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Monday, December 19, 2016

ALBANIA, UNA RINASCITA COSTRUITA SUL TURISMO

Albania tra siti Unesco e occhi blu:

ecco il paradiso che non ti aspetti
. Cinquemila anni di storia, 22 parchi archeologici, musei, siti Unesco e una costa lunga 300 km. Sono i numeri dell’Albania, il Paese delle aquile, che oggi in Italia si promuove con uno slogan che ne riassume l’essenza: paradiso a sorpresa. E dunque: stop ai pregiudizi, riflettori accesi sul patrimonio artistico e naturale di questo gioiellino dei Balcani, per troppo tempo rimasto nascosto. Dopo il declino del comunismo alla fine degli anni Ottanta, il Paese – mix di religioni, stili e culture – ha conosciuto una costante evoluzione. Sul fronte turistico, è una destinazione facile: affacciata sull’Adriatico, ben collegata, con l’80% della popolazione che parla la nostra lingua. Così, proprio sul turismo si concentrano oggi gran parte degli investimenti, testimoniati dai cantieri nelle città e lungo le strade: infrastrutture, alberghi, ciclovie. È un Paese in fermento l’Albania, i cui abitanti hanno un culto sincero dell’ospitalità. E tra buona cucina e ottimi vini, il turista fa il pieno di coccole.

Il nostro viaggio con AlbaniaGo, dmc guidata da Elena Pinguli, parte da Tirana. Si resta colpiti dalla sua vivacità: la capitale è moderna, dinamica, detta anche “la città dei giovani”. Non ha un centro storico, distrutto nel 1957, ma ha un cuore che batte forte: l’imponente Piazza Skanderberger, intitolata al grande patriota che impera su una statua equestre. A pochi passi la Torre dell’Orologio, simbolo della città illuminato tutta la notte: vale la pena salire i 90 gradini per godere della vista di Tirana dall’alto. C’è poi l’antica Moschea Etem Bei con i suoi splendidi dipinti e il Museo Nazionale di Storia, il più grande del Paese.

La movida passa invece dal quartiere di Blloku, il più trendy, dove un tempo vivevano i funzionari del regime comunista e ora ospita pub, caffè, ristoranti alla moda e la Sky Tower con il bar girevole con vista a 360°. La città è sovrastata dal monte Dajti, raggiungibile in funivia, ideale per una full immersion nella natura. Le attrazioni della città, però, non finiscono qui. C’è la Piramide di Hoxha, che avrebbe dovuto custodire i resti del dittatore Enver Hoxha, e invece ospita il Centro Internazionale di Cultura. E c’è la piazza dedicata a Madre Teresa di Calcutta, che ha sempre rivendicato con orgoglio le sue origini albanesi: qui, su un’aiuola, svetta la scritta “Nene Tereza”. Proprio in questa piazza Papa Francesco ha dichiarato, davanti a migliaia di pellegrini, che l’Albania è il miglior esempio di armonia e convivenza tra i culti. Una grande verità se si considera che il 60% degli albanesi è musulmano, il 25% cristiano-ortodosso, il 15% cattolico, senza che la storia narri alcuna guerra di religione.
Lasciando Tirana si attBlue Eye - Occhio Blu - Albaniaraversa la laguna di Karavasta, oggi Parco Nazionale, che si esplora in jeep 4x4 scorrazzando tra le dune sabbiose. Il suo simbolo? Il pellicano riccio, che ha scelto questo luogo – unica colonia in Europa – per l’accoppiamento. Tappa anche a Durazzo, seconda città dell’Albania da cui partono ogni giorno i traghetti per Bari, Ancona Trieste. Ma Durres non è solo un porto: ospita l’Anfiteatro romanico più grande dei Balcani, un Museo Archeologico, la Torre Veneziana, la Moschea di Fatih. Irrinunciabile la visita a Berat, la città bianca (Belligrad) con il centro storico Patrimonio Unesco, che per la sua architettura è chiamata anche “la città delle mille finestre”. Tra le sue attrazioni, oltre alle tipiche case, il Castello, le chiese bizantine, edifici e moschee di grande pregio. Senza dimenticare il ponte di Gorizia, in pietra, che unisce le sponde del fiume Osum.

È tutelata dall’Unesco anche l’antica Argirocastro, in albanese Gjirokastra, detta anche “città di pietra” con i suoi tipici tetti in ardesia. È dominata dal Castello, fortezza che ospita il museo delle Armi dove sono conservati cannoni della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, collezioni di armi, pezzi di artiglieria. Da non perdere la visita di Casa Skenduli, antica residenza sviluppata su tre piani, rimasta intatta nel tempo, dove rivive la vita quotidiana di una nobile famiglia ottomana. Gjirokastra diede i natali al dittatore Hoxha, nella cui casa ora c’è il Museo Etnografico.

Lungo la strada che porta a Saranda, dove faranno scalo la prossima estate le prime navi da crociera Msc, c’è un luogo che incanta: è la riserva naturale del Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër), dove una sorgente di acqua potabile ha formato un lago blu che ricorda l’occhio umano. A pochi km da qui c’è un altro posto magico Patrimonio Unesco: il parco archeologico di Butrint, che racchiude 2400 anni di storia e gli studiosi definiscono “microcosmo del Mediterraneo”. Passo dopo passo si arriva a Saranda, la Rimini dell’Albania, con hotel da 3 a 5 stelle, e molti altri in costruzione. È di fronte a Corfù, da cui dista 9 km, e a cui è collegata con traghetti giornalieri. Lungo tutta la costa sud il mare è limpido con spiagge bianche, insenature sassose, scogliere, calette e colline sul mare.

Qui c’è Porto Palermo con il castello di Ali Pasha, minuscola penisola collegata alla terraferma dalla sottile scogliera bianca. E poi su fino a Scutari, porta del nord, con il castello-fortezza di Rozafa e il lago più grande del Paese, appartenente per metà al Montenegro. Uno dei celebri vicini di casa, a cui l’Albania affianca la sua competitiva offerta turistica.

albania - ministro milva ekonomiEkonomi: «Stop ai vecchi stereotipi»
Obiettivo Italia per il turismo albanese, il cui dicastero è guidato da Milva Ekonomi. «L’Albania è cambiata molto negli ultimi 25 anni – afferma il ministro – Non è il Paese scuro dei vecchi stereotipi. È una destinazione mediterranea allegra e solare, con un’ospitalità genuina e una natura stupenda da scoprire. Ne stiamo rafforzando il profilo di meta turistica unica, grazie anche al fatto che può essere raggiunta facilmente in 1-2 ore di volo, e al regime favorevole di visti».

