My Travel Diaries of
Albania
summary
Currency: Lek
Capital: Tirana
Alcohol: Rakia
Special Facts:
- The country of the craziest drivers in the world
- The Mercedes is worshiped as a deity. Nobody drives another car
- Skanderbeg is also worshiped as a god. The only national hero is present everywhere
- Very cheap country
- Extremely hospitable country (2nd place after Iran)
- The streets are completely broken
- Everywhere there is cheap and extremely delicious espresso
- The country is littered with bunkers
- The country has noticeable influence from the Balkans, Italy, Greece and Turkey
Language
You can go a long way with Italian. But we learn a few terms with Google in Albanian that should bring us some sympathy points:
- Good afternoon – mirëdita
- Hello – përshëndetje
- Thank you – falëmenderint
- How are you? – si jeni
- Excuse me – justifikim
- Goodbye – mirupafshim
- Cheers – gesua
Currency
There are also many exchange shops across the country. The official currency is the lek with a rate of about 132:1 to the euro (as of August 2017). However, the euro itself is often accepted as a means of payment. The other currency can always be obtained in the exchange offices and the euro is not as affected by inflation as the lek.
Albanians say that the religion of Albanians is Albanian
Albania?!? What do you want there? Isn’t there only mafia and terrorists !? And they still have blood revenge, right ?!
– People
The reactions of many friends and colleagues to this year’s travel destination for Chris, Uwe and me looked like this or something similar after we had toured Scotland and Iceland together over the past few years.
Uwe and Chris himself also responded interestingly to my suggestion. “What do you actually know about Albania?”
The answer is: nothing. But I have one thing in mind: wild nature that has not yet been reached by tourism and the idea of the hospitality of the original Balkans. We are ready to face the prejudices.
