Lake Ohrid, on the way to Pogradec. This interestingly shaped rock jutting out into the lake is what attracted us to visit the village, basically on a whim.
Enter Lin, the little village on the giant boulder that fascinated us enough to take a little detour and explore.
Old characteristic stone houses like these and people on their daily activities everywhere
Grapes hang from the skies in narrow alleys all around Lin
The village looks poor but it has character, kids are really beautiful. Two mothers told their children, Amit and Kiton, to be our tour guides, so they jumped in the back seat and guided us up the village to the base of the rock and another big surprise as well..
In a clear summer afternoon like this, Lin looked like a colorful piece of Mediterranean life.
little hut in the bushes
Kejda and Amit approaching Shen Kolli’s site; above us is the protective structure for the Illyrian ruins, further down, the locals are building a small prayer place
stepping in, ancient Illyrian murals have been covered in sand
…but our child tour guides uncovered part of the mosaic for us – they knew right where to go
Kiton and Amit telling us about the mosaic
Kejda tries to uncover another one, but gives up soon
Lin looks beautiful from here in Shen Koll
Birds are flying around us and the breeze is amazing, really special place
the mountains around lake Ohrid as seen from Shen Kolli
The little prayer house Orthodox Christians are building on the site since Shen Koll is a holy place for the locals
View of the lake, Macedonia is on the other side
The city of Ohrid, Macedonia, where many ethnic Albanians still live
Looking down into Lin from the
I think that’s a fish farm on the lake. Koran is the best fish of the Balkans and only grown in Lake Ohrid.
Entrance of a partially excavated Illyrian grave in Shen Koll
Our shadows on the ruins
Inside the grave, where the kids told us there are plenty of artifacts and Illyrian skeletons
Beautiful green marble column found in diggings around the site
Kiton showing us more cool stuff
Illyrian ruins, I can’t wait for someone to start a real excavation here
Twin graves
Me holding an Illyrian bone, I think it used to be a leg, of course I put it right back in.
The kids were actively desecrating those tombs for our entertainment, oh boy
Most of the graves’ inside was covered in debris
That’s where we parked our car
Fuller view of the site
Sun setting over Lin
A beautiful view of the rock of Lin stretching out into Lake Ohrid
Lin was really beautiful - I wish I could stay there for a few days. Perhaps next time.
Setting out to reach the end of the rock of Lin, where another surprise awaits us.
Looking down into Lake Ohrid on the southern side of the Lin rock
A narrow crag down to Lin village
Birds in flight over Lin, Albania
Another shot of the birds in flight over Lin
Working out way out to the end of the rock and the surprise that awaits us there.
Kejda, Kiton, and Amit walking onto the Lin rock
Wave for the camera
Looking over to Macedonia
Looking on over the north side of the Lin rock
rugged landscape
Looking south
Looking west back to the village of Lin
This looks like a Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movie landscape
Ah! Two Enver Hoxha bunkers sitting at the end of the rock. Amit and Kiton told us there was a "church" in the last one, exactly on the point of the rock.
A sunset over Lin, Albania
Mushroom bunkers on Lin Rock, Albania
Stunningly clear waters of Lake Ohid
The door was open0
Inside the bunker coverted to the church. There were a few icons and some burnt candles. I wonder who set this up and how often they visit?
More icons adorning the wall of the bunker.
Looking out the bunker window. If the US had invaded from Macedonia, this is what the Albanian would have seen.
another view out the bunker
Looking at Kejda, Kiton, and Amit from outside the bunker
Michael, Kiton, Kejda, and Amit stand at the end of Lin Rock
Michael, Kiton, Kejda, and Amith at the end of Lin rock in Lin, Albania
The steep and jagged rocks that make up the large boulder in Lake Ohrid at Lin, Albania
A path leads walkers around the end of the rock
Amit standing on the edge of the rock, looking like he is swimming in the lake
In actuality, he was about 50 feet above the water
Another view of the paths around Lin rock
Kejda and Kiton start to make their way back to town
Looking back up the rock, headed back to the village
Another "holy site" according to Kiton and Amit
Another view of the holy site
Beautiful landscape
Kejda, with the wind in her hair
Beautiful Lake Ohrid
Headed back down to town, Lin, Albania
We gave some other boys a ride and bought them some candy. They were so excited and laughing so hard at their good fortune.
A boy running next to our car in Lin, Albania
Two cute little girls from Lin, Albania
Smiling for a photo
There you go
Our afternoon in Lin was over. It is a day we'll both never forget.
