We approached Albania with trepidation. From what we'd read the country was going to be so backward that it would feel like we'd gone back in time by fifty years and people would be amazed to see a mobile phone. Apparently the streets would be would be full of litter and a horse and cart would be the preferred method of transportation. Shit, one of the most popular search results on Google is, 'is it safe to visit Albania?'.
What did we discover upon arriving in Tiranë (Albania's capital)? A large tent where the chief lives and a heap of people running around with vine leaves covering their bits? Far from it. We found an interesting, modern city filled with attractive, intelligent, exceptionally warm and welcoming people. That theme continued as we made our way down the coast through Vlorë, Himarë and Sarandë and over those few weeks in Albania we felt as close to home as we've been since we left.
These are a handful of our highlights.
Lamb feasts at Arti and Taverna Beqo in Vlorë and Sarandë respectively that really did place us at a Brimson/Hatch dinner table.
Transport in Albania is limited to say that least. The main way that you get around is via a heap of mini buses (sometimes just vans) that connect the key centres within the country. These mini buses are quite the travelling experience. They leave from points such as "in front of the Economics Faculty" and "near the mosque", you all get jammed in like sardines and then off you fly dropping people off and picking people up at places that are far from the designated bus stops that most of us are used to. It's a cosy experience. Without air-con it's an even cosier experience.
Cold beer is a national obsession. Glasses come from the freezer and go down a treat now that the mercury is beginning to hit 30. And at 50c a beer there's no reason to hold back either.
Being the best looking, most in shape people on the beach in Vlorë. Yes, some of the sights down there were that bad. You really don't want a photo showing just how bad those sights were.
Qofte (essentially cevapi as is found in the rest of Southeastern Europe) with onion, bread and a cheesy take on tzatziki in Tirana. So, fecking, good.
A hotel with sea views, breakfast and free sunbeds in Europe for less than fifty bucks a night? Yes please Himare!
The lowlights of Albania? There's only one and it involved me swinging my leg over a sunbed and splitting my shorts straight up the middle (exposing myself to everyone around me in the process) and then having to walk the three kilometres back to our accommodation looking like some sort of flamboyant Samoan man.