Accordi con i t.o. per il nuovo anno
Lo sviluppo dell’economia albanese passa dal settore turistico. Ne è convinto Ardit Collaku, direttore dell’Agenzia nazionale del turismo, che annuncia la partecipazione alla Bit e fa sapere: «L’Albania offre molte opportunità di investimento. Per il 2017 abbiamo già chiuso accordi importanti con alcuni t.o. anche per costruire un villaggio turistico». A favorire gli investimenti c’è il Fisco: esenzione fino a 40mila euro di reddito l’anno; 7,5% di tasse fino a 65mila euro; 15% per chi ne guadagna oltre 65mila. «Puntiamo sul turismo sostenibile e culturale, con proposte fruibili tutto l’anno, mentre per i mesi estivi continueremo a promuovere il balneare», afferma.

Molto interesse è suscitato anche dal turismo medico, cure odontoiatriche e chirurgia plastica in primis, e quello religioso con itinerari dedicati a Madre Teresa di Calcutta. «Tra le priorità – prosegue Collaku –  lo sviluppo della rete stradale e la ferrovia che collegherà Durazzo a Tirana, fino al suo aeroporto. Per il porto di Valona, intanto, sono stati già stanziati 45 milioni di euro».

Forte l’impegno anche nella sicurezza con leggi ad hoc e regole severe per la certificazione delle strutture ricettive e di ristorazione, delle guide turistiche e delle agenzie. Si stanno gettando le basi per il turismo di massa? La risposta di Collaku è «no, non vogliamo muoverci in questa direzione. Piuttosto l’abbondanza di foreste, fiumi e laghi ne fanno meta ideale per il turismo outdoor».

Albania - Elena Pinguli di AlbaniaGo e Ardit Collaku, direttore agenzia nazionale turismoIl progetto B2B di AlbaniaGo
La laurea in Economia, gli studi in Inghilterra e nel curriculum Meridiana e Gartour. Un gran giro, quello di Elena Pinguli, gm di AlbaniaGo, che parte dal suo Paese d’origine – l’Albania appunto – e lì ritorna. Elena vive a Roma, e da qui promuove e commercializza la destinazione: «Per venderla bene bisogna avere forti rapporti locali. È un piccolo Paese, ma bisogna sapersi muovere con cautela».

Nata qualche anno fa organizzando gruppi, AlbaniaGo ha grandi progetti per il 2017: «Avvieremo una programmazione per i t.o. con partenze garantite e strutture di buon livello, a 4 e 5 stelle. È un grosso rischio e un grande investimento, per questo inizieremo con poche date, entrando pian piano nel mercato B2B. Quello che manca in Albania è un turismo strutturato, su cui sto lavorando con il governo, che è giovane e di mentalità aperta, e che ci sta offrendo grande sostegno. Il fam trip rientra in questo quadro».
Sarà orientato al trade anche il nuovo sito, dove si potranno scaricare programmi, prezzi netti, quote finali. «I tour per i gruppi – spiega Pinguli – al momento sono quattro, con gli itinerari che riteniamo più interessanti. Legati alla natura, al trekking, alla cultura, all’architettura, alla storia, ma anche al mare in estate».

Per AlbaniaGo “piccolo è bello”: «Non vogliamo diventare un grande t.o. generalista, si perderebbe la qualità del servizio». Pinguli porta avanti con il governo anche il progetto di aprire all’Ambasciata a Roma un angolo di cultura e turismo albanese con un calendario di incontri, inizialmente una volta al mese, che poi aumenteranno in base alle esigenze. Qui ci sarà AlbaniaGo come t.o. di riferimento e i consulenti turistici dell’Ambasciata.
Marisa Piccardi...
http://www.lagenziadiviaggi.it/notizia_standard.php?IDNotizia=187128&IDCategoria=2432

ALBANIA, UNA RINASCITA COSTRUITA SUL TURISMO

ALBANIA, UNA RINASCITA COSTRUITA SUL TURISMO
Il turismo in Albania è una sorpresa solo per chi non ha mai avuto la fortuna di visitare il Paese. L’offerta è ampia: natura, storia, cultura, tradizione e outdoor. Ci sono dunque tutti gli ingredienti per un futuro pieno di investimenti e di sviluppo, come tiene a sottolineare il direttore generale dell’Agenzia per il turismo Ardit Collaku, spiegando che – solo parlando di italiani - «i turisti sono cresciuti del 30 per cento negli ultimi tempi e sono terzi dopo macedoni e kosovari in ordine di presenza numerica in Albania». I numeri avvalorano dunque uno sviluppo del settore in Albania, che deve molto all’azione del governo di Edi Rama, impegnato nei primi tre anni della sua legislatura a «lavorare sull’immagine che proiettiamo all’estero: e i risultati arrivano anche e soprattutto grazie a questo – spiega ancora Collaku - E’ molto aumentata la qualità dell’ospitalità e abbiamo avviato degli investimenti strategici per il turismo, puntando anche molto sulla sostenibilità». Durante un incontro organizzato dall’Agenzia per il Turismo e dal tour operator AlbaniaGO, Collaku ha avuto modo di spiegare i capisaldi dell’azione di governo in termini di politica nazionale: «Ci siamo mossi ad ampio spettro, colpendo innanzitutto la corruzione con leggi ad hoc. Abbiamo poi dato il via a una ingente riforma sanitaria e di previdenza sociale, nonché nel campo dell’istruzione dove sono state colpite in particolare le troppe università private che avevano offerte formative inadeguate se non inesistenti». A trainare il rilancio di un Paese che ambisce apertamente all’ingresso in Ue, è anche la politica fiscale: «In Albania la piccola e media impresa è incentivata da un regime fiscale particolarmente agevolato: crediamo molto nel tessuto artigiano della nostra economia. Inoltre, grazie a una stretta collaborazione con la Guardia di Finanza italiana, stiamo colpendo duramente anche il traffico di stupefacenti».
(red- 16 dic)
(© 9Colonne - citare la fonte)http://9colonne.it/123493/albania-una-rinascita-costruita-sul-turismo#.WFgXMMso_qD

