Hotel President Tirana

... und von ein** B**gstadt aus den Ottomanen ein kleines Reich abgetrotzt. In 25 Schlachten mit den Ottomanen ging ** als Sieg** h**vor und sein Reich wurde **st 26 Jahre nach seinem Tod von den Ottomanen besiegt (in 1479). Die Alban** sehen sich als Rett** des Abendlandes, waren die Ottomanen doch zu ihr** sta**ksten Zeit in Schlachten mit Skand**b**g beschaeftigt statt die Truppen gen Wien zu schicken.

Albanien macht keinen sehr islamischen Eindruck, die ...

... behaviour of these buses are, beside the fact that they nearly brakte into pieces, qutite funny. The bus driver starts, when the bus is half full, a shedule is not used. On his way out of the city, he passes 3 times every roundabout, trying to catch some people by using the horn. Using the horn is here generally used as in western countries the blinker. They say "hello", "watch out, i am coming" and "i want to cross your trace" with the horn ...

... the foreigner in their midst. He went over to his friend, slightly thinner and older and he was and pointed in my direction. His friend came over and directed me to follow him. A younger soldier came closer, smiling. "Anglias?" "Yes" I smiled as I followed the old man into a squat little building. It doesn't matter how much people smile at you, there are far few things more worrying than being taken off a bus in the middle of the ...

... and Bar. We stopped to take a photo of the small island of Sveti Stefan. This was once a fishing village but it was totally bought out by a developer and now the whole island is a resort. There were many beaches along the coast, all seemed to be packed with people. Then it was on through the border with Albania. What a difference in scenery. We moved away from the coast and it was so evident that this was a very undeveloped part of the world. There ...

... can you smell what the Rock is cooking". With their young mouths aghast I brought the house down with my finale, impersonating his killer move 'the peoples elbow' to whoops and cheers. It was always my belief that being equipped with this knowledge would prove invaluable one day. My estimation was correct and today was going to be that day. When the high-five hand slapping ceased the boys shouted out another wrestlers name "the Undertaker" and with my counter "the Heartbreak Kid, Sean ...

... of kindness: - Vina and Edvin taking us on a hostel field trip to Elbasan and instead of shopping as they planned, showed us the sights. Free and knowledgeable tour guide. Good company and a lot of food. Only thing was that Vina almost got into a fight w an old man over tourists taking photos near his restaurant. Had to hold the little ...

... into the calculator. "That's a difference of . . . six thousand four hundred and fifty-four lek. That's . . . eighty dollars!" "Are you sure?" "Yes." "Right, let's go kick his ****." We march back out into the quiet streets of Tirana clutching our little receipt and ready for a fight. The exchange guy is entitled to a commission, that's how these places work, but eighty bucks on a three hundred and twenty dollar transaction? No way. Between our hotel and the ...

... and the cutest boy ever Rudi (8). Their father works in Italy to send money home- and only returns twice a year for a month's holiday or so, which I know the kids in particular find quite hard. They can't go out to Italy with him because they have to look after their elderly grandmother (79) who lives with them and cant walk that far. They are possibly the nicest family ever though, and Lucy and I are v.glad to have been put with them!

... relieved a bus wasn't going in my direction! Fortunately, within a few minutes a regular bus only half full appeared, going to Tirana! It seemed like the uncertainty of the day had come to an end. Well, nearly. What with it being a hot and sunny sunday, and the bus heading along the coast, there was no shortage of people wanting to get on. It was soon full, yet that didn't stop the driver from letting more people on. When some rather elderly types got on and unbelievably, no-one ...

... our progress. All hope seemed lost (there was no way they were going to let us inside--this was obviously a no-go zone!). But...we were told... We could stay overnight at this Monastery...and...for FREE! We had called ahead...made reservations...they should be expecting us... A stern-faced Italian Soldier met us upon approach, demanding "documents" (Passport). The "negotiations" began (obviously, it was unusual for someone to receive permission to stay ...