October 23rd, 2013

The Call of the Ancestors

A few weeks ago, I visited my homeland Albania. I spent several days in the village of my grandfather, in Vuno. Vuno is a small idyllic village on the hillside of the Ionian Coast of Albania, built entirely of stone over centuries.

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Blayde tie-dye dress, Menghi flip-flops, H&M flower hair band

Blayde tie-dye dress, Menghi flip-flops, H&M flower hair band

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In my childhood summers, traveling from the capital to the Riviera, we made our first stop in the old house in the center of the Vuno where my grandfather was born. I still vividly remember his sisters dressed in black mourning clothes, as usual in the South, kissing us several times and calling us “jeto, jeto(life, life). “Life“, for me the nicest name one could give to the young.

In September, when the tourists go back to the cities, you can have the beaches almost all to yourself. Here are some more pictures of the breathtaking nature and beaches of Vuno taken this September.

Stunning view over the main beaches of Vuno, Jali and Qeramidhe

Stunning view over the main beaches of Vuno, Jali and Qeramidhe

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It was very difficult to capture the moment when this beautiful billy goat stayed on the rock. But then it struck the perfect

It was very difficult to capture the moment when this beautiful billy goat stayed on the rock. But then it struck the perfect “pose”.

 My grand aunt wanted me to ride the donkey all the rocky path down to the orchards. She said I could do that quite well. Believe me, it is not as easy as it seems.

My grand aunt wanted me to ride the donkey all the rocky path down to the orchards. She said I could do that quite well. Believe me, it is not as easy as it seems.

The Canyon of Gjipe

The Canyon of Gjipe

Rainbow over the spectacular rock formation of Gjipe

Rainbow over the spectacular rock formation of Gjipe

Enjoy the photos and do visit the Albanian Riviera and Vuno next summer. You will not regret it!

9 thoughts on “The Call of the Ancestors

  1. Pingback: A Year In Style – Part 2 | Style Nouveau

  2. Rene

    Klasse Bilder und ein leidenschaftlicher Artikel. Albanien ist ab sofort auf meiner Landkarte.
    Vielen Dank

  3. Erol

    Great piece! Although I never lived in Vuno, the emotional connection is still there! It must be the aura of our parents when they talk about it Jonela 🙂

    1. Jonela Hoxhaj Post author

      Yes, indeed. That’s why I chose the title “The Call of the Ancestors”. Perhaps one day we will all return and spent the rest of our life in Vuno…

  4. elma

    lovely…thank you for sharing pictures, story, people and also animals!
    🙂 Tha perfect place for filmmakers, painters, writers, ecc… Definitely an artistic place.

    1. Anonymous

      Jonela Manola Hoxhaj, well done..but you forgot that amazing and meaningful word: “xhano” 😉

    2. Jonela Hoxhaj Post author

      Thank you dear. An explanation for all my readers: “Xhano” is another name used more in another part of South Albania from the older people calling the younger which means “Soul”. Its beautiful as well. “Life and Soul”…

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