tungjatjeta. mirupafshim.

i had a great time with besard, a new albanian friend, in tirane.  i didn’t do much, but we saw the sites, walked around and watched people, and i even got to catch up with a friend that i met in costa rica three years ago.  tirane is a weird city.  it isn’t very attractive, but the people are very good-looking…well…at least a lot of them.  ha, ha.  albania is such a poor country, but everyone seems to be driving a mercedes or bmw.  let us not forget how well dressed everyone is.

the landscape is very beautiful too, but i found myself having difficulty enjoying it, especially on the drive from shokdra to tirane, and tirane to gjirokastra.  i think i have just been really bothered by the poverty and poor living conditions here.  it is a completely different world than in croatia or montenegro.  albania has really been hit hard by the past.

gjirokastra is absolutely gorgeous though.  atop the city sits a beautiful but poorly groomed castle with cobblestone streets weaving in and out of old houses underneath.  it was a beautiful day today.  i was able to appreciate the scenary much more today.  i went to a few old houses and had a little tour.  fascinating.  i stayed in this little guesthouse with some very friendly albanians.

right now, i am in sarande and it is deserted.  ha, ha.  offseason.  what can i do?  tomorrow, i will travel to butrint to see the old city, hang out in ksamili, and then head up north, maybe to berat.

i am surprised at how much albanian i remember (even though i know very little).  it is nice to be eating byrek and albanian cheese again.  yummy.  i missed it.

albanian really is the land of bunkers.  they are everywhere!!!  what were the commi’s thinking?