Introduction to Albanians

• Lilyc's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Tirana

Trip Start Aug 25, 2007 Previous
Entry Trip End Mar 25, 2008 Next
Entry

  Tirana, Albania
Saturday, October 27, 2007

I remember my first day in Albania, I asked a fellow traveler whether Albania has been safe. She said offhandedly "they are too busy helping you to rob you."  In retrospect, this statement can not be more true. The people do not speak much English, the country does not have many jeweled attractions; people are pretty poor, but they are rich in spirit. At first I was skeptical of their niceness, but now I'm spoiled. I wasn't used to it after touring Eastern Europe where people aren't open to tourists who are one in a million. I had lost count how many times I encountered amazing generosity during the last 9 days in Albania.  I can only create a list of the most memorable.
 
Albanians' random acts 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 firecracker back. Funny though.
-         The owner of a restaurant in Skodhra telling us to not patron her restaurant and instead take the next bus to Tirana
-         Half of the bus pitching in and teaching us Albanian from Skodhra to Tirana
-         Albanians are extremely honest. Unlike other third world countries, I did not feel like they took advantage of me or ripped me off. Instead they went out of their way to prove their honesty.
-         Market owner writing out the exact price of groceries without being asked
-         Elbasan's Orthodox church priest coming into town especially to show his church to a bunch of tourists. Also having an intellectual roundtable discussion about religion and society.
-         Random people going out of their way to help us translate
-         Starova family taking me in after Hotel Tomi was full. Who knew the guy sipping coffee at the same restaurant would come to my rescue? And to refuse any payment for it after two days.
-         The Berati internet café guy who allowed me to download his slew of MP3 songs, from Albanian, Greek, Turkish, and Spanish.
-         Vasil who gave me an impromptu 90 minutes Berati castle tour
-         Genuine smiles everywhere
-         Ghassi who on his 3 day vacation from Italy gave me a tour of his hometown. The hilly adventure down from the Berati castle to St. Michael church.
-         Berati's Orthodox church priest Peter specially opening his church and encouraging me to take photos
-         Saranda's college student who offered me to use her apartment but after I refused,  showed me the way to a hotel.
 
As my friend, you always challenge me to become a better person. When was the last time a stranger off the street has challenged you to be better?  At least for me, it's rare. But in Albania, I am inspired by its people to be better on a daily basis

Post your own travel photos for friends and family Pictures

communist blocs, an artist's canvas	Communist facade on National Museum of History	Et'hem Bey Mosque, my favorite so far	Happy Halloween
runway at Albanian Fashion Week 2007	Skedenberg, national hero	Taiwan Complex in middle of Tirana	traffic on a normal Sunday afternoon
where are the policemen?

Slideshow Print this entry Share Tirana hotels

Previous Entry Next Entry