Tirana , Albania

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/football9/tirane.jpg

Tirana is the capital of Albania, and the biggest city of the country.It has a population of around 750.000 people and is the industrial , political and cultural center of the country. Its architecture bears considerable influence of Italian as well as Turkish monuments, lying as it does exactly between Rome and Istanbul. The Skënderberg Square is a huge open space in the centre of the city while Mt. Dajti, at 5,030 ft, towers over the eastern side. Tirana is dotted by many museums.

Attractions

Principal Attractions of the city include:


- The monument of our national hero ”Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeu” placed in “Skanderbeg” square.

- National Historic Museum.

- The Castle of Dorsi in the surroundings of Peza, which belongs to ancient Illyrian culture.

- The Castle of Petrela situated in the south of Tirana, on the right of the main street Tirana–Elbasan.

- The Castle of Bashtova built in the late middle age in the 14-th century, when the feudal system appeared in Albania. It is situated in west of Rrogozhina, 3-4 km north from the cast in the Sea of Shkumbin River. It served the Venetians to defend the sea and river wharfages.

- The Castle of Preza built from the Turkish after Skanderbeg’s death in 1468. It belongs to the end of 15th century and is situated in the western chain of the hills that surround the field of Tirana that overlook the area of Kruja as a solid area of revolts.

- The mosque of Ethem Beu situated in the center of Tirana and built in 1789, as well as the Clock Tower built in 1830. Both these objects are historically well known for the capital city.

- The Ministries represent great architectonical values; they were built in 1930 in the period when Albania was a Monarchy and under the government of king Zog. After the German invasion, that means in the aftermath of World War II in 1966, there were built the Palace of Culture and the Theatre of Opera and Ballet, in 1968 it was built the monument of Skanderbeg, in 1981 the National Historic Museum and in 1987, The International Cultural Center,

- Archeological Museum,

- Gallery of Arts,

- Exposition of Popular Culture.

It is always very pleasant to make a promenade in the Grand Park of Tirana, which lies in the southern part of the city and occupies a superficies of 230 hectares. In the centre of this park there is the artificial lake with a superficies of 55 hectares.

Tirana is one of the youngest and most colourful capitals in Europe.
It offers modern architecture as well as great nightclubs , hotels and restaurants of all kinds.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/football9/celsi.bmp

Great! I didn't expect you guys to catch on so fast.

When you're ready for it to be added, just leave me a message in the Eastern European Traveler: Travel Guide (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=211223) thread.

:)

ok, np.

Some curiosities about Tirana:

Tirana is 110 m above sea level.

The average annual temperatures are in July 24°C and in January 7°C.

Annual rainfall is 1200mm.

Tirana is on the same parallel as Naples, Madrid and Istanbul and on the same meridian as Budapest and Krakov.

The surface of Tirana City is 31km², while the district one is 1288km², which includes 4 centers: Tirana, Vora, Krraba and Kamza and also 150 villages.

The medium altitude of the Tirana Field is 521m, the two highest peaks are the Dajti Mountain with 1612m and the Mali me Gropa one with 1828m.

There exist three theories about the origins of the name Tirana

1-It is thought that Tirana comes from the word Theranda found in ancient Greek and Latin sources because those living there called it Të ranat (“fallen material”), because the plain was formed as a result of the strong materials, which were brought by the water from the surrounding mountains.

2- Tirana comes from Tirkan. Tirkan was a castle on the face of mount Dajti. The ruins of this ancient castle still exist, which dates back to the beginning of the first century before the birth of Christ, and which is thought to have been the castle, which the Byzantine historian named Prokop (6th Century) called the castle of Tirkan.

3- Tirana comes from Tyros (old Greek), which means dairy produce.

There is a nice website for reserving hotel rooms in Albania. Its http://www.albania-hotel.com/. Worth a look if you are planning to travel here.

Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs info for foreigners. Its only in Albanian, but you can ask here if you have any questions.:
http://www.mfa.gov.al/shqip/info2.asp

On the MFA website there is an OUTDATED (and not accessible by normal means) page in English with info for foreigners. It is useful for getting some general info, but don't rely on it regarding visas.
http://www.mfa.gov.al/english/info2.asp

Another webiste to help you for your travels around Albania.

http://www.aths-travel.com/

http://united-albania.com/

I will be in Albania from June 3rd - June 25th, already purchased my ticket last week.It will be a connecting flight via Budapest, Hungary.
I will bring along the way my Nikon Coolpix S4, it has 10x zoom and 6.0 megapixels.... shown below

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e160/geshtenja/nikon_coolpix_s4_A1.jpg

I'll leave home saturday morning, arrive at JFK at 5pm and depart at 6pm.
I'll be in Budapest at 8:40am sunday morning where i'll spend about 5 hours or so till i catch my next flight to Tirana.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e160/geshtenja/home1.png

Make sure you take tons of photos! Also if I may inquire how much did you pay for your ticket?

I got a great deal with this albanian travel agency in Northern New Jersey, the ticket costed me only 880$ round trip.;)

Wow that is very cheap. I know tickets to other parts of EE go from 1000 to 1300.

Yep, if i was gonna take Alitalia it would've costed me around 1200$ but i'm going with MALEV.:D

wtf the tickets i found costed $1500.

By the way, I just booked a resevation JFK - Sofia, round trip with Alitalia for $890 including taxes and fees for mid June (high season). Alitalia has a sale! You should be able to find a good deal

Right now, British Airways is cheaper than Alitalia.

wtf the tickets i found costed $1500.
Try www.orbitz.com ;)

^^whoah. thanks i just saved 600 bucks. i'm never using expedia again

Great! Make sure you take a lot of good pictures of Tirana as soon as you get there:)

Stop bitching people:p At least you don't live at the bottom of the world:( lol

If you're a student, STA travel has awesome deals. I looked online and the cheapest I could find rountrip Chicago - Krakow was around $1400. So I went to the STA office on campus (they also have a wesbite, but if you find an office near you, the agents who work there can find you cheaper tickets) The girl I talked to brought my price down to only $700. Albeit, I had to fly Chicago - Raleigh-Durham - London - Krakow both ways, it was well worth saving half the price. The longest layover I had was 3 hours, so definitely not a bad tradeoff for the cheaper price.

Actually STA travel here didn't really give me any interesting of a discount, just the same as the other travel agencies and plus i'm not too confident with JAT.

The quality of the photos should be good, here are a couple of pics i took yesterday.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e160/geshtenja/home3.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e160/geshtenja/home4.jpg

Of course 6 megapixels will be great. Wish I had a camera like that :(

so we'll be in tirana in the same time, 'coz I'm also going there in june ;)

Really?
Cool, you'll have a good time there.
It's a very liberal type city, and cool clubs too.

yes. my father is going there in june, and me and my cousing are going there with him, 'coz we want to see some of those crazy-looking buildings. maybe we'll go to one of those towns on seaside. anyway, we don't expect much, we're just going there to feel tirana's rhytm, to talk with people, be in cafes, do what you guys do.. and it will be my 1st time to be in albania, or anywhere near albania.

and if you see anyone wearing "kosovo is serbia" t-shirts, it's us :laugh:

As long as it's written in cyrillic you should be fine;):D

yes. my father is going there in june, and me and my cousing are going there with him, 'coz we want to see some of those crazy-looking buildings. maybe we'll go to one of those towns on seaside. anyway, we don't expect much, we're just going there to feel tirana's rhytm, to talk with people, be in cafes, do what you guys do.. and it will be my 1st time to be in albania, or anywhere near albania.

and if you see anyone wearing "kosovo is serbia" t-shirts, it's us :laugh:

Hey good to see you are going there...

There are some things that everyone going in Tirana should experience:

1. First: Bus ride along the city inner ring :D You will be able to see tons of crazy buildings! It costs 20L, but take an Albanian friend with you to avoid getting lost.

2. Have a coffe at Sky Tower top floor bar. You will be able see a great view of the city.

3. Visit Galeria shopping center at European Trade Center and have a coffe at the bar on the 4th floor.

4. Since you are going there in June, make sure that at least once, by 7pm, you should hang around the Blloku area. To fully experience Tirana rythm while you are in Blloku have a beer at Cowboy Pub Manhatan.

If you have the time, Ksamil&Butrint are a must see.

Regarding Tirana, to blend in, just hang around in bars all day long, just like Tirana youth do :D. If you need advice on accomodation and other things to do just ask.

Tirana people don't care about nationalities of people around them, but in June a lot of Kosovo Albanians visit the city, so you better rething about using that T-Shirt :D :jk:

^^whoah. thanks i just saved 600 bucks. i'm never using expedia again

And you hold to that statement tight...

