The Uncertain Path

One time, we were traveling along a narrow path next to a deep crevice. The path was soft and unstable because of loose rocks that had slid down from the mountain top. I was leading the horse, letting the reins hang loosely, as I trusted the horse to find its way better than I could guide it. I turned my face to the rocky wall because looking into the deep drop beside me made me feel very sick. Suddenly, a shepherd’s dog appeared and started barking loudly. The horse stopped in its tracks. If it had gotten scared and reared up, I might not have been here to tell the story. If I had urged the horse forward, it could have led to a terrible accident.

My Turkish guide, who was at the back of the group and on safer ground, quickly dismounted, climbed into the rocks, and used stones to chase the dog away. Then, we continued our journey. In just a few moments, we were back on safer ground. Those two minutes were some of the most intense of my life. My guide looked pale, and I probably didn’t look too good myself if I had looked in a mirror Istanbul Daily Tour.

Ancient Roads of Albania

In other places, the road was through a narrow gap just wide enough for the horses to fit. The walls of the gap rose steeply on either side, making the path feel even tighter. Sometimes, we came across old cobbled sections of the road. These were parts of ancient Roman roads that were over two thousand years old. All across Albania, we found pieces of these Roman roads. Sometimes we would find them suddenly, and just as quickly, they would disappear. Other times, they would lead us to the edge of a cliff, showing that the land had changed since they were built.

Although the modern road we were traveling on often differed from the old Roman roads, we could still see parts of the ancient stone path winding up the hillside, like a grey ribbon across the mountains. Even though the route was difficult and dangerous, it was the main highway across Albania, connecting Macedonia to Durazzo on the coast. This path had once been traveled by a mighty army long ago, and it had seen over twenty centuries of history.