GJIROKASTER CASTLE 11 The last time I came to Gjirokaster, it was in the summer.xWhat a difference a few months made! xThere was snow on the mountain tops and a cool breeze in the air. xWhen Julia Kotoni took me on the hike to the castle, it was so hot that I didn’t feel like exploring. xFourteen years later and in the spring, Julia was married and living in America, but the weather was much cooler.x I explored inside the castle and the surrounding area. xI knew there were cannons and an NATO jet that some said was shot down over Albania but others claimed simply malfunctioned. xBut, I didn’t know about the wild flowers, concert area, and charming little café.x It's always nice to have a drink in an Albanian castle.