In Expedia a Tirana-Bangkok ticket on Turkish Airlines costed over 2500$ (economy) two years ago. I bought a ticket for 680$ in at Turkish Airlines office in Tirana back then, and I never used xpedia since.

thanks illyricum ! I'll write those things so I don't forget something. and what's so special about blloku area ? and what is ksamil & butrint ? something else, how much expensive is tirana ? for example how much does a coffee costs, or a small bottle of beer ? something I can compare with banja luka..

maybe it would be better if you could reply via private messages, so that we don't spam geshtenja's thread ;)

^^Yeah, considering how much this guy talks it would be better to give the reply through PM.

I'll try to post as many contruction pics as possible, i'll also get some photos from Durres since i'll be spending a few days there as well.

@pajo

why is your dad going to albania(i presume he's a serb)?

I can't wait to see those awesome pictures with that new camera Gështenja. ;)

@pajo

why is your dad going to albania(i presume he's a serb)?

he's doing some project there, I think it's about economical development or something. it's for some international company, he'll be reprezenting states of former yugoslavia except of slovenia. and I don't see how is his nationality important ?

Picture taken this afternoon on my way to the dry cleaners - i was at least 200 meters away from that church when i took this shot

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e160/geshtenja/church01.jpg

^^Yeah, considering how much this guy talks it would be better to give the reply through PM.

I'll try to post as many contruction pics as possible, i'll also get some photos from Durres since i'll be spending a few days there as well.

Get a life!

Can somebody erase this idiot's comments please?
He's already ruined my thread:(

Can somebody erase this idiot's comments please?
He's already ruined my thread:(

(just an innocent joke:
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/6103/image0024iz.gif

Anyways,

FRINDLY advise in taking pics, take good care of compositions. In your last pic, the viewers attention is not drawn to the church because of the confusing foreground. Using a foreground in taking pics is good sometimes, but sometimes it can ruin a good pic. Just me though, no need to say I am idiot in case you do not agree.

Pax et bonum my friend, pax et bonum.

:cheers:

Anyways,

FRINDLY advise in taking pics, take good care of compositions. In your last pic, the viewers attention is not drawn to the church because of the confusing foreground. Using a foreground in taking pics is good sometimes, but sometimes it can ruin a good pic. Just me though, no need to say I am idiot in case you do not agree.

Pax et bonum my friend, pax et bonum.

:cheers:

I understand you're trying to find ways to get out of this uncomfortable situation but it's not my fault that you like to butt on people's business.
I didnt ask for your opinion on the photos, nor do i want you to post in my thread because you've been nothing but rude to me from the start.

geshtenja, he gave you a simple advise. If you feel like he has been nothing but rude to you since the start well maybe this is a new start.
You two should start getting along, or more like you should start getting along with Ilir.

Can somebody clean this thread up, like everything on page 2 except the photo i posted??

Why do you have a grudge against Illiricumsacrum, FR? :sly:

cause FR came back as a dick now.

Who is FR? :runaway:

Why do you have a grudge against Illiricumsacrum, FR? :sly:

Grudge?
What grudge?
Ever since i started posting here this guy has been on my @ss.
Appearently i'm not the only one here, backdoorman seems to share my opinion.

ps:this thread is now ruined .... thanks a lot:(

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where do u live geshtenja?

no it's not ruined, boll u zit ju te dy si trapa...

Geshtenja, are you only visiting Tirana? Are you visiting any other areas...please post as many pics as possible, try to take over 200 pictures lol, A DAY!!! every single corner of Tirana, every school, every pub, every tree, every person...lol

and also if you go along the coast try to take some nice pics of Durres, Vlora hopefully...just if you go anywhere else

and that camera is great, i have a 5 megapixel one and it's very nice...just waiting for the next time i'll have to use it

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are they repaving the streets there? i can tell by looking at it. it looks like that to me. or are the streets bad in New Jersey?

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thats a nice neighborhood, and like i said in the other thread u opened, u better abuse that camera this summer lol

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lol Tirana is good
durres is good too
These are the only places you're visiting? Dam it woulda been nice to see some of the south too lol i cant go this year but the year after that, im going to take millions of pics when i go lol....

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we hardly get to see the north thats too bad you're not going upstate.

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depends on how many high quality pics u take ;-) lmao

Im going down south this summer cause i am from Korca and i got family all over so ill take sum pix of down south for u guys in Saranda and vlora tepelena lol villages i have family in and the Morava mountains. Hopefully i get to travel alot i really want to see the north since my mom is from there but its hard to go there just to cruise around when u wanna be with ur family and spend time with them but a group of friends will deffinetly go to Pogradec and relax at the lake and pass by Maliq visit Librazhd were my grandpa lived and burrel werre my mom Grew up and Diber were my moms relatives live and her father was born in. Hopefully i get to visit Shkodra but that would have to be another time wen i go there just to tour the country like i said its hard to go around because u wanna be with your family u kno lool.

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This is where i get my breakfast every morning

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e160/geshtenja/x7.jpg

I like Dunkin Donuts ice coffee.

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i love the iced cappucino they make with the whipped cream and caramel on top :drool: :drool:

Too bad you are only going to Tirana and Durres, Gështenja. Because Albania is much more than that. I'd visit the south, if I were you.

Well I hope you can really update us what is happening in the political and financial center of Albania.

:drunk:

Hey guys, I was thinking of spending my summer in Albania.

Main questions:

- What to visit / where to go? I need the best beaches combined with some tourist attractions?
- I'm from Serbia, how safe will it be for me to visit?

Thanks!

Hey guys, I was thinking of spending my summer in Albania.

Main questions:

- What to visit / where to go? I need the best beaches combined with some tourist attractions?

Southern beaches are the best, from Vlora down to Saranda. Berati and Gjirokastra are a must when it comes to interior cities.

More here

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=201331

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=488400

It would be a good idea to spend a few days in the Alps ;)

- I'm from Serbia, how safe will it be for me to visit?

There already are Serbian turists and small businesses in Albania and there haven't been any problems in all these years despite there are at least tens of thousands of K.Albanians at any time of the year.

Now, if you approach a group of people showing the 3 fingers and yelling Kocobo je Srbija you dirty siptari, you'll definitely get the trouble you seek.

Hey guys, I was thinking of spending my summer in Albania.

:hi: and u are welcome.:)



Main questions:
- What to visit / where to go?

Albania is small why not visiting it all?.:).From Shkodër to Sarandë there's a lot to see.


I need the best beaches combined with some tourist attractions?
- I'm from Serbia, how safe will it be for me to visit?

The best beaches can surely being found in the Ionian part of Albania.In Vlorë and Sarandë districts.Instead of Vlorë...Sarandë doesnt offer only beautiful beaches but also the region is very rich with historical ruins.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butrint_National_Park

UNESCO world heritage towns of Berat and Gjirokastër are also an must see.

Things are better explained on these photo albums.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tirana-Albania/Discover-Albania/128253052416?v=photos&sb=4

As for your safety..there's no problem as long as u will avoid political discussions with local population.Albanians are friendly people.

Thanks guys! Yeah, not a bad idea Rolex, a road trip around AL... not a bad idea at all!

Yeah, I tend to avoid political discussions even in Serbia, it amazes me how dumb some people can be.

Also, thanks for the links. I'll definitely check them out. Who knows, I might see some of you guys this summer :)

^^Don't forget to take pics for SSC ;)

Thanks guys! Yeah, not a bad idea Rolex, a road trip around AL... not a bad idea at all!

NP...you are welcome.:)

This site is interesting.

http://www.albaniantourism.com/

And this one is the best thread on SSC.You can collect a lot of information about ALB.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=488400


:okay:

Hey guys, I was thinking of spending my summer in Albania.

Main questions:

- What to visit / where to go? I need the best beaches combined with some tourist attractions?

Last summer i took with my self some german and italian friends in Albania.We took an room in Dhermi village in Vlora country and they loved it.Im pretty sure you will love it too.

http://lajme.dervina.com/foto/b902e44a9bfdad44bae25939fbc1ab8a/dhermi3.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2169/1677916470_05568f9110.jpg

SkgfwDIU4xw&feature=player_embedded

But Dhermi is not the onliest choice.Every coastal village between Vlora country and Sarande is amazing.Its up to you to choose.:cheers:.



-I'm from Serbia, how safe will it be for me to visit?

Just drive carefully and try to have more fun than you can,thats all.:)

Now that the road of Ionian riviera is finished the view is more beautiful.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7162/img1123z.jpg

If you want to visit old towns of Albania f.e.x Berati,Gjirokastra or Kruja,you can visit them all in one day as the distance from Vlora is not very big.

For beaches the best areas and also most popular tourist attractions are Dhermi, Jale, and Ksamil.

