ft; in Albania) Maja e Shënikut (2,554 m or 8,379 ft; in Albania) Maja Tat (2,543 m or 8,343 ft; in Albania) Gusan (2,539 m or 8,330 ft; in Albania and Kosovo) Zla Kolata/Kollata e Keqe (2,534 m or 8,314 ft; in Albania and Montenegro) Marijaš/Marijash (2,533 m or 8,310 ft; in Kosovo) Dobra Kolata/Kolata e Mirë (2,524 m or 8,281 ft; in Albania and Montenegro) Rosni Vrh/Maja e Rosit (2,524 m or 8,281 ft; in Montenegro) Žuti kamen/Guri i Kuq (2,522 m or 8,274 ft; in Kosovo) Maja Visens (2,517 m or 8,258 ft; in Albania) Maja Kokervhake (2,508 m or 8,228 ft; in Albania) Rops/Maja e Ropës (2,502 m or 8,209 ft; in Kosovo) Maja Shkurt (2,499 m or 8,199 ft; in Albania) Maja Reshkullit (2,496 m or 8,189 ft; in Albania) Maja e Malësores (2,490 m or 8,169 ft; in Albania) Karanfili (Veliki Vrh, Kremeni Vrh, Maja Gurt e Zjarmit) (2,490 m or 8,169 ft; in Montenegr o) Maja e Ragamit (2,472 m or 8,110 ft; in Albania) Maja Bojs (2,461 m or 8,074 ft; in Albania) Koprivnik/Kopranik (2,460 m or 8,071 ft; in Kosovo) Maja Vukoces (2,450 m or 8,038 ft; in Albania) Veternik (2,410 m or 7,907 ft; in Albania) Shkëlzen (2,407 m or 7,897 ft; in Albania) Maja e Thatë (2,406 m or 7,894 ft; in Albania) Pasji Peak (2,405 m or 7,890 ft; in Kosovo and Montenegro) Maja Bogiçaj (2,404 m or 7,887 ft; in Albania and Kosovo) Hajla (2,403 m or 7,884 ft; in Kosovo and Montenegro) Rusulija (2,382 m or 7,815 ft) Streoc (2,377 m or 7,799 ft) Tromeđa (2,366 m or 7,762 ft) Žljeb (2,365 m or 7,759 ft) Maja e Kakisë (2,360 m or 7,743 ft) Liqenat (2,341 m or 7,680 ft) Rrasa e Zogut (2,305 m or 7,562 ft) Hajla e Vëranocit (2,281 m or 7,484 ft) Junik (2,280 m or 7,480 ft) Maja Stogut (2,246 m or 7,369 ft; in Albania) Maja e Elbunit (2,231 m or 7,320 ft) Deçan Mountain (2,200 m or 7,218 ft) Maja Harapit (2,218 m or 7,277 ft) Maja Trojan (2,190 m or 7,185 ft) Pogled (2,155 m or 7,070 ft) Maja Dramadol (2,120 m or 6,955 ft) Beleg (2,102 m or 6,896 ft) Maja e Ershellit (2,067 m or 6,781 ft) Maja e Vjelakut (2,014 m or 6,608 ft) Hajla e Shkrelit (2,011 m or 6,598 ft) Maja e Madhe (2,011 m or 6,598 ft) Maja e Grebenit (1,864 m or 6,115 ft) Lice Mountain (1,799 m or 5,902 ft) Maja e Veleçikut (1,725 m or 5,659 ft) List of top 30 Sharr peaks Titov Vrv (2,747 m or 9,012 ft) Mal Turčin (2,707 m or 8,881 ft) Bakardan (2,704 m or 8,871 ft) Borislavec (2,675 m or 8,776 ft) Velika Rudoka (2,660 m or 8,727 ft) Bistra – east summit (Peskovi) (2,651 m or 8,698 ft) Bistra – west summit (2,641 m or 8,665 ft) Small Rudoka (2,629 m or 8,625 ft) Džini Beg (2,610 m or 8,563 ft) Lake Peak (2,604 m or 8,543 ft) Karabunar (2,600 m or 8,530 ft) White Lake Peak (2,590 m or 8,497 ft) Maja e zezë (2,585 m or 8,481 ft) Big Vraca (2,582 m or 8,471 ft) Guzhbaba (2,582 m or 8,471 ft) Isa Aga (2,555 m or 8,383 ft) Black Peak (2,536 m or 8,320 ft) Kobilica (2,528 m or 8,294 ft) Piribeg (2,524 m or 8,281 ft) Ljuboten (2,498 m or 8,196 ft) Maja Livadh (2,497 m or 8,192 ft) Zallina (2,493 m or 8,179 ft) Small Vraca (2,483 m or 8,146 ft) Kara Nikolla (2,409 m or 7,904 ft) Maja Koritnik (2,393 m or 7,851 ft) Tumba Peak (2,346 m or 7,697 ft) Gemitash (2,183 m or 7,162 ft) Kalabak (2,174 m or 7,133 ft) Crnkamenska Kula (2,117 m or 6,946 ft) Šerupa (2,092 m or 6,864 ft) tri-point List of Korab peaks Great Korab or Korab (2,764 m or 9,068 ft) Korab II (2,751 m or 9,026 ft) Shulani i Radomirës (2,716 m or 8,911 ft) Small Korab or Korab III (2,683 m or 8,802 ft) Korab-gate (2,727 m or 8,947 ft) Maja e Moravës (2,718 m or 8,917 ft) Daorson - capital of the Illyrian tribe Daorsa 300 to 50 BC Ošanjići Capturing beauty through unique perspectives A creative portfolio dedicated to showcasing the beauty of Albanians through photography. Click here to start on the visual journey. Capturing beauty through unique perspectives A collective of researchers from different generations, ethnicities, and backgrounds in Kosovo. OHI's main activity is its publicly available and researchable multilingual digital archive that presents life stories of people from varying angles. Albanians have a long and unique relationships with oral history. Curiosity may take you on a lifetime journey peeling the onion of intergenerational transnational memory one layer at a time. Capturing beauty through unique perspectives Balkanism is a dynamic digital platform and publication focused on Balkan identity, history, culture, diaspora experiences, and social rights issues.