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Top 10 Spiritual Places On Earth With The Strongest Energy Field, Berat including

Several places in the world allow us to connect with the divine  These are places where those who are sensitive to the energies have powerful dreams after sleeping there overnight, or mention encounters with indescribable feelings and clarity. Places like these have concentrated energy, on a spiritual level, which could give you answers to long-unanswered questions. Here are the top 10 places we believe to hold the strongest energy field:
1. Rila- Bulgaria – It might be surprising to learn that this mountain range is one of the energy centers of the world. Not coincidentally, one of the greatest spiritual masters of the 20th century, Beinsa Duno, chose to transmit wisdom in Rila, as a local Bulgarian. The area surrounding Rila’s Lakes possesses very strong energy. More sensitive individuals have felt it, and received odd dreams when they stayed in the area.

2. Machu Picchu, Peru – The Inca lost city is one of the places most famously linked to the world’s energy centers. Machu Picchu was built in a specific place, high atop the Andes. This wonder channels powerful energy and gives people an experience of something that just does not belong to our world.

3. Socotra – Socotra is comprised of four islands in the Indian Ocean off the Horn of Africa. The largest of these islands takes up approximately 95% of the total area of the archipelago. Its particular landscape has flora and fauna that look like something straight out of a science fiction movie, and can easily make you believe you are in another world, or in the prehistoric ages. Due to its isolation, Socotra has many specific species pf plant life that are unique and found nowhere else on earth. The spiritual energy found here is one that can connect the human soul directly with the cosmos.
4. The plateau Uluru, Australia – Found in the middle of the continental country, is Uluru- the spiritual center of Australia. Legend says that the plateau is hollow, and it is a spiritual energy source. The Aboriginal  people call this Tiukurpa, meaning Dreamtime. Ancient tribes around the plateau left behind many stories from the “Dreamtime,” which were painted in some of the surrounding caves. The tribes maintained the belief that when a person journeys to the plateau, they will receive spiritual visions.
5. Easter Island – This is one of the most famous places in the world, largely due to its enormous statues. Scientists have not been able to tell us who made them, and overall, the island is a complete mystery. Unfinished figures, and a ceremonial village with its 53 stone houses without windows and doors are just a couple of the peculiar remains. The biggest mystery, however, is the “Navel of the World.” It is said that this circular stone holds the secrets of the universe, and collects the most important spiritual energies of the Earth.
6. The Sanctuary Belintash – This ancient sanctuary, Belintash, in Bulgaria, is one of the three points  that forms one of the most prominent energy zones in Europe.  Belintash, Cross Forest, and Karadjov stone are the 3 points. Outlined on the rocky plateau are mirrored projections of key parts of our star chart. In the area surrounding Belintash, there is a strong energy, and thousands of people have experienced frequent paranormal phenomena
7. Berat, Albania – This is the pride of Albanian architecture, and is under UNESCO protection. Berat showcases an exquisite combination of eastern and western cultures, traditions and customs. The town is a treasure-trove of Albanian history and displays evident harmony between religion and culture. In Berat, people have mentioned their experiences with very powerful, spiritual healing energy.
8. Stonehenge, UK – Stonehenge is arguably the most famous megalithic structure in the world. Mosr likely dedicated to the Sun, Stonehenge is an ancient necropolis. It might have functioned as an astronomical observatory correlating with economic performance of the agricultural population.

9. The Bosnian Pyramids – They were here long before the Neolithic era. Radio-carbon analysis dates these pyramids before 12,350 years. According to this analysis, The Bosnian pyramids are 1000’s of years older than the Egyptian pyramids. Underneath the pyramids they discovered 3 rooms and a tiny blue lake. The lake is filled with sterile, clean water,  and had no bacteria, algae, fungi, or microorganisms found in its contents. It is called “living water” because it can purify the body. What this means is that these facilities are “healing rooms.”
10. Peak Kailash, Tibet – The peak of this mount holds religious significance for 2 religions – Buddhism, and Hinduism. Both possess their own legends about the place, but reached unison with the belief that the very top is home to the gods. By climbing this summit, they believe you can reach spiritual bliss.

Saturday, November 5, 2016

7 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU COULD DO IN ALBANIA

7 things you didn’t know you could do in Albania

7 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU COULD DO IN ALBANIA

By LOTTIE GROSS


Albania often doesn’t get the kudos it deserves. The country still suffers from the echoes of its Communist past: few people travelled in or out for decades during Enver Hoxha’s dictatorial rule, and as travel in Europe developed, Albania got left behind.
It’s now somewhat overlooked by tourists, who would rather opt for Greece’s famously pretty islands, Italy’s gorgeous countryside or the romance of Croatia. But Albania’s low visitor numbers are no reflection on its offering for travellers. Here are a few things you probably didn’t know you could do in Albania.

1. HAVE THE BEACH TO YOURSELF

Think of Albania and you probably don’t think of the beach – but you should. The country has around 476km of coastline lapped by the warm Mediterranean sea. There are lively resort towns like Durrës in the north and Saranda in the south, but it’s the almost-untouched parts that will impress the most.
Hire a car and drive the coastal road from Durrës to Saranda stopping off in any of the remote fishing villages and towns along the way – the likelihood is, you’ll find a stretch of sand all to yourself somewhere.
6365269103_19a595b751_oImage by Journey Jeff’s Pix on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

2. EAT SUPERB SEAFOOD

Albanian food takes its flavours from a variety influences: the Ottomans, the Greeks, the Italians… But it’s the ocean that gives the country some of its best dishes. All along that gorgeous coastline you’ll find fish and seafood fresh off the boat.
For a perfect antidote to the meaty cuisine further inland, try a shellfish pasta or risotto, or have the catch of the day grilled with the ubiquitous white cheese dip Albania does so well.
Albanian seafood, © Lottie Gross© Lottie Gross