Saranda is an amazing waterfront town, also Vlore, but it's a bigger city. You can visit the historic cities of Shkoder, Kruje, Gjirokaster, and Berat, if you're looking for that.

Amazing mountain scenes in the north on the country, in Malesia e Madhe.

Or you could hit up Tirana, the capital, and drink coffe all day in the local caffes like lazy Albanians do :D and maybe hit some nightclubs.


Safety is no consern, i don't know how an Albanian would be treated in Serbia, but in Albania Serbs come almost every summer, and they have no problem.

We're not fascists :D

Only safety concerns is heart attack from breathtaking beaches, and drop-dead gorgeous girls.

Hey guys, I was thinking of spending my summer in Albania.

Main questions:

- What to visit / where to go? I need the best beaches combined with some tourist attractions?
- I'm from Serbia, how safe will it be for me to visit?

Thanks!


Oh please not this question everytime. Dude we are no monsters, really. :lol:

Nese je Serb behesh lehtesisht shok me V. Bollanon. :D

Nese je Serb behesh lehtesisht shok me V. Bollanon. :D

LOL

Those pictures... they are indeed breathtaking!

And Albanians are always welcome in my hometown! There's one guy, Kerhanaj Bećir (:D), owns a bakery. MY GOD he makes the best bread / pastries EVER. You walk close to his shop it smells 100m around it. AMAZING!

I'm curious btw, how's the feeling/relationship between Albanian Albanians and Kosovo Albanians ?

I'm curious btw, how's the feeling/relationship between Albanian Albanians and Kosovo Albanians ?

The relationship is perfect, we're all Albanians, we all get along.


Occasionally you have a nutjob here and there, but 99.99% of the time, an Albanian from Kosova is just like an Albanian from Tirana, Shkodra, Vlora, etc.

The relationship is perfect, we're all Albanians, we all get along.


Occasionally you have a nutjob here and there, but 99.99% of the time, an Albanian from Kosova is just like an Albanian from Tirana, Shkodra, Vlora, etc.

I think there are some differences between Albs in Kosovo and Albs in Albania due to very different regimes we lived through. Most of us however consider eachother as the same nation. There are some monkeys in Kosovo who consider themselves "Kosovars" but all in all... We are one blood.

No one in Kosovo should be forced to call themselves Kosovar by this western influence politicial correctness, this whole idea just ruins another idea they always talk about " a multi-ethnic soceity "

Albanians should be Albanians.
Serbs should be Serbs.
Turks should be Turks.

This is my opinion anyway.

I think there are some differences between Albs in Kosovo and Albs in Albania due to very different regimes we lived through. Most of us however consider eachother as the same nation. There are some monkeys in Kosovo who consider themselves "Kosovars" but all in all... We are one blood.

No one in Kosovo should be forced to call themselves Kosovar by this western influence politicial correctness, this whole idea just ruins another idea they always talk about " a multi-ethnic soceity "

Albanians should be Albanians.
Serbs should be Serbs.
Turks should be Turks.

This is my opinion anyway.

It's quite possible to be an Albanian and a Kosovar at the same time; you're just belonging to two different groups that do not necessarily share the same (whether perceived or not) traditions. In the first case, one can be an Albanian because one has Albanian parents, Albanian is his mother tongue, shares a common history, tradition with other Albanians, and generally feels a part of the group of people known as Albanians.

In the second sense, one can be a Kosovar because one shares a common place with others who are Kosovar; common citizenship, birthplace, etc. One does not exclude the other, just like you can be an Albanian, but also a European, and - in a much larger sense - an inhabitant of the World as it were.

Identities are formed based on different 'facts'; they are welded into whatever suits us in a given context and framework. Being Albanian means - to simplify a rather complex topic - to share a feeling of belonging to a certain group that happens to share the same feeling. Feeling Kosovar means much the same thing, but for different reasons: the first one is based on language, culture, traditions, history, even myths, while the latter is based largely on a given territory, statehood, citizenship, laws, and civic legalese.

@ShpirtKosova

Only ghosts and retards try to find different things between one people.Those "Kosovars" dont represent even an single % of whole population..anyway..lets not enter in politics.

Sikur ishte per turizmin kjo tema e jo per identite alla kinezce.....:goodnight

@ShpirtKosova

Only ghosts and retards try to find different things between one people.Those "Kosovars" dont represent even an single % of whole population..anyway..lets not enter in politics.

I wasn't "trying" to find differences between our people... I just stated a simple fact that we did live through different dictatorships and were victims of different reasons so we now are set to two different mindsets. I don't know if you have ever been to Kosovo and got to know these people but there are quite a few who do take in the UNMIK propoganda that there exists a "Kosovar" nationality. Its nothing to do with with politics. I'm talking about the soceity in general.

It's quite possible to be an Albanian and a Kosovar at the same time; you're just belonging to two different groups that do not necessarily share the same (whether perceived or not) traditions. In the first case, one can be an Albanian because one has Albanian parents, Albanian is his mother tongue, shares a common history, tradition with other Albanians, and generally feels a part of the group of people known as Albanians.

In the second sense, one can be a Kosovar because one shares a common place with others who are Kosovar; common citizenship, birthplace, etc. One does not exclude the other, just like you can be an Albanian, but also a European, and - in a much larger sense - an inhabitant of the World as it were.

Identities are formed based on different 'facts'; they are welded into whatever suits us in a given context and framework. Being Albanian means - to simplify a rather complex topic - to share a feeling of belonging to a certain group that happens to share the same feeling. Feeling Kosovar means much the same thing, but for different reasons: the first one is based on language, culture, traditions, history, even myths, while the latter is based largely on a given territory, statehood, citizenship, laws, and civic legalese.

Me verte sa i djal i zgjuar qe qenke, nuk e dinim fare. Ato so-called Kosovar je ti dhe nja 10 shoket e tu ne Prishtine, se tjeter "Kosovar" nuk egziston.

Ti as qe e ke kuptu shkrimin, po si gjithmone, bum-bam. Njashtu te don mehalla, me gjoks para topit; Mic Sokoli i SSC.

Paskam qene gabim pra, ja ku i ke "Kosovaret" qe s'jan Shqiptar. ^^


:ohno:

Do te jete me keqe situata 20-30 vjet nga sot ne qofte se nje bashkim nuk ndodh, se njerzit si ky dhe do lindin ne "Republiken e Kosoves" e do e quajn vedin "Kosovar" not Albanian.

:wallbash:

Ti as qe e ke kuptu shkrimin, po si gjithmone, bum-bam. Njashtu te don mehalla, me gjoks para topit; Mic Sokoli i SSC.

Po ti a nuk po e sheh veten? Tjetri ben nje pytje te thjeshte a shkojn shqiptaret me kosovaret e ti fillon te na pershkruash c'do te thote shqiptar e cdo te thote kosovar. Nga te gjithe njerzit ti duhet te jesh i fundit qe ben kto pershkrime se na flliqe.

Po ti a nuk po e sheh veten? Tjetri ben nje pytje te thjeshte a shkojn shqiptaret me kosovaret e ti fillon te na pershkruash c'do te thote shqiptar e cdo te thote kosovar. Nga te gjithe njerzit ti duhet te jesh i fundit qe ben kto pershkrime se na flliqe.

Une s'ju pergjigja atij direkt, po me shume anetarit te forumit shpirtkosova. Ndoshta kjo eshte tema e gabuar per kete debat, kerkoje falje, mund te vazhdojme diku tjeter per kete punen se kush na paska te drejte te shkruaj ne kete forum e kush jo.

Those pictures... they are indeed breathtaking!

And Albanians are always welcome in my hometown! There's one guy, Kerhanaj Bećir (:D), owns a bakery. MY GOD he makes the best bread / pastries EVER. You walk close to his shop it smells 100m around it. AMAZING!

I'm curious btw, how's the feeling/relationship between Albanian Albanians and Kosovo Albanians ?


The relationship of Albanians of Albania with Kosovars and Albanians of Macedonia are the same as Serbians of Serbia with Serbians of Bosnia and Serbs of Monte Negro..
But that's not the point!!

I suggest you to take all way down south from VLORA to SARANDA possibly by Motorcycle if you have...
I am planning to buy a good motorcycle my self so this summer I can ride all over Albania, in South Riviera and Alps, but also to go to Kosovo..
I just came back from Prishtina yesterday and road is almost finished... Exept a small part where a long bridge hasen't finished yet, outside the Kalimash Tunnel until near Kuksi, the rest of the road is all fine..
Beside that even in Kosovar side from border to Prizren and until Suhareka it will be ALL NEW High Way to drive, so there will NO MORE drive through villages and town of Kosovo but ALL new High Way in tall bridges, and of course safer to drive through Kosovo to get to Albania, instead using the Dangerous road from Bijelo Polje to Kolasin, Podgorica and to Albania, or the other long one from Macedonia...
A lot of Albanians from Bujanovac, Vranje, Preshevo etc use cars with Serbian Plates so will not be a problem for you to come through Kosovo with Serbian car...
Will it be a problem for me if I come to Beograd with Albanian Motorcycle?? I am thinking to come with other 2-3 guys to Beograd with motorcycles next summer...

