Villa Permet - Three nights Permet is another lovely little village in the mountains on the river in Southern Albania. We are so spoilt finding the most beautiful hotels, and Villa Permet definitely exceeded our expectations once again. Within an instant of arriving you feel relaxed. Villa Permet is an original home from the 1800s converted to a stunning hotel only 12 months ago, with the highest quality restoration, the architects respected the history of the building throughout. Magical views, awesome owners and staff with a family feel, and the most sensational chef. The rooms are very spacious, with a beautiful outlook over the mountain ranges. The beds were heavenly, the type where you could easily stay snuggled up all morning after a very peaceful sleep. We loved the food journeys we were taken on by the sensational chef, the freshest quality of ingredients, traditional Albanian food with a fusion twist. The food was gourmet and the lamb was delicious, farm to plate, and locally resourced. We enjoyed a lazy lunch each day in the beautiful restaurant, soaking up the sun on the beautiful terrace, you also are spoilt with the sunrises and sunsets over the mountain ranges. A special thank you to Georgie (our nickname) and the owners for taking the best care of us and making sure we had everything we needed, he organised the most memorable horse ride through the mountains and canyon with Funky Guest House & Adventures and was helpful in contacting our taxi to get us to our next destination. Georgie also has a very extensive knowledge of wines, they have a solid collection of high-quality Italian, local, and Kosovo wines. Cannot recommend Villa Permet highly enough, it is tucked away just up on the hill, only a few minutes walk from the centre of the village.

Hotel Argjiro - two nights Hotel Argjiro is located in a beautiful historical building, full of rich history. We had high expectations for this hotel based on reviews and friendly communication whilst booking via email. Unfortunately upon arrival, the staff didn't help with luggage nor did we receive the warm greeting we were hoping for, but just asked for passports and were given our key to find our room. We felt the hotel lacked warmth from the staff and there was no atmosphere. The rooms were spacious enough and well furnished with comfortable beds. The room did have a beautiful terrace that overlooked the bazaar. We chose a room overlooking the bazaar which was beautiful, although if you are a light sleeper you may want to opt for another room, due to the barking dogs all night long. The breakfast was quite a spread, unfortunately, it missed the mark for us and some of the dishes were served cold when should have been hot. Not the usual quality we have become to enjoy in Albania. The restaurant is hidden away at the back of the hotel, with no windows or view, so the ambiance is cold. We decided to reduce our stay and move to the new Hotel Fantasy which ticked all our boxes from luxury accommodation, cuisine, and the warmest and friendliest staff, you are also spoilt with the most breathtaking views of the mountains and the Castle of Gjirokastra.

Ujëvara e Borshit - One visit Perfect cafe for a coffee stop driving from the Albanian Riviera to Drino Valley, we stopped here during our drive from Himara to Gjirokaster. Friendly service, great coffee, and you are surrounded by the waterfalls running straight through the cafe. Ample outdoor dining to relax and listen to the relaxing tones of the waterfall. Great value at 500 (ALL) for 3 coffees.

Arxontiko Hotel and Restaurant - Two visits Loved exploring the wonderful Greek restaurants in Himare. Arxontiko was extra special, a family-owned with delicious food and sensational views. Andreas the owner was an absolute treasure, he was so friendly and bubbly, we really enjoyed our visits. The service was impeccable. We dined on a beautiful sunny day overlooking the untouched view of the Ionion Sea enjoying fabulous wines and authentic Greek food cooked by his wife. We loved it here so much, we pre-ordered the lamb for our next visit, and very glad we did, it was mouthwatering, cooked to perfection with minimal fuss, so was delicious. Excellent selection of quality wines available, a big thank you to Andreas for the amazing dessert treats, they were divine and sharing with us some delicious Ouzo. Ouzo always brings back fond memories of growing up being my Mum's drink of choice. The restaurant is perched up on the hill a short walk from the esplanade. Andreas was kind enough to show us through the room of the hotel, and they were very well designed with amazing balconies to enjoy the wonderful views. Definitely recommend a visit to Arxontiko, you will not be disappointed, and be sure to try Grandma's recipes, we loved the zucchini balls.

Manolo Beach Bar - Three visits A wonderful and cosy beach bar, with fun and quirky decor, including comfortable lounge seating indoors and a large outdoor seating. Great for morning coffees and afternoon drinks, they made an excellent Hendrick's Gin & Tonic. We visited a couple of times, a very friendly and perfect place to enjoy the Ionion Sea views, including sunsets. Perfect bar to chill and relax or get some work done, as strong wifi available. Would have a fantastic and fun vibe in Summer.

Taverna Stoli - One visit On our first night in Himare, we found this charming family-owned Greek taverna, spoilt with sunset views over the Ionian Sea. A very warm and friendly vibe, the food was delicious, authentic greek comfort food complimented with great house wine. Incredible value too. The views were breathtaking watching the sunset, a perfect introduction to the most beautiful village on the Albanian riviera.

EKA Luxury Apartments Vlore 3 - four nights Definitely, a lovely view with stunning sunsets and a large balcony to enjoy them from. The apartment was clean and well equipped for your cooking needs, there is also a small supermarket downstairs for essentials and a fresh fruit and vegetables market about five-minute walk. Diturjan the host was lovely to communicate with and responsive, he made sure you were very comfortable. The apartment is located on the beach, although note the beach and surrounding areas of the apartment building are very polluted. You are also about 30 minutes walk to the main area in Vlore, so a car might be ideal. Wi-fi was unstable and would disconnect daily, so be sure to have your own sim card if you rely on connectivity for work.

Tribeca Bar Tirana - One Visit Walking in you immediately feel that you have been transported to a small bar in Tribeca in New York City. This cocktail bar serves some well crafted classic cocktails and some new twists on the classics. A very special treat was the chocolate and nuts with your cocktails, a perfect combination. We are coming back, and the staff are great.

Feeling grateful for the past year and the positive life-changing impacts Sally Schmidt and myself have been blessed to provide. Creating smiles and a helping hand to the beautiful B1G1 Worthy Causes we have been able to support in 2020.

Durmitor National Park Durmitor is a massif located in northwestern Montenegro. It is part of the Dinaric Alps. Its highest peak, Bobotov Kuk, reaches a height of 2,523 meters (8,278 ft). The massif is limited by the Tara River Canyon on the north, the Piva River Canyon on the west, and by the Komarnica River Canyon on the south. To the east, the Durmitor opens to a 1,500 m (4,921 ft) high plateau, called Jezerska površ (Plateau of Lakes). The Sinjavina mountain is located to the east of the Jezerska površ plateau. The Durmitor is, for the most part, located in the Žabljak municipality. The massif gives its name to the national park that comprises it. Durmitor National Park was founded in 1952, and designated as a World Heritage Site in 1980.