Albanian Blogger » Enviroment & Nature

Great Presentational Video For Albania

the Albanian Blogger — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:03:34 +0000

I found this great presentational video for Albania. It is only 7:49 seconds long and it does a pretty good summary of the most important facts about anyone being introduced for the first time to Albania. However, it is also very good to have just for reference purposes.

Great Presentational Video for Albania

Mountainbiking through Albania

the Albanian Blogger — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:17:39 +0000

Lately someone send me an email to let me know that there was a German guy who is mountainbiking from Greece to Lago di Guardia, in Italy which on his way there will also pass through Albania.

Immediately I was reminded of a friend of mine who, together with some friends, just a few months ago, took a similar trip from one end of Albania to the other.

In short, the German guy’s name is Stuntzi. he doesn’t really know where to ride through albania….

He is doing a live-report of his adventures in a mtb forum (mainly german, but lots of pictures): http://www.mtb-news.de/forum/showthread.php?t=396385

There is also an support-thread in an bosnian forum:
http://www.ciklocentar.com/forum/index.php?topic=2379.0

Maybe you have deep knowledge ‘about trails for mtbing in Albania or know the right people who can help this guy to find a way through….

Check out this link (in German) to see maps: http://www.alpenzorro.de/heraklix/

Undecided About My Summer Vacations

the Albanian Blogger — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:58:14 +0000

I have already set the dates that I will be on vacation this summer, however, I till now am quite undecided as to where I will go – in Albania or abroad.

The main issue obviously is balancing finances with the best places for vacation. Traditionally I have always spent many a weekend roaming the beaches of southern Albania and have had the chance to visit many of them. However, every time I’ve done that I have not been led by comfort as much as by the desire for adventure, moving from location to location, often one place in the morning and another one in the afternoon. However, this year I do not want to compromise very much the comfort aspect. So need to consider my options?

If I stay in Albania, Durres I don’t even consider as an option. The water is quite dirty and there are so many people and noise that you don’t get much time to relax.

The Ionian coast is the best option, however, the range of beaches and locations on the coast is not well balanced with comfort conditions or prices. As I don’t like beaches with too many people, I know I will stay away from Vlora’s main beach area, however, there are so many smaller beaches from there on toward the south that you only have to pick and choose which is best. The Albanian Riviera remains gorgeous, even if you’re just driving along.

Another great advantage is the newly paved roads from Vlora to Saranda, with smaller patches still under construction, but now it is so much easier and faster to move up and down the coast line. So I will definitively consider it.

Going abroad

The other option, will be to go abroad in one of the three top locations where Albanians like to go: Montenegro, Turkey and Greece.

Montenegro: The option of going abroad is also very viable especially in terms of the balance of comfort and price. Montenegro, has been my first choice for majority of my vacations abroad. I have been to all the major cities, several times, I have traveled up and down the coast sometimes twice a day for a whole week, so there is not much new for me to discover there. However, I still like it, as do my parents whom go there as often as they get a chance.

Greece: I have to admit that I have never been to Greece, but for more patriotic reasons I don’t care to go there. I know that this year the prices have come down due to the current financial crisis and the county’s concerns that the number of turists will drop considerably. But still I am not sufficiently tempted to go. I know that the time will come and so I am not in a hurry.

Turkey on the other side has been a nice discovery for many Albanians. Many of my friends, even my parents, have been there a few times and despite an incident last year, they have had a good time nevertheless.

But my main concern is that if I go to Turkey then I will not be able to move around as much as I like because the vacation locations are all somewhat distant from major cities and other historical locations.

Italy: For me this is the land I have still to discover. But the problem is that I do not want to go to Italy so that I can go to the beach, I want to visit all the major cities like Rome, Firenze and Venice. So for now I will have to pass as I have another plan to do a car tour in the near future.

I would love to hear your suggestions…

15 Pictures and Impressions from around Albania

the Albanian Blogger — Mon, 11 May 2009 08:33:16 +0000

Fellow blogger, Fiona, recently made a trip around Albania after which she put together a short post with pictures and impressions about 15 things she learned from the different cities and towns she traveled too.

Here comments…

1. A EUR20/night one star hotel in Himara sometimes has no hot water.

2. A EUR100/night five star hotel in Saranda sometimes has no hot water.

3. Himara is now 20 minutes drive from Dhermi, thanks to a new coastal road.

4. Sometimes your favourite seafood restaurant in Saranda from 2008 is no longer your favourite in 2009.

5. Berisha travels via helicopter.

6. Ksamil is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen in my life.

7. Saranda is booming, and may overtake Gjirokastra as the southern hub of Albania.

8. Police in Gjirokastra are petty and mean.

9. Permet is the city of “cannot find any flowers” and the city of “getting lost on the way to Korca”.

10. Giving locals a lift in the car can be a major educational resource.

11. Fresh fish from the pond to the plate in 10 minutes tastes fantastic!

12. It takes 6 hours to drive from Gjirokastra to Korca.

13. Korca has great coffee, magic byrek, and a serious shortage of nice hotels

14. Thanks to a new highway, Korca to Pogradec is only 30 minutes drive

15. The view of the lake and mountains in Pogradec is just breaktaking

The final (extra) thing I learned on my drive around Albania, is that it is just so beautiful and amazing…

The Anti-Smoking Law has Gone up in Smoke – Completely

the Albanian Blogger — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:02:49 +0000

In two months it will be a year since the anti-smoking law came into force in Albania. At that time this new legislation was welcomed by most people. However, as you look at the current situation and the developments till now, you would have to admit that the antismoking law has gone up in smoke.