3. HIKE THROUGH ALPINE COUNTRYSIDE

In the far north, only accessible by boat across Lake Koman or via the motorway that runs through neighbouring Kosovo, the valley of Valbona is a picture-perfect wilderness. Thanks to its remote location, tourist numbers here are pretty low, but those that do come are greatly rewarded with panoramic views of the looming mountains and superb hiking in one of the most biodiverse places in the country.
There are hikes of varying lengths for all abilities, but they’ve all got one thing in common: each offers an insight into the seriously rural lifestyle of the locals in Valbona. You’ll walk through orchards, forests and farmsteads that defy gravity on the steep slopes of the Dinaric Alps, and can stop off in one of the valley’s stans (shepherd’s huts) for lunch with a local family.
There’s ample camping and a few excellent lodges along the one road through the valley, but most of the activity centres around Hotel Rilindja, where Alfred and his American wife Catherine have been marking up trails and making their own maps for visitors for years.
Road through Valbona, Albania© Lottie Gross

4. EXPLORE UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR BUNKERS

Albania is often defined by its relatively recent affair with communism: specifically the reign of Communist dictator Enver Hoxha. From 1944–85 he ruled the country with a heavy hand and was responsible for the deaths of thousands of politicians, academics and civilians who were persecuted as “enemies of the people” due to their political beliefs.
While Albania is very much moving on from some of its hardest times, small concrete bunkers all over the country serve as a reminder of that dark past, and a few larger structures remain.
Bunk’Art, in the capital Tirana, is a 106-room nuclear bunker turned museum and art gallery. Built by the military to house the dictator and his highest ranking officials in the event of an attack, today there’s a permanent exhibition on the Communist period, plus changing art exhibitions and a theatre showing films.
A similar but far more eerie bunker lies beneath the picturesque city of Gjirokastra – untouched for decades, it’s now just a damp warren of rooms suitable only for the brave.
Bunker in Gjirokaster, Albania© Lottie Gross

5. SEE A LIVING CITADEL

Stroll around the hilltop kalasa (citadel) in Berat after dark and you could be forgiven for thinking you’d travelled back in time. During the day, Berat’s old city is a labyrinthine network of cobbled alleyways and confused tourists in search of an Ottoman church or a pretty viewpoint.
But at night, when the visitors retreat to their hotels, this fourteenth-century town falls quiet save the few residents that still inhabit its ancient structures.
With no street-lighting, you’re left to walk around near-darkness, the warm glow of the houses your only guiding light. If it weren’t for the occasional hubbub of a television, you might think you were in medieval Albania.
Berat citadel, Albania© Lottie Gross

6. DRINK HOMEGROWN WINES

Once described as the third best wine in Europe by Ancient Roman writer Pliny, today Albanian wine doesn’t have much of a reputation – apart from that much of it can be likened to vinegar and might give you a stonking hangover.
But there are a few grapes native to Albania and its geographic elevation means the climate is just right for a spot of viticulture. Made right, the wines can be a perfect pairing for your meal.
The most common varieties are Shesh i bardhe and Shesh i zi, which are used for most traditional Albanian wines and are grown all over the country. The former is a floral white that pairs nicely with the soft cheese common in Albanian cuisine, and the latter makes for a solid accompaniment to the meaty main courses.
If you’re keen to learn (and drink) more, make a stop at the Çobo Winery, conveniently located along the main tourist route between the pretty inland towns of Gjirokaster and Berat.
The Çobo family have been making wines since the early twentieth century using only Albanian grapes. You can take a tour of the winery, have a tasting and then make off with some of their best bottles. There’s even a campsite next door if you find you can’t tear yourself away at the end of the day.
Wine AlbaniaImage by Thomas Maluck on Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)

7. SHOP FOR ANTIQUES

Just outside the capital, the town of Kruja is famous for being the stronghold of Albanian national hero Skanderbeg during his resistance against the Ottomans in the fifteenth century. Today, an old castle remains with a few good museums inside, but the most entertaining activity by far is bartering for goods in the old bazaar just down the hill.
While the word “antique” may be bandied about a little liberally here, there’s a whole host of oddities on offer worth an hour or two’s browsing. Old coffee pots, soldier’s helmets, musical instruments and traditional Albanian dresses make for some interesting souvenirs.
Kruja Castle, Albania© Lottie Gross
Explore more of Albania with The Rough Guide to Europe on a BudgetCompare flightsfind toursbook hostels and hotels for your trip, and don’t forget to buy travel insurance before you go.
https://m.roughguides.com/article/7-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-do-in-albania/

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

75 Reasons to Travel to Albania ASAP


75 Reasons to Travel to Albania ASAP

For too long, Albania has been ignored as a tourist destination. I get it. The country has had to bounce back from a lot. For years, Albania was under one of the most repressive communist totalitarian regimes in history – even North Korea has more trade partners and diplomacy than Albania did thirty years ago. It emerged from the shackles of totalitarianism in 1991 with basically no GDP and virtually no economy. A countrywide pyramid scheme in which Albanians lost a total of 1.2 billion dollars (a fortune, considering how Albanians had only had six years of free market in order to actuablly obtain money to invest) in 1997 sent the country into chaos.
But things are way, way different now, and while the country still has far to come to catch up with its neighbors in Europe, it’s making great strides towards lasting progress. Albania is a country with an unfathomably long history, almost 5,000 years, with influence from Greeks, Illyrians, Romans, Venetians, Byzantines, and Ottomans.
To sum up Albania as just what’s happened in the last century is myopic. Yes, Albania has suffered, but it’s bouncing back with incredible fortitude and rightfully emerging as a tourist destination. Seeing as I’ve unofficially become an ambassador for this country, telling everyone who’ll listen about this beautiful place, I figured I’d put it in writing and save myself the trouble. Without further ado, here are 75 reasons why you should book a trip to Albania as soon as possible!
  1. It’s off the beaten path. Can you imagine going to 2,000 year old Roman ruins and not having to wait for people to get out of your shot constantly? Well, in Albania, it’s not only possible – it’ll happen all the time.
day trips from Saranda Albania
2. It’s not just affordable – it’s cheap. Traveling anywhere in Balkans, with the exception of Croatia, is inexpensive compared to Western Europe. But Albania is leaps and bounds cheaper than its neighbors, especially when it comes to transit and food costs. A six hour bus ride will set you back only $7 USD; a gyro, $1 USD; a 3-course meal with an espresso, $8 USD.
3. The beaches are the best in Europe. Sorry, Croatia, Italy, Greece, and Montenegro, I know you’ll disagree, but Albania has got the best beaches in all of Europe. The stony beaches make the water a gorgeous, crystal-clear turquoise that feels like your real life has been Photoshopped.
copyright Janet Newenham - drone over AlbaniaDrone shot courtesy of Janet Newenham ofJournalist on the Run & Your Irish Adventure
4. … And they’re not crowded. Unlike their more famous Northern and Southern neighbors, you’ll have plenty of space to yourself when you go to the beach in Albania. There are also tons of hidden beaches that you can have basically to yourself with a little creativity (or a little guts!).
Albanian riviera gjipe
5. Albanian people are insanely generous. I’ve never been offered more things in my life – whether it was cake on the side of a road from someone I asked directions, half of someone’s lunch who we hitchhiked with, an espresso at a cafe, or rakia (so much rakia).
6. The sunsets along the coast are incredible.From many spots along the Riviera, you’ll  be treated to breathtaking sunsets, just as beautiful as Greece’s or Croatia’s — at a fraction of the price.
sunset-in-albania