Those pictures... they are indeed breathtaking!


Here is a Couple, riding with Motorcycle last summer from Vlora to Saranda, Part 1...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbOoQ0zSyf4


and this is the Part 2....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94LyLPqQZHA

And here is Part 3...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa2sIgZhMvg

Enjoy...

Hi guys!

I'm also considering to visit your country for some days, maybe next year. I don't have a big car or a Jeep :).

I made an itinerary on Google maps, http://goo.gl/maps/PXJr.
What do you think of it? Are the roads I chose OK? I followed the road thread, saw that you are developing really fast, but there still are some bad roads. Do you have some pictures with the roads I chose?

Do you have some other suggestions? They are welcome.

What about driving in Albania, or the parking? I saw that the driving in Tirane is a little crazy :), comparing to how we drive here. What about gas stations? Or GPS?

Thanks and regards.

Here is the link with travel recommendations in Albania from our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you can use Google translate http://www.mae.ro/travel-conditions/3664#798.

Here is the link with travel recommendations in Albania from our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you can use Google translate http://www.mae.ro/travel-conditions/3664#798.

Ameninţări teroriste

Riscul ameninţărilor teroriste în Albania este scăzut.
Vă sfătuim să urmăriţi în permanenţă anunţurile şi recomandările făcute de autorităţile albaneze şi să accesaţi periodic site-ul web al Ministerului român al Afacerilor Externe ( www.mae.ro ).

Siguranţă şi criminalitate

Vă recomandăm evitarea deplasărilor în zona de frontieră a Albaniei cu provincia Kosovo, unde există riscul prezenţei unor dispozitive explozive amorsate, rămase din perioada conflictului din Kosovo din 1999.
Albania este o ţară relativ sigură din punctul de vedere al siguranţei turiştilor străini, însă este necesară luarea unor măsuri de protecţie personală Tipurile de infracţiuni întâlnite în Albania sunt traficul de narcotice, traficul de fiinţe şi organe umane, spălarea de bani, traficul de armament uşor, traficul de autoturisme second-hand. Recomandăm insistent tuturor cetăţenilor români să evite implicarea în astfel de fapte, să evalueze cu discernământ propunerile sau ofertele de colaborare primite de la persoane fizice sau juridice din Albania şi, în caz de necesitate, să solicite asistenţa unui avocat .
Infracţiuni de tipul furtului din buzunare, înşelăciunilor sau furtului din maşini pot apărea în zone aglomerate (gări, staţii, parcări, centre comerciale, benzinării).
:cripes:

^^ The same things happen in any other country on the world.

Haha, I'd understand if such info came from Switzerland or something but from Romania? Romania is way more dangerous than Albania.

cinxxx,

This section is Korçë-Bilisht or A and B according to your map.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/20155183

To pass from B to C..as i far as i remember to pass from Korçë to Përmet ..you need an 4X4 car.Përmet-Tepelenë section is currently u/c as part of the national highway Gjirokastër-Fier.From Tepelenë to Gjirokastër in 2007 was builded an wide 1X1 very good highway.An new road that links Gjirokastër with Sarandë is u/c.

This is Tepelenë-Gjirokastër

http://i44.************/2csidqc.jpg

Then Sarandë and Vlorë are linked with the also known "Road of Riviera".

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs225.snc4/38588_1559542795446_1441568787_1455204_287682_n.jpg

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/4175/img1123x.jpg

To reach Fier from Vlorë currently there is an new highway u/c and i believe that next year construction of the road will finish.

This is the road that links Fier with Lushnje.

http://www.km.gov.al/galeri/April-9-14-55-34rruga1.JPG

This is the section Lushnje-Rrogozhinë-Kavajë-Durrës

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3257/dscn0648rc2.jpg

Section Kavajë-Durrës is currently under expansion.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs318.snc3/28574_1461705389572_1441568787_1200942_2030706_n.jpg

This is Durrës-Tiranë highway

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/3623744651_75e95c5a22_o.jpg

The direct road that links Tiranë with Krujë is not very good...The road is good only from Tirana till in the small town of Kamëz.From Kamëz to Krujë the road is bad.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs007.ash2/33698_10150274235980052_218836440051_15165167_8157911_n.jpg

That's why..most of the drivers from Tirana to reach Kruja..choose to pass through the road of "Mother Teresa" airport.

This is the road of the airport that will direct you toward Kruja.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2518/3753024006_e64188e213_b.jpg

The section from Fushë Krujë till in Milot is currently u/c but is passable.

Here's an old photo.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8814/p1000695e.jpg

Then from Milot to Shkodër there is an 1X1 highway.

KCRoos2Nl5I

From Shkodër to Hani i Hotit (border with MNE)..the road is currently u/c with hope that it might finish by next year.


This was somehow an overall situation of the road sections that u will like to pass.

Haha, I'd understand if such info came from Switzerland or something but from Romania? Romania is way more dangerous than Albania.

Ajo dihet po hec e thuaja ketyre tani.Keshtu i dine gjerat..skemi ç'tju bejme.

Ajo dihet po hec e thuaja ketyre tani.Keshtu i dine gjerat..skemi ç'tju bejme.

Te del jevgu ne Bukuresht me shpate ne dore vllai. :lol:
Pale ne Bullgari njehere, neper diskoteka ne Sofie kercet rovolja akoma. Ne Tirane dhe ne vitet me te keqija rralle kam pare sherre neper diskoteka.

I'm also considering to visit your country for some days, maybe next year. I don't have a big car or a Jeep :).

You are welcome.:).You are not driving through Albanian alps to need an Jeep.:)


Do you have some other suggestions? They are welcome.

There's nothing to add while u are visiting almost all Albania.:)


What about driving in Albania, or the parking? I saw that the driving in Tirane is a little crazy :), comparing to how we drive here. What about gas stations? Or GPS?

Its not crazy..its just Tirana's roads that are a bit narrow..that's cause less free space for parking.

Edhe po ankohet per trafik ne Tirane ai

http://www.spaceg.com/multimedia/collection/automobiles/Bucharest%20traffic.jpg

Te del jevgu ne Bukuresht me shpate ne dore vllai. :lol:
Pale ne Bullgari njehere, neper diskoteka ne Sofie kercet rovolja akoma. Ne Tirane dhe ne vitet me te keqija rralle kam pare sherre neper diskoteka.

RU ka shume probleme me njerezit e rruges..dhe jo ne te gjitha rruget e bukureshtit apo ne qytete te tjere mund te kalosh vetem..ne dallim nga Tirana qe ste prek njeri me dorë.Ndersa BG eshte humbetire komplet dhe shekuj mbrapa RU.Mgjthse ka shume dallime nga perendimi dhe lindja e RU..dy pjeset duken si dy shtete te ndryshme..madje edhe njerezit duken ndryshe.lol.

Edhe po ankohet per trafik ne Tirane ai

http://www.spaceg.com/multimedia/collection/automobiles/Bucharest%20traffic.jpg

Nejse..mos ta dhjesim.:).

Aman o burr se na cane trapin kto, vjen rumuni ktu edhe po flet sikur eshte nga Kopenhageni edhe po niset per Shqiperi. Danezit shkret si vej faj psh se aq ka pa ne tv edhe jeton aty ku jeton, po kto rumun, bullgar, polak, sllovak qe bejne sikur jane te emancipuar.

Kam takuar nja 2 polak nje dite ne Tirane edhe kishin ardhe me makine edhe donin me ble konjak skenderbeu edhe me pyten per nje dyqan e i cova deri tek Tirana Re. Sa mire e dike anglishten tha, ketu ne Tirane shume fliskan anglisht. Po pse mer pall doja ti thoja cfare jemi ne si ju qe smesojne dote nje gjuhe te huaj.

Aman o burr se na cane trapin kto, vjen rumuni ktu edhe po flet sikur eshte nga Kopenhageni edhe po niset per Shqiperi. Danezit shkret si vej faj psh se aq ka pa ne tv edhe jeton aty ku jeton, po kto rumun, bullgar, polak, sllovak qe bejne sikur jane te emancipuar.

Epo keshtu shkojne keto pune..Hungarezi i shet pordhe Rumunit..Rumuni i shet Bullgarit e me radhe.

