Eye opening Albania

Written April 11, 2007 in Personal, Travel

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It’s warm and getting warmer here in Milan waiting for my flight into Paris… Anyway, more to go!

After pondering over our possible routes and making changes to our travel plans, we decided to take a risk and head into the land of Albania, specifically into the city of Shkodra, on the other side of the lake we saw in Centinje.

If there was anything to be said in the 2nd largest city in Albania, is that it was a huge eye opener. Potholed streets without traffic lights, street markets, beggars. It was simplicity. We were gwaked at as tourists. People hardly saw any of them around. The remanents of communism were very much visible, as were the result of many years of economic disdain and neglect. Not forgetting the ruins of wars.

It wasn’t bad, it was just a sight to behold. I have been too pampered and sheltered. Seeing this land was an experience of it own. With all the friendly people even though they were poor. They took us in with open arms, beautiful smiles and a warm heart.

It was very much worth the journey paid to our personal driver who drove us across the border. It was worth a week’s pay for some of them. The serenity, the experience of the land of Albania is a learning and eye opening experience all by it own.