First Impressions of Valbona, Albania! 🇦🇱

Global Sketch Wear: globalsketchwear.com
Valbona Resort & Spa: / valbonaresortspa
I spend the weekend before my birthday at Valbona Resort & Spa in Valbonë, Albania. An incredible hotel with comfortable rooms and unbelievable views. The restaurant is delicious and the people are wonderful. And then I checked in on some Global Sketch Wear orders before heading home to Pogradec. When the negative mental state started creeping in, I had to work hard to fight back... getting into the gym, eating right, and going for walks along the lake.
0:00 - Stop in Tirana
1:39 - The road to Valbona
6:32 - Valbona Resort & Spa
10:24 - Dinner
11:31 - Early morning in Valbona Valley National Park
14:16 - Relaxing in the room
15:48 - Nature walk
19:12 - Pool and sauna
20:12 - Views from the room
21:42 - Global Sketch Wear
22:35 - Depression setting in
23:32 - Back in the gym
24:40 - Sunset walk along Lake Ohrid
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Special thanks to my Patreon/KZbin Memberships supporters:
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#Albania #Valbona
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[@I_am_who_I_am_who_I_am]

That my friend is Albania, our ancestors have shed rivers of blood for. But in those mountains there's hundreds of thousands of Byzantine, Ottomans and Serb corpses. A small sacrifice for our glorious venerated mountains.

[@Albo2003]

Valbona is the small Swiss of Albania👏🏻🤩🇦🇱 that's what we call it great video

[@bpo-3466]

So.... in a nutshell. I' ve just turned 34, and had a beautiful baby boy recently, so me and my spouse did not have much time for each other and for traveling.... She came up with the idea of Albania, what I had not much knowledge of up until 2 weeks ago. Opened Google maps, and boom there it was. Then I opened KZbin and boom there was your chanel James..... Just finished watching every single video on your chanel, closing it with this one, dancing on my nerves about when the next video will drop..... 🥰 2 weeks passed, I have a plane ticket after a very, very long time, some currency in my pocket I have never heard of (LEK) and enough knowledge of the country, the culture (thanks to you) and basic Sqip phrases and sentences, that I already feel like I' ve known this country for a very long time... And I am going to sit on a plane with my son for the first time, which is also a FIRST with him, of which I am hoping to experience a lot more of! I've always had high hopes, so now Albania has to live up to them! Or I need to change.... 😛 Anyways, the trip is coming very soon and I just wanted to thank you for your amazing talent and work you put into this channel, covering almost everything I was curious about. Keep on rockin', looking forward to your next video! 😎

[@JamesLeithart]

Wow. I'll rank this as one of my favorite comments of all time. Thank you so much for taking the time - not only to write the comment but even more to watch all my videos! I really, truly appreciate it. You are the kind of person I made all those videos for, and to hear that they are still hitting their mark even though some are almost 6 years old gives me immense joy. Congratulations on the birth of your son, and I hope that this is the first of many trips he has the privilege of taking with you. I love Albania, and I hope your journey here will give you a small sample of why that is. Please feel free to reach out to me on instagram @jamesleithart if you have questions!

[@bpo-3466]

The pleasure was all mine! You really have something amazing going on here... 🤗 @@JamesLeithart

[@sefo1968]

I found your chanel long ago i like how u show the truth of it me as an Albanian from Kosovo living in Germany i love to see these parts of albania where i never been to i mean we have so much places where i would like to go just like hining in the Mountains and forgot about my Problems I wish u a good time in our lovely contry

[@JamesLeithart]

thanks for sticking around!

[@DayoClinckspoor]

I recognize so much of the road you've taken, and it's amusing how you've stopped at the same spots I did. It's really wonderful to see it all in this season again. great video. keep em coming ;)

[@JamesLeithart]

I didn’t realize you took that route! But also, I’m eagerly awaiting whatever videos you’ve got cooking.

[@ManiX207]

actually impressiv video - came across this since i m traveling next week to said place ^^

[@Bluesky0201]

Wonderful video excellent description of the area and hopefully you enjoy Albania to the fullest. Enjoy life and put yourself in the neutral as a car and let life take you wherever it takes you enjoy and have a wonderful life. Cheers 🥂

[@xhoi96]

Amazing views bro/// although im Albanian i never been to this places... great work, keep it up.....

[@gregf9160]

That was amazing, James. Thanks for sharing 🤗🤩

[@JamesLeithart]

My pleasure!