7. You need to learn the love-hate relationship with rakia. Rakia is basically moonshine, distilled typically from grapes or plums, popular all throughout the Balkans, but especially loved in Albania. The best nights (and the worst mornings) usually are courtesy of rakia.
8. Besa, which is loosely translated as “faith” or “trust”, is extremely important to Albanians. For centuries, Albanians have abided by the code of “besa” which basically means it’s their duty to look after people who need it. That means that even if you’re traveling solo through Albania, you’ll never really be alone.
Besa means that my friend's cousin - who I had never met before - took two days to show me around her hometown.
Besa means that my friend’s cousin – who I had never met before – took two days to show me around her hometown, beautiful Korca.

9. Albanians are keen to change their image. Albanians are aware that they’ve been associated with mobsters and gangsters, and more than a few Albanians bitterly remarked me that “we’re not all like Taken.” Which is true – I never once felt unsafe or unwelcome in my three weeks in Albania. Besides, as one local slyly remarked me to me, “All the Albanian mafia has left. Who would they make money off of here?”
10. Albanians are honest. I’m always on my guard for scams, having been ripped off and nearly pickpocketed within 12 hours in Hanoi. It turns out I didn’t have to worry at all. Meanwhile, in Albania, a man who changed money for a friend ran down the street to the bus station to find us, panicked that he hadn’t given us the right change (but he had).
11. The country is safe. Albania is just as safe as pretty much anywhere else in Europe. You’re less at risk for petty crime in Albania than you are in, say, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, or Paris, and violent crime is extremely rare.
cute-albanian-men
Ok, this photo is of Albanians in Kosovo, but you get the idea. So threatening with their rainbow umbrella and bear phone. Definitely shouldn’t travel here.

12. Street harassment is extremely uncommon.As a women who travels alone, I’m often subjected to street harassment, which makes me feel uncomfortable, unsafe, and irritated. In my entire time in Albania, not one man bothered me on the streets, even when I walked home alone late at night in Tirana. It was such a breath of fresh air to be around such polite, respectful men.

13. Albanians give the best directions. Which is to say they’re either extremely detailed if they speak English, or oftentimes they’ll just walk with you to your destination because they’re afraid of you getting lost. After a flurry of hand gestures did nothing, I once had an old lady in a robe and house shoes pull me by the sweater tied around my waist, leading me up on a ledge, in order to show me how to get to the Berat Castle via the back way. You can’t say these people don’t try.

14.There are countless fortresses and castles that you can explore. Most are have little infrastructure such as informational plaques or warning signs, so you get to feel a bit like Indiana Jones as you explore castles totally on your own.

castle-shkodra
15. Albanians love Americans. Okay, so this is maybe only exciting for me and my fellow countrymen, but we’re a bit of an unpopular lot in some parts of Europe. And I get it, I really do – I definitely cringe whenever I see the telltale shorts-and-fanny-pack of a clueless American tourist speaking loudly and slowly at someone who speaks perfect English like they’re an idiot. But in Albania, Americans are well-liked – so much so that they’ve even named a street after George W. Bush in Tirana (cool your jets, guys, even we don’t like him!). The town of Fushe Kruje which he visited even has a statue of him! You’ll also find a Hillary Clinton statue in Saranda, Albania. Fingers crossed we never need to find out if they’d erect a Trump statue.

16. But really, Albanians just love all foreigners.You’ll never feel more special as a tourist than when you visit Albania. I was traveling around with a lot of Australians and you should have seen the look on locals’ faces when they found out people from Australia were visiting their country. It was the most delightful mix of confusion, excitement, and pride.

17. Forget buses and planes – Albania is all about the furgon. Furgons are minibuses, which are often Mercedes vans converted to fit the most human life possible inside them. They’re democratic institutions – first come, first served, they’ll pick you up and drop you off anywhere along the route, and they’ll charge you based on the distance you travel. Sure, some of the seats aren’t that comfortable, especially the ones above the wheels, but I actually quite love the humble furgon.
The closest thing to a bus station I encountered in Albania
18. Honestly, the public transit is actually quite reliable – it’s just different. Furgons will get you basically everywhere you need to go, although you do sometimes have to make a transfer rather than going direct. Occasionally, on less popular routes, a minibus won’t run every day, and as the season winds down, minibuses are less frequent. Still, I visited in mid-October as the summer season was done and gone, and even some less popular routes were still roaring. I traveled from Korca to Berat and Berat to Vlora no problems, perfectly on time – in fact, even early in some cases!