:)

Thanks RolexAL :).

Maybe for some destinations, a detour could be taken, which is OK. Only Korçë - Përmet would worry me, because I don't see another road, but maybe until next year things might get better.

The road must not be perfect, just passable, I drove also in Romania on macadam or roads with many potholes, if the distance is not so long, it's OK.

What about the other questions?

And regarding the official statement from MAE, I didn't want to offend anyone, but you can't say it's offensive. Also I read enough to be sure that Albania is tourist safe. But about Romania being dangerous, well, it's not. Roads are not great, motorways are almost nonexistent, people are nice and helpful to foreigners. So if you say Romania is far more dangerous then Albania, then I take it that Albania is not dangerous at all :cheers:.

Only one thing, can you please post in English? German is also OK for me :P. I don't mind using Google translate, but it doesn't always give best result. Thanks.

I managed to translate something like this:
"RU has many problems with people not on the road .. and all the streets of Bucharest or other cities can only spend Tirana .. unlike that affects man ste dorë.Ndersa hinterland BG is complete and RU back centuries. Mgjthse has many differences from the west and east parts of RU .. both look like two different countries, even the people .. ndryshe.lol."
So yes, it's true, I'm from Timisoara, from the West, I can tell for sure we don't drive like those crazy asses in bucharest. Also, if you are interested, you can check out the forum for Timisoara, it's one of the nicest cities in RO, http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1037361.

Thanks RolexAL :).

Np.:)


Maybe for some destinations, a detour could be taken, which is OK. Only Korçë - Përmet would worry me, because I don't see another road, but maybe until next year things might get better.

I guess you will enter in AL from FYROM.The best it could be for u to enter in AL from Rep.of Kosova.As an new motorway that links 2 countries was build.The route is easier..and u can visit almost half of the country and then u can exit through Shkodër ...Anyway..its up to u to decide.


The road must not be perfect, just passable, I drove also in Romania on macadam or roads with many potholes, if the distance is not so long, it's OK.
I really have no idea how Korçë-Përmet might look like.But is not an good paved road for sure.


What about the other questions?

Gas stations can be found in every Albanian road and not very far from each other.


And regarding the official statement from MAE, I didn't want to offend anyone, but you can't say it's offensive. Also I read enough to be sure that Albania is tourist safe. But about Romania being dangerous, well, it's not. Roads are not great, motorways are almost nonexistent, people are nice and helpful to foreigners. So if you say Romania is far more dangerous then Albania, then I take it that Albania is not dangerous at all :cheers:.

Its not that we are offended.Its just that foreigners in general are not well informed about their safety in our country.:)

Thanks RolexAL :).

Maybe for some destinations, a detour could be taken, which is OK. Only Korçë - Përmet would worry me, because I don't see another road, but maybe until next year things might get better.

The road must not be perfect, just passable, I drove also in Romania on macadam or roads with many potholes, if the distance is not so long, it's OK.

What about the other questions?

And regarding the official statement from MAE, I didn't want to offend anyone, but you can't say it's offensive. Also I read enough to be sure that Albania is tourist safe. But about Romania being dangerous, well, it's not. Roads are not great, motorways are almost nonexistent, people are nice and helpful to foreigners. So if you say Romania is far more dangerous then Albania, then I take it that Albania is not dangerous at all :cheers:.

Only one thing, can you please post in English? German is also OK for me :P. I don't mind using Google translate, but it doesn't always give best result. Thanks.

I managed to translate something like this:
"RU has many problems with people not on the road .. and all the streets of Bucharest or other cities can only spend Tirana .. unlike that affects man ste dorë.Ndersa hinterland BG is complete and RU back centuries. Mgjthse has many differences from the west and east parts of RU .. both look like two different countries, even the people .. ndryshe.lol."
So yes, it's true, I'm from Timisoara, from the West, I can tell for sure we don't drive like those crazy asses in bucharest. Also, if you are interested, you can check out the forum for Timisoara, it's one of the nicest cities in RO, http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1037361.

I just talked from my own experience of being in Romania. I didn't feel safe, especially at night in Bucharest. Many gypsies around and some sketchy looking people. In Tirana you can walk with a thousand dollars in your hand and I doubt anyone will come and do anything.

Epo keshtu shkojne keto pune..Hungarezi i shet pordhe Rumunit..Rumuni i shet Bullgarit e me radhe.

:)

Ka me nga ata qe jetojne nentoke? Mbaj mend para disa vjetesh ishin me mijera te droguar qe e benin.

Ka me nga ata qe jetojne nentoke? Mbaj mend para disa vjetesh ishin me mijera te droguar qe e benin.

Po,sigurisht akoma.Ata thithin aurolac.

Np.:)



I guess you will enter in AL from FYROM.The best it could be for u to enter in AL from Rep.of Kosova.As an new motorway that links 2 countries was build.The route is easier..and u can visit almost half of the country and then u can exit through Shkodër ...Anyway..its up to u to decide.

--> before AL, I will also take a tour in MK. And because AL is near and the countries are not so big, I thought to do them both. Also as Romania has not recognized Kosovo as independent state, I don't have car insurance there (only in the parts controlled by the Serbian gov. as it says on the insurance policy, the same goes for Cyprus) - with this I don't want to create debates, so please, I know it's a sensitive fact, I only made a statement, not an opinion.

I really have no idea how Korçë-Përmet might look like.But is not an good paved road for sure.

--> if one of you finds some photos from there, please post, I also follow your road threads, but if it's asphalted it should work. I have a Dacia Logan, so it's quite high guard :).

Gas stations can be found in every Albanian road and not very far from each other.

--> that's nice, what about the prices, approx how much is the Liter for Euro 95 gasoline? And regarding GPS navigation and parking?

Its not that we are offended.Its just that foreigners in general are not well informed about their safety in our country.:)

--> totally agree with this! I didn't know almost anything about you, a colleague from work thought you are in a dictatory, and that you are very poor and off limit for tourism. But after I showed him pictures from this forum, he was impressed and also did some research regarding your recent history, and came to the conclusion, that he will visit someday in the near future.



And thanks again.

Edhe po ankohet per trafik ne Tirane ai

http://www.spaceg.com/multimedia/collection/automobiles/Bucharest%20traffic.jpg

looks like a old photo, maybe 2001?

Ermir,

Ka pasur nje kronike te gjere per femijet e rruges ne RU tek "Le Iene".Nuk e di a e ke parë.

And thanks again.

You welcome.:).

Whatever else u need to know..u can always ask on this thread.:cheers:

looks like a old photo, maybe 2001?

Eshte foto nga Bukureshti.

So yes, it's true, I'm from Timisoara, from the West, I can tell for sure we don't drive like those crazy asses in bucharest. Also, if you are interested, you can check out the forum for Timisoara, it's one of the nicest cities in RO, http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1037361.

I have been in Timisoara..the city is beautiful..but Braşov is special.:cheers:

I just talked from my own experience of being in Romania. I didn't feel safe, especially at night in Bucharest. Many gypsies around and some sketchy looking people. In Tirana you can walk with a thousand dollars in your hand and I doubt anyone will come and do anything.

If you ask me, I don't like bucharest, Timisoara is in Banat region, we kinda hate the capital :lol:. And yes, in the southern part of RO there are more colored people :nuts: and the people seam to be more rude, it's something regarding education :ohno:. But in the end I don't think you had any problems as long as you didn't provoke them. But I would like you to change that opinion about RO, the next time you come here, visit Banat and Transylvania, also Timisoara, not the fact I am born here, I objectively recommend.

You welcome.:).

Whatever else u need to know..u can always ask on this thread.:cheers:

I edited the post where I quoted you and made my answers in the quote bold to be seen easier.

Ermir,

Ka pasur nje kronike te gjere per femijet e rruges ne RU tek "Le Iene".Nuk e di a e ke parë.

Po. Edhe ne Rai2.

Po. Edhe ne Rai2.

Këto gjëra ndodhin se këta kanë shoqeri shume te shthurur..si puna e romëve qe nuk dine sa femije kanë e me kë i kanë.Femrat ne RU pergjithesisht duan te ikin nga vendi..dhe jane gati ti ofrohen te parit të huaj që takojnë.Ska rendesi nga cili shtet te huajt jane...ato duan vetëm te ikin nga vëndi.

I found here some pictures for the roads between http://goo.gl/maps/yqIb

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=50036841&highlight=the+december#post50036841

Hv1XmHtLkA0&feature=player_embedded

Hf2wRtDwtnI&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Hey guys. Could you tell me what are prices of food in seashore villages eventually small cities in a summer?
I'm going to Jale, Dhermi, Qeparo and Himare to pinpoint you.