Hello Beautiful You and Me DF 11.15. 2025 Wrinkled I was first as you held my infant me. I was more scared when you raised me up than when you let me be. With two feet on the ground, I ran behind you. My hands pushed up your air, and when safe, your pant legs, too. Only for a short moment, today, I would iron out the wrinkles on your eyes. Naïve me hopes to delay looking up -- at the skies.

POETRY Poetry Workshops in Fairfield County, CT 1. Eco-Evolution Cafe in Norwalk (monthly) 2. Erica's Shed (invite only) 3. Ralph Nazareth's house 4. Poet's salon in Fairfield 5. CT Poets Society at Wilton Libr ary (Est.2010) (monthly) 6. Gabi Coatsworth's groups (WritersMic and Writers Rendezvous are attendable by Zoom or in person at Westport Librar y. 7. Open Mic at Unity Center, above Ford Dealership in Norwalk, CT 8. Fairfield County Story Lab or Fairfield County Writers' studio 203-374-8343 fcstorylab.com and fcwritersstudio.com 9. Westport Writers' Workshop westportwriters.org Haiku Resources 1. Wales Haiku Journal 2. Haiku Foundation -> Haiku Dialog ue 3. Cold Moon Journal by Roberta Beach Jacobson Poetry is the sister of music. — Sergei Rachmaninoff A poem should not mean but be. — Archibald McLeish These are my allusions... — Janet Krauss Make of your life a poem. — Ray Rauth List of Titles The poetry pages below are a collection of mine. However, the recited section found at the bottom of this page is a combination of mine and others that I found inspiring. A Gardner in New England - An Opera 12.16.2023 Relieved 12.2022 The Tears of Re 12.19.2019 It's the Same Old Song 09.01.2019 Three Generations 01.19.2019 My best friend, Oscar 02.17.2023 New York, New York 05.01.2020 This is the Jungle (slam version) 08.1 0.2020 This is the Jungle 09 .11 .2019 Untitled Haikus various Magic Moments 01.21.2023 You and Me 11.15.2025 Recited verses Better To Light Candles by Merle Shain Better To Light Candles by Merle Shain Better To Light Candles by Merle Shain Better To Light Candles by Merle Shain It is better to light candles than to curse the darkness. It is better to plant seeds than to accuse the earth. The world needs all of our power and love and energy, and each of us has something that we can give. The trick is to find it and use it, to find it and give it away. So there will always be more. We can be lights for each other, and through each other's illumination we will see the way. It is better to light candles than to curse the darkness. It is better to plant seeds than to accuse the earth. The world needs all of our power and love and energy, and each of us has something that we can give. The trick is to find it and use it, to find it and give it away. So there will always be more. We can be lights for each other, and through each other's illumination we will see the way. It is better to light candles than to curse the darkness. It is better to plant seeds than to accuse the earth. The world needs all of our power and love and energy, and each of us has something that we can give. The trick is to find it and use it, to find it and give it away. So there will always be more. We can be lights for each other, and through each other's illumination we will see the way. It is better to light candles than to curse the darkness. It is better to plant seeds than to accuse the earth. The world needs all of our power and love and energy, and each of us has something that we can give. The trick is to find it and use it, to find it and give it away. So there will always be more. We can be lights for each other, and through each other's illumination we will see the way. Each of us is a seed, a silent promise, and it is always spring. Each of us is a seed, a silent promise, and it is always spring. Each of us is a seed, a silent promise, and it is always spring. Each of us is a seed, a silent promise, and it is always spring. Anything come to mind to share?