This weekly wrap-up covers our journey from November 17 to November 23. We spent our final day in Egypt touring the pyramids and other archaeological sites in Giza, then took a dinner cruise on the Nile. We were up at 1 a.m. on Monday morning to head to the airport and travel to Tirana, Albania, where we spent a very relaxing week catching up on work, visiting coffeeshops, and enjoying the cool, rainy weather. On Saturday, we took a bus from Tirana to Ohrid, North Macedonia.
Favorite thing we ate: Jonathan’s mouth was literally watering at the mixed grill we received at an Egyptian restaurant during our Giza tour [pictured above left]. The meat was preceded by bread and plenty of traditional dips, which he also enjoyed. Megan thought the bread we had at Zgara Tiranës 2 in Tirana was unbelievably good; she should have asked for more information so she could find it again [above right].
Favorite thing we drank: After a month in Turkey, Jordan and Egypt—three countries where alcohol is not widely available or varied—Megan enjoyed visiting a library-themed bar in Tirana and having a delicious apple gin sour. [The drink pictured above left is a similar cocktail from Small Tirana.] Flat whites were also harder to find in the Middle East, so Jonathan was happy to return to the Balkan coffee culture in Tirana. His favorite coffee was a flat white from U-Roast Coffee Lab in the colorful Blloku district [above right].
Favorite thing we did: Despite the tight squeeze, Jonathan enjoyed climbing inside the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur in Egypt. This was especially unique because the pyramid opened to tourists just a few months before our visit. After activity-laden visits to Jordan and Egypt, Megan enjoyed simply relaxing in Tirana. The only touristy thing we did the entire week was a free walking tour; otherwise it was all grocery shopping and coffeeshops and brunch [including eggs benedict at Çoko Bistro, pictured above right].
Biggest splurge: Our day in Giza was definitely a high-dollar day. Our full-day tour (including a driver and guide for the Great Pyramids and three other sites around Giza, arranged through our awesome hotel) was $120 USD/person, and then we had dinner on a Nile cruise for around $65 USD.
Best deal: Speaking of our awesome hotel, Pyramids Guest House, we thought it was a pretty good deal. Our room was only $42.55 USD/night, and that was the upgrade to a room with a view of the pyramids [pictured above left]. It also included a lovely rooftop breakfast [above right] and unlimited free water, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Plus, they helped arrange all our tours and transportation and were generally friendly and competent.
What we’re reading: Megan read and recommends the graphic memoir Good Talk by novelist Mira Jacob and Everyone Knows You Go Home by Natalia Sylvester.
Total walking distance: 42.15 miles
Up next: North Macedonia and then India! (We’ll be joining our first group tour in India, so we’re both excited and anxious about how that will go.)
Featured image: Colorful Ministry of Agriculture building in Tirana