Local seafood is very tasty and not expensive at all. Suggest you try the mussels, i dont exactly remember but i think i paid around 3 euros for a serving last summer.

http://img.timeinc.net/recipes/i/recipes/ck/04/05/tomato-mussels-ck-630136-l.jpg

Eight Reasons to Move Albania to the Top of Your Travel List.

http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/10-11/eight-reasons-to-visit-albania.html

Look what Sally Dimitrijevic wrote in commentary section:

..one country does not make her beach,food,street..see a history new and older,and see haw peaple are ther!LAST WORST PLACE FOR HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL,BAD COUNTRY,BAD PEAPLE!!! :bash::bash::bash::bash:

^^ Come on how can someone take her serious when she has no clue how to write. Its either one retarded grown up or a stupid kid.

^^ Come on how can someone take her serious when she has no clue how to write. Its either one retarded grown up or a stupid kid.

I agree

Look what Sally Dimitrijevic wrote in commentary section:

..one country does not make her beach,food,street..see a history new and older,and see haw peaple are ther!LAST WORST PLACE FOR HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL,BAD COUNTRY,BAD PEAPLE!!! :bash::bash::bash::bash:

V/K..s'merzitemi nga shkijet ne.;)

Hi, I'm planning on visiting Albania this summer, really interested in having a relaxing beach vacation. I will be coming by train from Poland south through Prague-Salzburg - Venice. Not sure what rail connections are like or how much time it will take to get to Albania by train. Any suggestions and best beach resort areas are very welcome. Thanks:)

Hi, I'm planning on visiting Albania this summer, really interested in having a relaxing beach vacation. I will be coming by train from Poland south through Prague-Salzburg - Venice. Not sure what rail connections are like or how much time it will take to get to Albania by train. Any suggestions and best beach resort areas are very welcome. Thanks:)

Your best bet is to head for Ancona and catch a ferry to Albania, other option is avoid Italy and go through Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia through back to Croatia in Dubrovnik and enter Montenegro. Albania has a rail connection with Montenegro I believe.

....Or it would be cheaper to just catch a flight! You will be travelling very long distances and will probably take you well over 24 hours.

There's NO direct rail connection between Albania and any neighbouring country... But you can take the train from Beograd to Bar and from there you can get a bus to Ulcinj (MNE), where you can get a once daily departing bus to Shkoder. More information -> http://wikitravel.org/en/Albania#Get_in

the best way is just to fly to tirana

There's NO direct rail connection between Albania and any neighbouring country... But you can take the train from Beograd to Bar and from there you can get a bus to Ulcinj (MNE), where you can get a once daily departing bus to Shkoder. More information -> http://wikitravel.org/en/Albania#Get_in

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podgorica%E2%80%93Shkod%C3%ABr_railway

If he is coming from Venice..why should he need to go in Serbia to reach Albania?:nuts:.

Urbanista1,if you go by car from Trieste to Balkans-Slovenia,Croatia,MNE,BEH and Albania..it will be an trip that u will never forget.

I believe that you have searched online about what Albania can offer...but..anyway http://www.albaniantourism.com/ is an worth watching site.Albania is very popular for polish people..more than 80.000 poles visit our country annually.:okay:

Also:

http://www.inyourpocket.com/albania

In FB.."Discover Albania" is an very popular page for Albanians outside Albania and foreigners that are interested to visit or learn more about our country.There are a lot of photos uploaded and information given and its up to you to decide which parts of Albania you want to visit.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Discover-Albania/128253052416

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podgorica%E2%80%93Shkod%C3%ABr_railway

If he is coming from Venice..why should he need to go in Serbia to reach Albania?:nuts:.

Because he's travelling by train... So it's the cheapest option (if he's owning and also very scenery to travel this way!

And the Podgorica-Shkoder line is actually only used for freight transport...

But I just read in another forum, that the Ulcinj-Shkoder bus isn't running any more... Is that true?

thanks everyone for all this useful feedback :)

Because he's travelling by train... So it's the cheapest option (if he's owning and also very scenery to travel this way!

And the Podgorica-Shkoder line is actually only used for freight transport...

But I just read in another forum, that the Ulcinj-Shkoder bus isn't running any more... Is that true?

The cheapest option is a ferry from Ancona(Italy) to Durres(Albania). It makes no sense to go east of the balkans and come west again just so you can travel by train. ??? :nuts:

The cheapest option is a ferry from Ancona(Italy) to Durres(Albania). It makes no sense to go east of the balkans and come west again just so you can travel by train. ??? :nuts:

I've meant, it's the cheapest option if he's owning a railpass...

Hi, I'm planning on visiting Albania this summer, really interested in having a relaxing beach vacation. I will be coming by train from Poland south through Prague-Salzburg - Venice. Not sure what rail connections are like or how much time it will take to get to Albania by train. Any suggestions and best beach resort areas are very welcome. Thanks:)

You are welcome to visit Albania.Ignore all the bad things that people post on the internet because they have no idea how albania in reality is and they have never been there ,but just prejudice us and our nation.For an beach vacation ofcourse the southern beaches of Albania are beautiful,the coast between Vlora and Sarande is amazing.The prizes are low comparing it with Montenegro and Croatia,for 10-15 euro you can find an small room in Dhermi,Himare or in every other coastal village,they include also the breakfast.I was in the village of Borsh last summer and i spend 300 euros for 20 days.

Hi! There is a possibility we would pass trough Albania next may coming from Ohrid and going home. My plan is to go from Ohrid (MK) to Pogradec, by train to Durrës and home by boat. Is there a bus from Ohrid to Pogradec or is it possible to go by taxi? Or maybe by boat? Tirana and Durrës I have already visited, but we might spend a day or two there again.

Buon giorno! Voglio imparare: e possibile de passare da Ohrid (MK) a Pogradec con un taxi o c'e un autobus? O c'e un traghetto? Da Pogradec voglio viagiare a Durazzo o Tirana con ferrovie e continuare a Bari con un traghetto. Ho visitato la cità de Tirana nel 2009 e anche Durazzo. Mi hamo piaciuto!

Faliminderit from Belgium! (about the only word of Albanian I remember I'm afraid :( ) ;)

Hi! There is a possibility we would pass trough Albania next may coming from Ohrid and going home. My plan is to go from Ohrid (MK) to Pogradec, by train to Durrës and home by boat. Is there a bus from Ohrid to Pogradec or is it possible to go by taxi? Or maybe by boat? Tirana and Durrës I have already visited, but we might spend a day or two there again.

Buon giorno! Voglio imparare: e possibile de passare da Ohrid (MK) a Pogradec con un taxi o c'e un autobus? O c'e un traghetto? Da Pogradec voglio viagiare a Durazzo o Tirana con ferrovie e continuare a Bari con un traghetto. Ho visitato la cità de Tirana nel 2009 e anche Durazzo. Mi hamo piaciuto!

Faliminderit from Belgium! (about the only word of Albanian I remember I'm afraid :( ) ;)

The bus line exists (also taxi) from Ohrid till in the Albanian custom house.. from there you can take an taxi which will send you inside Pogradec.(Pogradec is just an few km from the custom house)

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216116_175862069132358_100001256986503_429428_2593393_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216116_175862075799024_100001256986503_429430_3193168_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216116_175862082465690_100001256986503_429432_997664_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216599_175863122465586_100001256986503_429442_4030891_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216599_175863125798919_100001256986503_429443_129780_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/206249_175863705798861_100001256986503_429453_507474_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206249_175863709132194_100001256986503_429454_535757_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206249_175863712465527_100001256986503_429455_3159547_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206249_175863715798860_100001256986503_429456_4231264_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207903_175865045798727_100001256986503_429474_7845322_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/208415_176042372447661_100001256986503_430493_2642439_n.jpg

Orikum,Vlorë 2011.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/188695_174165462635352_100001256986503_418999_5570492_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200544_174355865949645_100001256986503_420253_5648726_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200544_174355869282978_100001256986503_420254_3466486_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200544_174355872616311_100001256986503_420255_6140009_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207919_174358589282706_100001256986503_420262_5395071_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207919_174358585949373_100001256986503_420261_6456435_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207919_174358579282707_100001256986503_420260_7551481_n.jpg

^^
Fantastike fotot dhe guidat:cheers:

The bus line exists (also taxi) from Ohrid till in the Albanian custom house.. from there you can take an taxi which will send you inside Pogradec.(Pogradec is just an few km from the custom house)
Thank you!

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/206249_175863705798861_100001256986503_429453_507474_n.jpg
:master:.

Arriving tomorrow with 50 geography students of the Utrecht University in Albania!

^^
Welcome.

:)

Arriving tomorrow with 50 geography students of the Utrecht University in Albania!