19. Infrastructure is improving. I had heard that the roads in Albania were awful – I was happy to find that it really wasn’t the case. Of all the routes I took, I only really encountered one road that was pretty rough and tumble, and it was only because they were working on the main road and re-routed us another way. If you travel very rural in Albania, you’ll encounter some rough roads I’m sure, but the main roads connecting the coastal cities, Tirana, Shkodra, and some of the southern cities like Berat, Gjirokastra, and Korca were all fine. That said, there are still some major flaws. There is no national recycling program and litter continues to be a major issue. Tirana and other cities in Albania have an admirable program to neuter and vaccinate the stray dogs in the cities, but it’s a slow process. Still, considering the country’s economy started from basically nothing in 1991, I think they’ve made tremendous strides.

20. You can even drink the tap water now in many parts of the country. I had heard that Albania’s tap water was totally undrinkable. This was far from true! I drank the tap water without incident in Saranda, Tirana, Shkodra, Berat, and Korca – always after asking a local first just to double check. Since the country is without a recycling program (my inner Californian cringes at this, but progress is slow in the Balkans), try to aim your plastic consumption as much as possible if you go.

day trips from Saranda Albania

21. They make excellent Italian food. Albania is so close to Italy, and they’ve absorbed a lot of their culture. Pizza in Albania is top-notch, probably the next best thing to Italian pizza itself.
22. The coast has amazing seafood. You can eat delicious fresh prawns, mussels, fish, calamari… all for bargain prices and fresh as can be. Up north near Lake Shkodra, the lake trout is also incredibly delicious – so make sure you try that if you’re visiting Shkodra or other cities up north.

food-at-ksamil-beach

23. Local dishes are delightful. Traditional Albanian specialties like tavë kosi (baked lamb with yogurt) and patëllxhanët mbushur (stuffed eggplant) are unique and delicious, always cooked with local ingredients and fresh produce.

24. A lot of the cuisine is vegetarian. Many of their dishes incorporate veggies in a way that other countries in the Balkans don’t. Their stuffed peppers and grape leaves are almost always vegetarian and filling, they offer a wide variety of salads, and grilled vegetables are available everywhere.

love the food in albania - a reason alone to travel to albania
25. But they also make a mean grilled meatplate.
Ahh, a well-balanced meal...
Ahh, a well-balanced meal… look, there’s even lettuce!

26. They make excellent coffee. Albanians love their coffee, especially espresso, and you can get an espresso for as little as 50 lek – about 40 euro cents. I will say that sometimes their definition of a cappuccino would make Italians shudder, as they sometimes come topped with whipped cream, but there are worse things than free whipped cream, right?

27.The produce is fresh, delicious, and often organic. Of course, it won’t be labeled as such, but most produce in Albania comes from small, local farmers who frankly probably don’t have enough money to spend on pesticides. For that reason, the tomatoes and cucumbers are some of the best I’ve had in the world. Perfect for…

28. Amazing Greek salads and gyros thanks to its Greek minority population. Yup, in addition to rocking Italian food and traditional Albanian food, you can get delicious Greek food like grape leaves, tzatziki, gyros, and Greek salad. The two cuisines share a lot in common and the line between what’s Greek and what’s Albanian vary on where you are and who you ask (as many things do in the Balkans…)

Processed with Snapseed.

29. The mountains are absolutely beautiful. My biggest regret about Albania is that I didn’t get to do the hike from Valbona to Thethi that I had planned on. Crazy storms were raging when I was in Shkodra, making the hike I was planning to do the next day impossible, so I rerouted to Kosovo and traveled through the rest of the Balkans. By the time I returned to Albania, it was mid-October and reaching below freezing at night, so a hike didn’t feel like the best idea. But seeing the same mountain range in Montenegro and Kosovo, I can only imagine how beautiful it is in that part of Albania. But you don’t need to travel to Valbona to see mountains – they’re everywhere, even leading right down to the beaches in some cases.

Another Janet Drone shot courtesy of Janet Newenham ofJournalist on the Run & Your Irish Adventure

30. The Albanian language is unlike any other. Albanian (called Shqip, which is pronounced “shchip”, which gives you a little preview of the beautiful chaos that is the Albanian language) is one of the oldest living languages. Some consider it a language isolate, some think it’s related to Illyrian or Armenian… let’s leave it to the linguists and just say it’s incredibly difficult – though beautiful to hear – and, to my totally untrained eyes and ears, reminds me of Dothraki on GoT. (nerd alert)

31. That being said, locals will love you if you try to speak Albanian. Albanians know how difficult their language is, and they really appreciate it when you take the time to learn a few words of Albanian. Mirëdita (meer-deeta) – good day, faleminderit (fah-le-min-DER-it) – thank you, diten e mirë (deet-en ay meer) – Have a good day, and of course, gëzuar (guh-zoo-ar) – cheers: master these four and people will be delighted.

32. The rural parts of the country are stunning. I haven’t seen many Albanian villages or rural life, which I’ve been told is where the real heart of the country is. But my method is to always leave a stone unturned, so I know I’ll come back. What I’ve seen of rural Albania from the furgons is incredible, and I’d love to discover it more deeply.
The calm before the storm in Shkodra, Albania

33. The Albanian flag is so dope. A double-headed eagle…  god, could a flag get any cooler? Albanians are obsessed with their flag, and honestly, so am I. So epic.

34. On a similar note, Albanians are really patriotic. While sometimes this patriotism can border on nationalism (which is not unique to Albanians, of course), what this means in practical terms for the traveler is that Albanians will do anything to make sure you love their country just as much as they do. If you tell them you love their country, most will beam with pride.

35. Hitchhiking is incredibly easy and safe throughout Albania. The combination of a lack of a centralized public transit system, the Albanian hospitality and belief in besa, and an outsized love for their cars all merge to make it probably one of the easiest places to hitchhike in the world and definitely in Europe. It’s also quite safe, which you wouldn’t expect if you take your travel advice from Liam Neeson, but it’s true!

hitching in albania

36. In fact, hitchhiking is an amazing experience there and I recommend it to all travelers. During my hitching experience, I was picked up by a trucker who didn’t speak a word of English but was all smiles, two young college students who brought us all the way to Kosovo even though they weren’t planning on crossing the border, and more than a couple Mercedes Benzes.