The main enforcing authority is the Ministry of Health, which as reported, has close to 200 inspectors all around the country. These people are responsible to ensure that the law is respected and those who break it, are to be penalized through fines and other legal measures. However, the inspectors have failed at their task completely. Meanwhile, they are paid about 10,000 Lek extra per month, for doing nothing. Basically wasting taxpayer money.

Today, if you visit the local bars or restaurants, you cannot help but get the stench of smoke on your clothes and body from people smoking near or around you. The situation is almost worst than what it was before the law was implemented. What is worst is the fact that you can often find people in health facilities like hospitals and clinics doing just that – smoking.

Moreover, the situation is not expected to change as local and central authorities are gearing up for the parliamentary elections coming up in June, and obviously this issue is not of major concern to them.

What do you think about this issue?

Did Albanians Descend from the North of the Continent?

the Albanian Blogger — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:20:07 +0000

According to the Tirana Genetics Laboratory results, the genetic mutation Delta F508 was found in 78% of a group Albanians tested randomly. Researchers say this supports the theory that we descended from the northern parts of the continent.

This was the first ever genetic research of this type in Albania. The testing was carried out using a group of 50/50 males and females. Obviously the results were somewhat unsuspected.

According to the researchers the genetic mutation Delta F508, is present at levels of 50% in the Mediterranean populations, meanwhile this same mutation is present at levels of over 70% in the northern European inhabitants. Therefore they concluded that our descent leans more on the northern side, without too many links to our Balkan neighbors. The researchers claimed that these results speak louder about our descent as northern-Europeans.

These results further sustain the theses of the Albanian scholar Eqerem Çabej, who found commonalities between our people and those of northern Europe. Also, according to the Albanian scholar Moikom Zeqo, thousands of years ago there were waves of migrations by the indo-european peoples toward the south of the Balkan peninsula, and it is very possible that Albanians are descendens of those tribes, relatives of the Germanic ones.

Personally I have still to see some more research done in this regard as the sample data is not considerable, nevertheless very interesting indeed.

Simple, genuine & sincere by Albtranslator

the Albanian Blogger — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:49:52 +0000

Fellow blogger Albtranslator writes about her experience meeting an older lady while visiting the eastern city of Pogradec, which is a beautiful place to visit at any time of the year. Also check out more of her posts as you will find some great pictures there.

Snow In Tirana

the Albanian Blogger — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:31:03 +0000

Snow has become somewhat of a rare thing in Tirana. But today, it snowed!

The forecast was correct and for a couple of hours the whole city was laid with a thin white blanket of snow. It was truly enjoyable to walk out in the snow and watch it land on the glass of the windshield of the car.

It just makes you think more about the season and the good times with family and friends.

Are Albanians Being Cheated at the Fuel Station ?

the Albanian Blogger — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:56:20 +0000

If you drive a car in Albania, like I do, then you have to put fuel in it every so often. And like every Albanian you too worry about the high prices that you pay for it.

I have to go through the same ritual of putting fuel in my car every week or sometimes more often than that, depending on how much I use the car. And like every good Albanian, I try to find out the best fuel station so that I can get good quality fuel for the same expensive price that fuel stations charge everywhere. And it seems that nobody gives a …. about it!

Anyway, now on, besides the constant concern over fuel quality and its price, I have to start worrying about the amount of fuel I get every time I take the car to any fuel station!

What is going on ?
According to a recent investigation by the satire show Fiks Fare broadcasted on Top Channel, most of the petrol stations that they had investigated would not give you the exact amount of fuel that you would pay them for.

It was always a little less, and sometime a little more, depending on the petrol stations and it would range from 50 to 100 ml for every 10 liters of fuel. The responsible state authorities would always place a seal on the fuel pumps after every control that they would conduct, but then these would be broken and the pumps somehow re-calibrated to earn the owner(s) of the fuel pump a few extra Lek on the liter. This was very widespread as the investigation of Fiks Fare suggested very convincingly, at least I do not have any doubts that it is true.

I have not been able to find the Fiks Fare video for it, but this is another of their shows which may be of interest as it speaks about another type of overpricing fraud, that for the purchase of food like vegetables, and other daily food necessities.
Fiks Fare Video

Tirana – Two Days Without Water

the Albanian Blogger — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:39:00 +0000

Most of the city of Tirana will be without water for two entire days in the coming week. The water utility company of Tirana will be repairing the main water supply pipe (the Bovilla pipe) so that all those sections of the city that are furnished by it will be left without water.

My guess is that it will cause some trouble, but not much, since we’re somewhat used to being without regular water. However, on the other side my concern is over the fact that merchants will try to hike their water prices in order to make the most out of people’s need for it.

We’ll have to see after it is over.

Albanian Blogger » Enviroment & Nature

Great Presentational Video For Albania

Other interesting posts

Mountainbiking through Albania

Other interesting posts

Undecided About My Summer Vacations

Other interesting posts

15 Pictures and Impressions from around Albania

Other interesting posts

The Anti-Smoking Law has Gone up in Smoke – Completely

Other interesting posts

Did Albanians Descend from the North of the Continent?

Other interesting posts

Simple, genuine & sincere by Albtranslator

Other interesting posts

Snow In Tirana

Other interesting posts

Are Albanians Being Cheated at the Fuel Station ?

Other interesting posts

Tirana – Two Days Without Water

Other interesting posts