Welcome then!
Where exactly r u gonna stay?

Arriving tomorrow with 50 geography students of the Utrecht University in Albania!

Greate news my dear friend. Hope you will share than some photos with us!

Arriving tomorrow with 50 geography students of the Utrecht University in Albania!

:banana:

Hi, friends!

Me and my companions from Serbia are planning summer holiday in Ohrid, but we want to make some tourist trip for a day or two to swim in a sea-water and see something new. Currently, we are in two minds between Thessaloniki and Vlore. I want to know in what condition is the way via Elbasan, Rrogozhine, Lushnje and Fier, because ViaMichelin shows me that there is 234 km, and 3:30 hours of driving, which is quite acceptable. If you have some photos of this road, post them or give me some links to see, because I failed to search it all in this thread.

Thank you in advance!

Milan

^^
Librazhd-Elbasan
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a321/Football99/librazhd-elbasan.jpg


Rrogozhine-Lushnje
http://50.img.v4.skyrock.com/50e/besart1989/pics/1397868701.jpg

Lushnje-Fier
http://i43.************/2yzg7wj.jpg

Fier-Vlore is u/c

And this is Pogradec-Librazhd
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1409/651681941_145b4e3880.jpg

@KingGenti, thanks a lot! As much as I can see, the roads are in solid condition, they are looking very acceptable. Is there any traffic between Fier and Vlore, because is under construction? Is it known when it will be completed?

@KingGenti, thanks a lot! As much as I can see, the roads are in solid condition, they are looking very acceptable. Is there any traffic between Fier and Vlore, because is under construction? Is it known when it will be completed?

They say that the new highway will be opened(not completed) this summer as the old one is in bad condition.The traffic exists as Fier and Vlore are big towns and everybody during summer go to vlore to rest.Roads in Albania are mostly new and in good conditions.

Even the Albanian custom house in border with MKD is new and the road that leads from there to city of Pogradec is paved too.Have an nice trip.:)

They say that the new highway will be opened(not completed) this summer as the old one is in bad condition.The traffic exists as Fier and Vlore are big towns and everybody during summer go to vlore to rest.Roads in Albania are mostly new and in good conditions.

I hope that it will be opened until July :) I would like to visit AL, I have a desire for years to do it and break some prejudices about traveling to your country. I heard about wonderful beaches in Vlore and Sarande, but Sarande is very far to come.

I hope that it will be opened until July :) I would like to visit AL, I have a desire for years to do it and break some prejudices about traveling to your country. I heard about wonderful beaches in Vlore and Sarande, but Sarande is very far to come.
Leaving the past would be better for both of us.:).You cant miss the amazing view that offer road of riviera from vlore to sarande.Sarande and vlore are somehow 2 hours and a bit from each other.

Although I am a historian, I believe that bad things will be behind us because we are neighbors, we can not escape each other. For starters, let's visit Vlora, Saranda has time for :)

My friend who studies Albanian language just told me that the road from Vlore to Sarande next to the coast is finished, is it true? In that case, I wanna see Dhermi and Himare, it's around 30-40 km from Vlore, isn't it?

Brule,:hi:

Yes,is true ..whole road of riviera has finished.If you check older pages..there are plenty photos posted from that road.

Here is an vid.

bzcUjq2bXoU

http://www.vilablu.com/ku_jemi/foto_1_m.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs264.snc3/27874_1497770691182_1441568787_1288054_1407454_n.jpg

http://i26.************/w0rfko.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/4333/imgp1059p.jpg

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/6137/imgp1060e.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=61236891&postcount=2551

Dhërmi is 42 km away from Vlorë(city).

Beaches of Dhërmi.

SkgfwDIU4xw

@RolexAL Thank you a lot for the information! The road is completed to Sarande, or not? I have to do my best to convince my friend Milence visiting Albania this summer.

Yes, the road from Vlora to Saranda is completely finished.

@RolexAL Thank you a lot for the information! The road is completed to Sarande, or not? I have to do my best to convince my friends visiting Albania this summer.

Will you be driving through the republic of kosova on your way to albania?:)

P.S your friends dont have to worry..we dont kill and rape innocent people in albania, Enjoy your stay.:cheers:

^^
Nga Ohëri thotë.. apo nuk di të lexosh ti.?:nuts:

Will you be driving through the republic of kosova on your way to albania?:)

P.S your friends dont have to worry..we dont kill and rape innocent people in albania, Enjoy your stay.:cheers:

Nuk e shikoj aspak te nevojshme per komente provokuese! Personi me siper te pakten nuk eshte prejudist si shumica prej nesh.

@BigKari No, I told that we will have holiday in Ohrid, and our plan is to make some trip to swim in the sea, but we are in two minds now, Thessaloniki or Albania, Kosovo is not on our way :-) When Priština-Tirane highway will be finished, maybe we'll think about this route. Unfortunately, Albania is still too "exotic" tourist destination for Serbs, I just want to break some prejudices about it.

Nuk e shikoj aspak te nevojshme per komente provokuese! Personi me siper te pakten nuk eshte prejudist si shumica prej nesh.

Shikoji emrin.."BiGkArI".:nuts:

^^
Nga Ohëri thotë.. apo nuk di të lexosh ti.?:nuts:

Nuk ke degjuar fjalen IRONI ti?:nuts:...po nejse vazhdo lavdero serbin, nuk te pengoj hic.

@BigKari No, I told that we will have holiday in Ohrid, and our plan is to make some trip to swim in the sea, but we are in two minds now, Thessaloniki or Albania, Kosovo is not on our way :-) When Priština-Tirane highway will be finished, maybe we'll think about this route. Unfortunately, Albania is still too "exotic" tourist destination for Serbs, I just want to break some prejudices about it.

You can have a look at threads about Vlorë/a and Albanian beaches.

1)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=199084&page=27

2)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=201331&page=26

And this site might be informative for people which Albania is unknown.

http://www.albaniantourism.com/

Nuk ke degjuar fjalen IRONI ti?:nuts:...po nejse vazhdo lavdero serbin, nuk te pengoj hic.

Ti atdhedashës sa unë të jesh.;).Kur një njeri(qoftë edhe serb) vjen e flet si "njeri" s'ke pse ti pergjigjesh si harbut...nuk ngelëm ta tregojmë patriotizmin në çdo replikë.(Të paktën kësaj radhe ishte pa lidhje).

@BigKari No, I told that we will have holiday in Ohrid, and our plan is to make some trip to swim in the sea, but we are in two minds now, Thessaloniki or Albania, Kosovo is not on our way :-) When Priština-Tirane highway will be finished, maybe we'll think about this route. Unfortunately, Albania is still too "exotic" tourist destination for Serbs, I just want to break some prejudices about it.

Ok thats good..if you do make the trip to vlora you should go to hotel LIRO. Its a beautiful hotel right on a cliff overlooking the water, its my favorite hotel in southern albania and im sure you would love it. Last time I was there it had several english tourists staying there.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g678774-d1026469-Reviews-Hotel_Liro-Vlore.html

@RolexAL Thank you for these useful links!
What about accommodation in private rooms and apartments when someone like us want to come for a day or two, is it possible to find something like this in July? I found some website with private rooms, but in July and August almost everyone requests staying for 5 or 7 days and more. What about prices in this period? Sorry if this post is not appropriate for the topic.
@BigKari Thanks for the information about hotel, I saw it when I have searched something about Albania.

@RolexAL Thank you for these useful links!
What about accommodation in private rooms and apartments when someone like us want to come for a day or two, is it possible to find something like this in July? I found some website with private rooms, but in July and August almost everyone requests staying for 5 or 7 days and more. What about prices in this period? Sorry if this post is not appropriate for the topic.
@BigKari Thanks for the information about hotel, I saw it when I have searched something about Albania.

To be honest i had never need to pay for an room during summer in Vlorë,Orikum or Sarandë and i really dont know how these things works.But i think that owners of private rooms will never cede an house for 2-3 days..they mostly do it for 10-15 or 30 days..so the onliest option is an hotel...or if you chose to sleep by the beach like most of the brits in ALB do.lol.Almost all the coast of city of Vlorë is full of hotels and you can check online to make your choice.

You can ask in the links posted below about reservation(how or where..prices ect).

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Discover-Albania/128253052416

http://www.facebook.com/blublu.dhermi

In Vlorë there is more possibility to find an room than in touristic villages like Dhërmi ect.As for the prices...Albania is cheaper than MonteNegro.

@RolexAL Thank you for these useful links!
What about accommodation in private rooms and apartments when someone like us want to come for a day or two, is it possible to find something like this in July? I found some website with private rooms, but in July and August almost everyone requests staying for 5 or 7 days and more. What about prices in this period? Sorry if this post is not appropriate for the topic.
@BigKari Thanks for the information about hotel, I saw it when I have searched something about Albania.