37. Mercedes Benzes are the national car. OK, not really, but it’s kind of ironic that one of Europe’s poorest countries has more Mercedes Benzes than anywhere else I’ve been – including NYC and California. For a more detailed explanation, read on here.

38. It’s easy to travel to and from other countries in the region. There are frequent public buses from Montenegro via Ulcinj and Shkodra as well as direct buses run by hostel companies from hotspots like Kotor to Tirana. Going from Tirana to Prizren or Prishtina in Kosovo is also quite easy. If you’re thinking of going onto Macedonia, there are Tirana to Skopje buses and in peak season direct buses between Ohrid as well, which can also be accessed via Berat, Elbasan, or Korca. Greece is close to Saranda and Korca, and you can take a ferry to Corfu in about thirty minutes.

nearby Prizren, Kosovo
Nearby Prizren, Kosovo – just a few hours away from Tirana by bus

39. Oh, and Italy is only a short boat ride away, too! If you’re in Italy and want to make your way over to Albania, it’s actually really quick and affordable to catch a ferry to Albania. A bonus? The views are beautiful.
turquoise-water-vlora

40. Tirana is unlike any other capital city I’ve seen. It’s chaotic and exhilarating, unique and intriguing, improvised and improving. There’s a sense that it’s stuck in the past at the same time that it’s accelerating towards the future, and it’s fascinating to be right there with it.

41. Tirana was more influenced by communism than other cities in Albania, making it ideal for history and communist architecture geeks. There are some absolutely strange pieces of architecture in Tirana, in particular, Piramida, the abandoned memorial to deceased dictator Enver Hoxha that is now a TV station/slide/tourist oddity.

quirky things to do in tirana

42. The nightlife in Tirana is really fun. I loved going out in the Blloku neighborhood, the old heart of the communist party loyalists. This has turned into a hipster/upscale neighborhood of sorts, where a draft beer goes for (*gasp*) 2 euros.

I promise these glasses are medically necessary.
At Radio in Blloku

43. The bunkers offer a fascinating, if unsightly, look into the past.
 I enjoyed visiting Bunkart in Tirana, which used to be the former dictator Enver Hoxha’s bunker in case of attack. It’s a fascinating insight into the psyche of a sick, paranoid man. An estimated 700,000 smaller bunkers dot the countryside, in places you’d never think would be at risk of attack.
bunkart quirky things to do in tirana

44. In fact, there’s no country quite comparable to 20th century Albania. Under Enver Hoxha, even Tito’s Yugoslavia, Mao’s China, and Khruschev’s USSR were all just too liberal and not purely communist enough. As a result, Albania had no external ties with other countries from 1978 until 1991. When the dictatorship finally fell, things like bananas and blue jeans were totally brand-new phenomena. Even today’s North Korea has a more open economy than pre-1990s Albania.

45. But there’s so much more than just the Communist past. 
I understand (and share!) the fascination with Albania’s insane communist past. But before that, Albania has almost 5,000 years of history, with influence from Greeks, Illyrians, Romans, Venetians, Byzantines, and Ottomans. That all has shaped the country so much more than its Communist era, even though those have the most obvious visual influence.
day trips from Saranda Albania
Albania is home to some of the best-preserved Christian mosaics in the world

46. The 400-year occupation of the Ottoman empire forever changed Albania in unique ways. As a result of the occupation, Albania became a majority Muslim country — approximately 60% — although most Albanians follow a very loose interpretation of Islam – if they follow anything at all. Most Albanians, even if they’re of Muslim origin, eat pork and drink alcohol (in fact, I think your Albanian citizenship is revoked if you don’t drink rakia. I kid, I kid), and very few women wear headscarves, regardless of origin (although those who do don’t get any odd looks).

47. Yet for years, Albania was the only country in the world to have an outright ban on religion.That’s right. In 1967, the practice of religion was completely banned within the country of Albania. As a result, unfortunately many churches and mosques throughout the country were destroyed. Albanians have been working hard to rebuild these places of worship throughout the country. Precious few remain of the pre-Communist era – only those that party leaders deemed worthy of cultural preservation, such Et’hem Bey mosque in Tirana, pictured above.

48. Albania is a true cultural mixing pot.Throughout time, Albania has had the influence of Greeks and Romans, Slavs and Italians, Muslims and Christians. These divisions don’t really seem to faze Albanians, and the unifying fact of language, tradition, and patriotism seem to be more important than ethnicity or religion.

49. Despite all this, Albanians are incredibly tolerant of other religions. Interfaith marriages are quite common in Albania, and friend groups are typically well-integrated and have little to do with religion. Religion appears to be more of a cultural signifier than any deeply held convictions. Unlike countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, where ethnic strife was in large part exacerbated by religious differences, Albanians really don’t seem to care that much about religion.

korca-cathedral
The Orthodox cathedral in Korca was only built in 1992, replacing the church that communists had destroyed in the late 1960s.

50. In fact, for many, “the only religion of Albania is Albanianism.” This quote was co-opted by Enver Hoxha to justify his religious ban; however, it originally appeared in Shkodra-based poet Pashko Vasa’s nationalist poem “O moj Shqiperi”. Basically, that is to say, Albanians are much more concerned with sharing an ethnic and cultural legacy based on the concept of being Albanian, rather than being concerned with any religious ties.

51. Albania is a UNESCO darling, with three major sites having UNESCO Status.
day trips from Saranda Albania

52. One of them, Butrint, is a 2,000 old set of Roman ruins. It has alternately been ruled by Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, and Ottomans. It’s set on a beautiful lake near the border with Greece, and it’s almost always completely deserted, making it a beautiful place to wander, snap photos, and imagine a simpler world taking place exactly where you stood over two millennia ago.
53. Gjirokastra is another UNESCO site, just as breathtaking as Butrint. It is an Ottoman era “museum city” complete with a gorgeous ruined castle perched atop a massive hill surrounded by houses with layered flat stone roofs.
gjirokaster awesome day trip from saranda

54. In fact, Gjirokastra is also home to iso-polyphony folk music, which is a uniquely Albanian tradition honored by UNESCO’s intangible heritage designation. Every year, performances are held in the castle, keeping the tradition alive. To be honest, the music isn’t my cup of tea, but it’s incredible what they are able to do with their voices, creating unique, haunting sounds without the use of a single instrument.
55. Berat is twinned with Gjirokastra, though it’s worth visiting totally aside from Gjirokastra. It is the more famous twin, and equally gorgeous in my opinion, yet quite different. Berat is marked with only white paint and large square windows that look almost like eyes, giving it the nickname “City of a Thousand Windows.” Honestly, I think UNESCO made a mistake by twinning these cities together, which suggests that you can see one of the two and “get the idea.” They’re both incredibly unique places, and each warrants its own visit.


