The Independent revisits the life of a notable figure. Queen Geraldine of the Albanians was one of the last survivors of the Ruritanian ambience of the interwar east European monarchies who lived in an insecure world between the threats of fascism, communism and democracy…
Albania’s growing potential as a superyacht destination
“Every year the numbers are increasing, with official statistics from the authorities showing that 1007 yachts visited just Saranda port in 2018, compared to 842 in 2017…” Albania is not commonly thought of as a superyacht destination, but every year more and more yachts are visiting the country. Because of its proximity to Greece, Montenegro, Croatia and Italy, and its unspoiled natural beauty, Albania has been dubbed by some as the next Montenegro, with prolific superyachts, including sailing yacht A, Pelorus, Tango, Zeus and Queen K, having visited just this year…
Where to Find Olive Oil in Albania
There are more than 12 million olive trees in Albania. More than ten percent of those trees are aged 1,000-3,000 years
Olive oil or the ‘liquid gold’ as it was called by Homer, is the most valuable component of the Mediterranean diet. November is the best time of the year to find high-quality olive oil in Albania. Products labeled as extra virgin Olive oil are available in every store, but the sad truth is that in many cases, the buyer won’t get the quality he’s paying for. Instead, one of the ways for finding an excellent product is to go and buy directly at olive oil processing plants. These facilities located almost in every major olive production region start their engines in autumn as small and big olive farmers begin harvesting their fruit. Olive oil specialists say that processing plants are best places where to look for a high-quality product at a reasonable price…
Ksamil in Albania among the top 10 destinations to visit in 2019 by DailyMail UK
Ksamil is a village located in Southern Albania and from all accounts is a beautiful hidden gem. Situated along a stretch of the Albanian Riviera, it offers crystal clear waters, secluded beaches and peaceful restaurants. Nearby sights include Syri I Kaltër (the Blue Eye) – a lake where bubbles create colours that look like an eye, and Butrint, an ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage Site…
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Albania – The Gem of Europe!
After doing her research and visiting almost EVERY country in Europe…ALBANIA is Alyne’s favorite country!
After doing her research and visiting almost EVERY country in Europe…ALBANIA is Alyne’s favorite country! 🇦🇱
— Team Albanians (@TeamAlbanians) November 11, 2018
(Source: Dear Alyne) pic.twitter.com/xT6qtm19Lr
At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me: The Joys and Sorrows of Southern Albanian Song
“Why not give yourself a break from the unending cavalcade of modern high-speed insanity, and rest up with this album of deep soul from Southern Albania.” – Ry Cooder
Brazilian Samba, Bosnian Sevdah, New Orleans Jazz, Cuban son – and Albanian Saze! The turn of the last century saw mass migrations to the world’s cities with rural people bringing their music with them, adapting their traditions to new circumstances and modern instruments. Of all these great musical forms, the mesmerizing arabesques, joyful dances and heart-breaking laments of Saze are among the least recorded, and they remain largely unknown outside Albania. Continue reading …
The Capital of Albania Has Transformed Into a Lively, Affordable Destination
“Great energy comes from the young population that has inherited the hospitality and warmth of the Balkans combined with the Mediterranean spirit. All these youngsters travel and see the world, and we think that Tirana has all it takes to be a new favorited location.” In tandem with the Albanian Riviera’s beaches and the staggering natural vistas in the south-western part of the country on the Ionian Sea, buzzy Tirana is a delightful, cosmopolitan beginning to a seaside Balkan adventure…
Tales of heroism on the Second World War’s forgotten battleground
It was hard to imagine these mountains in eastern Albania being anything other than serene. But this, I discovered, was the very spot where Brigadier Edmund “Trotsky” Davies, who was leading Special Operations in Albania against the occupying Germans, was captured in 1944. As a part-time soldier, I thought I knew my military history, but I had no idea that the British had done anything in Second World War Albania. My guide to this little visited part of Europe was Ed Reeves, a man who is researching for a book about Davies and who has set up a specialist tour operator, Balkan Secrets…
Little Tony Blairs of Kosovo: the boys named after the great man
When Nato eventually intervened in 1999 to stop the ethnic cleansing by Serbian forces of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, the UK prime minister Tony Blair was hailed as a hero. As refugees returned to the province, several new parents of baby boys called their sons Tony Blair. For Kosovan Albanians, Tony Blair is more than just an ex-British prime minister turned globetrotting statesman. He’s the hero of the nation, who saved them in their hour of need. And how better to show gratitude than to name their sons after him?…
Continue reading …
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Little Tony Blairs of Kosovo: the boys named after the great man
When Nato eventually intervened in 1999 to stop the ethnic cleansing by Serbian forces of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, the UK prime minister Tony Blair was hailed as a hero. As refugees returned to the province, several new parents of baby boys called their sons Tony Blair. For Kosovan Albanians, Tony Blair is more than […]
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Albania an important gateway in the heart of the Mediterranean
One hour flight distance from European capitals. Stretches along seashores of the Adriatic and Ionian seas. More than 300km of coastline. Memorable holidays. Unexplored shores. A varying landscape of nature. More than 2700m high mountains. More than 7700 acres of forests. Hidden Valleys. In the heart of mountains, tall-stone architecture, guest houses. More than 3200 […]
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7 things you didn’t know you could do in Albania
Have the beach to yourself… Eat superb seafood… Hike through alpine countryside… Explore underground nuclear bunkers… See a living citadel… Drink home-grown wines… Shop for antiques; Just outside the capital, the town of Kruja is famous for being the stronghold of Albanian national hero Skanderbeg during his resistance against the Ottomans in the fifteenth century. […]
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At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me: The Joys and Sorrows of Southern Albanian Song
“Why not give yourself a break from the unending cavalcade of modern high-speed insanity, and rest up with this album of deep soul from Southern Albania.” – Ry Cooder Brazilian Samba, Bosnian Sevdah, New Orleans Jazz, Cuban son – and Albanian Saze! The turn of the last century saw mass migrations to the world’s cities […]
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Go slow: Albania's new food movement
From the Adriatic coastline to the Accursed Mountains, a new generation of chefs is putting a modern twist on the country’s traditional dishes. “Drying our homemade jufka pasta in the sun”, “watermelon jam”, “corn bread and white cheese”, “sucking clover in the meadows”, “omelette with wild fennel”, “fritters with plum and honey sauce”… These are all […]
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