The Intrepid Tourist |
ALBANIA: Off the Beaten Path for American Tourists, Guest Post by Judith Steihm Posted: 15 Sep 2014 09:00 AM PDT
June 16 The Milingona Hostel in Tirana sits behind stores on a busy street, behind a locked gate with a noisy dog and up three flights of stairs but is decorated with cheery murals, some painted by guests. Albania has a population under 4 million. It is about the size of Maryland and has fine beaches and mountains up to 9,000 feet. Albania is the poorest European country, but you can drink the water and people--dressed in drab and incoherent clothing--are chatting on iphones.
June 18 I present a lecture for the American Embassy on "Champions for Peace: Women Winners of the Nobel Peace Prize", Afterwards, two young professors from Vitrina University whisk us away to visit their 10 year old campus with 7,000 students. Ten attend lunch with the Rector--all sit silently and don't even eat while Mollie and I chat with the founder who because of politics was not allowed to attend university--so at age 37 he founded this one. June 19 Now in Shkodra at hostel called Mi Casa Es Tu Casa, three hours away by bus. An old city of under 100,000 and flat with lots of bicycles. Scenery is green and lush; agriculture seems to flourish and there are many new, brightly painted houses--old ones are just left to deteriorate and are not torn down.
Judith and Mollie were in Albania for another week, which included a side trip to Macedonia. Go to Judith's blog for more of her report. Here is her list of the 10 best and 10 worst things about the trip: TEN WORST THINGS 1 Leg problem on 8 hour mountain hike 2. Mollie steps barefoot on a dead mouse 3. Squat outdoor toilet 4. Bathroom waste enters mountain stream people drink from 5. No shower available after 8 hour hike 6. Buildings left to rot, and trash left on ground 7 Mollie's hamburger in Orhid 8. Unemployed men sitting in cafes all day long 9. Raucous noise outside hotel window 10. Running to catch flight to LA TEN BEST THINGS 1.Lunch at Vitrana University 2.Taking bets on my age by soldier going to Fort Benning and his family 3. Standing at top of Thetsi Pass 4. Tour of icons with guide in Korca 5. Hotel balconies in Berat and Tirana 6. Berat promenade 7. People eager to help 8. Watching World Cup most nights 9. Shopkeeper who cried over her Susan B Anthony dollar 10. Folk festival in Ohrid
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