56. There are many other places on UNESCO’s tentative list that are also worth a visit. The Durrës Amphitheatre, Apollonia, and Ohrid, among others, are all on the list for consideration.

57. But historic cities aren’t all Albania has to offer – it has incredible lakes. Lake Komani is the gem of Albania, followed closely by Lake Shkodra (which it shares with Montenegro), Lake Ohrid (which it shares with Macedonia), and Lake Butrint. All so different, yet so beautiful.

58. Besides its lakes, Albania has deep-flowing natural springs. These springs are called “Blue Eyes,” and while there is an incredibly famous one in the south (called Syri I Kalter in Albanian), there is an equally beautiful though lesser known one in Thethi as well.
blue eye syri i kalter day trip from Saranda

59. It has gorgeous waterfalls as well that locals love to swim in. The waterfalls in Begova near Berat are a favorite of locals when the summers get hot — with rakia, of course! It’s too bad I was in Berat in mid-October so I didn’t go to these waterfalls.

60. It even has a wine region with surprisingly delicious wine. I did, however, sample the surprisingly excellent local wines in Berat, courtesy of Cobo Wineries.

61. It’s yet to be Westernized with American fast food chains… well, except the one. I love the fact that the country’s first international chain, KFC, is opening literally across the road from Enver Hoxha’s old mansion. I believe that’s what we call “throwing shade”, Albania. Nicely done.
kfc-tirana

62. You’ll meet a lot of like-minded travelers in Albania. I guess because not many people travel to Albania, the tourists who do go there are really interesting, easy-going, and open-minded. I never met more interesting and fun people than I did when traveling in Albania!

63. Sometimes, it seems as if parts of Albania are stuck in a time capsule. You’ll be driving along a surprisngly smooth highway when suddenly, hey! There are goats and cows wandering the roads.

goats-in-berat
64. Albania is squarely outside the Schengen zone, making it perfect if you’re staying in Europe for over 90 days. Many countries in the Balkans, including Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, and Bosnia are also outside Schengen, so it’s easy to plan a little detour to Albania if you’ve used up the 90 days on your Schengen visa.

65. It’s quite easy for foreigners to get visas. 77 countries and territorities, plus every EU country, can visit Albania visa-free for 90 days. But even if you’re not one of those countries, if you’ve had and used a valid UK, US, or EU visa, you get the same 90 day visa policy as all other qualifying countries.

66. Though hostels are new the country, they are surprisingly excellent. Literally every single hostel I stayed at in Albania was excellent, and far better (and cheaper) than a lot of hostels I’ve stayed at in Western Europe, including cities like Rome and Barcelona. In fact, Trip’N Hostel in Tirana is probably the best hostel I’ve stayed at, period.

The best hostel I've ever stayed at for $12 a night, with this delicious omelette and Albanian coffee included.
The best hostel I’ve ever stayed at for $12 a night, with this delicious omelette and Albanian coffee included.

67. Albania is a delightful mix of discovered and undiscovered. You can really choose your own adventure here… whether you want to stick to the slightly-well-trodden path of Tirana and Saranda, or if you want to get a little more off the path and visit the quaint smaller cities of Shkodra and Korca, there are tons of options, all within furgon distance.

68. Albanian wedding parties are the best parties. I stumbled across one happening in the street next to the gyro restaurant in downtown Himara. It was just a giant circle dance that got bigger and bigger, more and more intricate throughout the night.

69. Albania will teach you patience. I will admit that traveling in Albania is not the most straightforward, though I don’t think it necessarily makes it difficult. Sometimes, your bus will be late, or it will be unclear where you’re supposed to go. However, things always have a way of working out here. Give yourself some extra time and enjoy the ride.

But patience is easy when your surroundings are this gorgeous. Photo courtesy of Janet Newenham yet againBut Patience is easy when your surroundings are this gorgeous. Photo courtesy of Janet Newenham yet again
70. Albania will also teach you trust. Because Albania isn’t the easiest place to get around, especially since the public transportation system is run mostly by word of mouth and there’s no online timetable, you’ll have to learn to trust strangers. But that is actually a blessing in disguise, because it’ll show you just how kind and caring most people in the world are. And even moreso in this special little corner of the world.

71. English is actually fairly widely spoken – followed closely by Italian. The second language of Albanians tends to fall on strictly generational lines. Those who grew up under communism likely stole television and radio signals from Italy as the only way of having contact with the outside world; therefore, the older generation by and large speaks Italian to some extent. Younger people, and anyone who works in hospitality, has a fairly good understanding of English.

72. But what Albanians may lack in language skills, they’ll make up for in doggedness, body language, and effort. It’s not like an Albanian to shrug their shoulders and ignore you – they will do their damnedest to either answer your question through dramatic gesturing, dragging you down the street to finding someone who can help you, calling a friend on their phone and having you speak to them, or walking you right to your destination.

73. In short, Albanians are resilient and resourceful. They survived the most oppressive communist regime in history, saw the other end, and are now welcoming to outsiders from around the world. It’s astounding to me, a one-time New Yorker who hasn’t suffered anything more than the indignity of being trapped on a sweaty train car with five breakdancing teenage boys shouting “Showtime,” how people who have dealt with so much can be so welcoming, but they are.

74. Albania is changing… fast. With foreign investments coming in and the slow march of tourism coming down from the Croatian coast through Montenegro, it won’t be long until Albania changes. When cruise ships start regularly stopping at Albania… I must admit, I’ll be a little worried about what’ll happen to precious Himara and Dhermi.

75. Albania is never boring. No matter where you go in the country, I can guarantee you, you’ll have never seen
http://eternalarrival.com/albania/75-reasons-travel-albania-asap/