An Orthodox Monestery - Ardenica

Our first stop after Berat was to be at Ardenica.  This Orthodox monastery was built in the 13th century and the story is that this is where their national hero, Scanderbeg was married.  Along the way we passed through an area where there were a lot of oil rigs.  The Albanians produce enough oil for their country and also some to export.  But after the Communist regime was defeated, some fervent communists were paid by outsiders to destroy the refineries.  So they have to send the oil to other countries to be refined and then pay again to have it returned to Albania to be used.

As Migen had shown us earlier there are bunkers all over Albania - apparently about 75,000 were built during the Communist era.  They just appear in the middle of nowhere in the countryside.  One even had a for sale sign on it.

 So now to the monastery.

 A view down into the valley below.