[@albanodoko9540]

Wow bro just wow paradise on earth

[@LuxCorStudios777]

3:50 And Alexander looked out and wept for there were no more worlds to conquor

[@user-yc2br2ln2r]

Waw beautiful views

[@marafarnham595]

Nice views 😊 thank you James! ❤️

[@JamesLeithart]

Glad you enjoyed

[@gopisemes]

Great video James...good work

[@JamesLeithart]

Thanks 👍

[@the.randomstuffguy]

Long journey u did for this video James good job again!! ❤❤

[@JamesLeithart]

Thank you! 😃

[@aureliogj7966]

Those views were just majestic James, my dad comes from there and he would always tell me tales of his childhood running up and down those mountains with his friends when he was a kid and getting into all sorts of mishaps so this video was special to me

[@JamesLeithart]

wow that’s so fun. i’m glad it can help you visualize your dad’s stories

[@bloom7204]

wow • absolutely stunning views; cool hotel • really nice video

[@JamesLeithart]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@user-oo7xt3zx4p]

Nji mrekulli e natyres se Alpeve Shqiptare. ❤🇦🇱👌..bravo per viidjon e nji niveli te lart 🤗👏👏👏👏

[@dashd5778]

Give also Dibra mountains a chance, pretty sure you will not regret! I'd suggest May tho!

[@user-qn9ft2mz7p]

keep it up sir thanks fr this!!!!

[@JamesLeithart]

Most welcome

[@majusl6424]

Thanks brother 🙏

[@gyangodfred9608]

First viewer. I love your videos James❤

[@JamesLeithart]

well done being first! thanks for watching them always, man

[@ranwill]

I haven't been to Valbone yet. But I've been to nearby Theth and the views are incredible

[@JamesLeithart]

I enjoy both! Will hopefully return to Theth this spring

[@holyrs1575]

Nice shots my man

[@JamesLeithart]

Appreciate it

[@iliadmalka]

Ppl always ask us why you Albanians are so proud , well , here u have it why , but dont get me wrong its not that we feel proud for the beauty of this land couse i think the entire earth is preaty , but its the blood that we have paid this land off for centuries , and im glad u enjoing it...nice vid. Respect.

[@souniewalters6655]

God bless you all beautiful people n country ❤❤❤

[@iliadmalka]

@@souniewalters6655 thanx a lot , and bless u too for having a positive thought for us , and for our amazing lands.

[@user-bw3zo3ce2q]

Nice video !!!!!

[@JamesLeithart]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@alexandrobossiano]

19:28 bro you put background music as you are in other planet. the mountains look frighteningly huge like in Everest. 15:11. Nice video

[@JamesLeithart]

thank you! thanks for watching

[@albusha5150]

Great video. There is a mountain there part of Albanian Alps called Iron Peak mountain because at its peak there are some iron polls on the rocks as if in the old times the sea water level was up there and ships were anchored at those polls. The locals will tell you that's where Noah anchored his Ark and in fact name Nue or Ndue is a very popular name in those areas and we all know how one or two letters change words or names. So if you can when you go back there best in summer make sure you climb up there and see for yourself.

[@JamesLeithart]

wow! interesting story. i’d like to see that myself for sure

[@aussietomik84]

Një video shumë e bukur ;)

[@JamesLeithart]

faleminderit

[@Flavor88]

Great footage James. Love the video and the narration. Such a beautiful country. It just needs a little more investment and to create a more refine work culture. Since Albania has not been visited much, the locals lack the culture to welcome foreigners properly and employers don't usually provide any training. I have always felt welcomed every time I travel, easy going people. Keep up the traveling and vlogging. You are helping all Albanians. Cheers.

[@JamesLeithart]

thanks for watching! and sharing your valuable insights

[@illyrianbloodline]

welcome

[@ErikStensland]

I used to drive that road from Kukes to Fierza all the time when I lived in BC, but back in the 90s it was unpaved and crumbling. Sometimes sections would be washed away or covered in mud and logs. It was always an adventure. I can’t believe they paved it!!! When I lived there, there were only the ruins of a hotel and no paved road. Wow, it’s a different world!!😮

[@JamesLeithart]

it’s a completely different place! even in just the few years ive lived in the country there have been massive changes! also, there was a downed telephone pole while i was driving that road but i didn’t film that part…

[@ErikStensland]

@@JamesLeithart, I'd love to come back and see it. Hope you are doing well and settling back in.

[@elviragolaj8000]

Shqiperia ime e bukur Faleminderit per kete video🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱💗💗💗

[@AlyssaHusi]

I live in tirana so i know all the places😊

[@weigenli4704]

Great videos, is it easy to drive from Tirana to Valbona, which road did you take?

[@JamesLeithart]

I was prepared for this! My journey took me from Tirana to Valbone, so that’s the only thing i can answer about. I drove the mountain road through Albania to get there, but took the road through Gjakova in Kosova to come back. The route through the mountains took me about 2.5 hours longer, because the road was windy and narrow. It had some breathtaking views though! So if you have plenty of time (and don’t get carsick) I’d recommend that road for its beauty. For speed and convenience, the way through Kosova is good.

[@user-bs3mw8li4p]

That big moting he is very high they have snow up Jun

[@bexhetgorenca2825]

ALBANIA PARADISE ALPS SPECTACULAR 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@BBZM]

You should try meditation James.

[@tony232cool]

now that all industries in albania are totally destroyed we can gladly watch how foreigners visit the natural beauty of our country, while we are forced to flee and look for a job. this is insanity. 500 factories destroyed many of them brand new technology at the time!