I have an apartment in vlore which I leave with rent during the summer only to tourists..What kind of price are you looking for?

This is Albania's travel forum in Lonely Planet.There u can have more accurate answers about reservations or consultations.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/albania/forum

@RolexAL Thank you for these useful links!
What about accommodation in private rooms and apartments when someone like us want to come for a day or two, is it possible to find something like this in July? I found some website with private rooms, but in July and August almost everyone requests staying for 5 or 7 days and more. What about prices in this period? Sorry if this post is not appropriate for the topic.
@BigKari Thanks for the information about hotel, I saw it when I have searched something about Albania.

Why do you want to spend your monies on hotels. You could use the cash for more important staff like beers for example. Have you thought of camping? At that time the weather is really hot and you should be OK. Besides is more fun and you will enjoy the nature better.

I found something here:
http://www.albaniaholidayhomes.com/list.php?l=14&t=0

We need something for 4 persons, some studio or apartment for 20-30-35 euros per night, if it's possible to find, as on this site. I must admit, you encouraged me now to think about trip down your Ionian coast, because the Riviera road is finished. :hm: :)

I found something here:
http://www.albaniaholidayhomes.com/list.php?l=14&t=0

We need something for 4 persons, some studio or apartment for 20-30-35 euros per night, if it's possible to find, as on this site. I must admit, you encouraged me now to think about trip down your Ionian coast, because the Riviera road is finished. :hm: :)

Those are some good deals on that website..I have a 2 bedroom apartment near the beach but im not sure if I will go to albania this summer to stay there or I will leave it with rent. Economy is not so good here and only the ticket for the plane NY-Tirana is outrageous:ohno:

Are you outside Albania now? These prices are very acceptable for us, they are similar to Ohrid where we are spending our summer vaccation for years. I don't know prices of food&drink in Albania, but I think that's relatively cheap, like in Macedonia and Serbia.

Are you outside Albania now? These prices are very acceptable for us, they are similar to Ohrid where we are spending our summer vaccation for years. I don't know prices of food&drink in Albania, but I think that's relatively cheap, like in Macedonia and Serbia.

Last year Albania was much cheaper than Ohrid. In Ohrid you pay at least 50 Euro for one hotel room on the lakeside. There were some hotel rooms in the suburbs for 25 Euro.

Are you outside Albania now? These prices are very acceptable for us, they are similar to Ohrid where we are spending our summer vaccation for years. I don't know prices of food&drink in Albania, but I think that's relatively cheap, like in Macedonia and Serbia.

Yea I live in NewYork but I have a summer house in vlora which I visit almost every year...but I dont think I will be going this year because I will be working all summer due to the failing economy here in the u.s...hopefully Obama will bring some change soon:lol:

These prices are very acceptable for us, they are similar to Ohrid where we are spending our summer vaccation for years. I don't know prices of food&drink in Albania, but I think that's relatively cheap, like in Macedonia and Serbia.


Dude, I live in Tirana but I have appartment in Golem village as well, 15 km south of Durres city... Is very cool.. You get a small boat and you go deep for swiming... If you and your friends will stay only 1 night will NOT charge you any money at all.. All tourists are welcome here.. Keep me informed dude, when you come, month, date etc...

@albania2010 Thank you a lot for the offer, but we decided to visit southern Albania this year. If we make some changes in our plan, I'll search for you. We still don't know when we will start our travel and holiday, we are waiting for friend's boss to allow her the annual holiday.

Last year Albania was much cheaper than Ohrid. In Ohrid you pay at least 50 Euro for one hotel room on the lakeside. There were some hotel rooms in the suburbs for 25 Euro.

I'm not used to go to the hotel in Ohrid, I take private room for 7 eur/night, and I'm looking for something similar in Albania.

^^
7 euro per person i guess..(??).

brule,you are confusing your self too much..if you want to come then come,there's no need to make philosophy..I'm pretty sure you will find something that will feet to your needs and your budget.Most of the people in coastal towns or villages give a part of their houses for rent during summer..ofc with cheaper prices than hotels.

Greets,

^^
7 euro per person i guess..(??).

Yes, 7 eur per person. There is no philosophy, I just try to inform, and it's not about myself, but because of girls, they want to know everything :)

Yes, 7 eur per person. There is no philosophy, I just try to inform, and it's not about myself, but because of girls, they want to know everything :)

Well if girls are comming along you might get lucky, and there wont be an need for loads of rooms. :)

Could you tell me also any good Albanian site with ads (reklama)? I wanna take a look there. I found njoftime.com, lajmerime.com, and Tirana-Al.com, but I think that's not all.

Kush jane ata qe vene kesi tags se lane nam...

Yes, 7 eur per person. There is no philosophy, I just try to inform, and it's not about myself, but because of girls, they want to know everything :)

In old vlora as shown in the photo,you can find an room for 4 euro person.In southern small villages of vlora with beautiful beaches pricez are more higher.
http://www.blue-albania.com/images/GeneralInfo/vlora_per_faqen.jpg

In old vlora as shown in the photo,you can find an room for 4 euro person.In southern small villages of vlora with beautiful beaches pricez are more higher.
http://www.blue-albania.com/images/GeneralInfo/vlora_per_faqen.jpg

How much higher? However, 4 euros in Vlore is really cheap. Ultimately, we could situate in Vlore and go from there to Dhermi or Himare day-by-day.

brule, just like everywhere else you get what you pay for. Of course the cheaper options are not exactly luxury and the location is an important factor when it comes to price! And so is the season! If the price is your main concern then am sure there will be wide range of options to suit your needs so i would't worry much about that.

Am going to Dhermi myself, beginning of July. But i will decide where i wanna stay when i get there :)

brule, just like everywhere else you get what you pay for. Of course the cheaper options are not exactly luxury and the location is an important factor when it comes to price! And so is the season! If the price is your main concern then am sure there will be wide range of options to suit your needs so i would't worry much about that.

Am going to Dhermi myself, beginning of July. But i will decide where i wanna stay when i get there :)

See u in Dhermi :) We are coming, it's the most important, we'll sleep on the beach if we must :)

Hi everyone!

Me and my friend are visiting Albania this summer and we're staying around 10 days. Can anyone recommend us the best party beaches there ? Last year, we went to Novalja, Zrce in Croatia and it was really nice (hot chicks and alcohol everywhere) so we want to have a similar experience in Albania. I heard Dhermi and Sarande are good. Any other beaches worth visiting ? Oh by the way, is it easy to find weed on the coastal cities in Albania? In Zrce, we couldn't find any :(

edit: Also, we are going there around the 10th of June, is it a good time or should we wait ?

Thanks in advice for all the replies :)

Haha I love it how you were so easy on the weed question :lol:
Well I remember in Durres last year, the guards of the hotel and the stewards had weed to sell.I'm sure it's the same in Dhermi which is the best place for partying.If you go a bit later, say a month later there will be more people so more hot chicks and stuff :D

^^Thank you for your fast reply :)

This is our map for the summer. After visiting Albania, we're going to Croatia.

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=202821378776511046988.0004a17084fc9fade18ee&z=7

Weed will must probably much easier to find in Dhermi then anywhere else. You will probably smell it in the beach.

My friend told me that weed is easily found in Albania and I see he wasn't wrong :P. Is it crowded around the 10th June because we don't want to go there if there won't be many people.

Not many people in June. It's much more crowded in August.

hello, my name is uroš and i am from slovenija
i was once in Albanija with a car, now this year i'm planing to visit the country with the motorcycle.
i have the plan to entering Albanija from MNE by Skoder and than going further to Koman- Fierze farry. i dont have off road bike just normal road bike.
can you sugest me where would be the best to travel from Fierze to Macedonia - ohrid? i just need the information where are the roads with termac, don't wont to make many kilometers on the gravel.
fiew days in ohrid and than throu Elbasan or Pogradec to south of Albanija and coast road back to Dures.
thanks and greetings from Slovenija

^^
Isnt better from MNE to RKS and from RKS to MKD and then to Pogradec&rest of Albania?.Kilometres are almost the same as your first option.

http://m1.viamichelin.com/mapsgene/dm/ZdKVFVkq0MPdiNgnAl4ODXt5HYe2Kp0uVn-e6qGfEefFcbY-YIZnf_-Y6OJWE0_f8SJYC0_te0YFrmzNQLA1mNer7gsovPASpgkf8peimet0xyheeN0iRkhfirCu8tI9tKne8PV0lqoltf88e8vvhfeIivVpAnjfN0GIjlBttiXiqAPtGi__gu8KphjC88ilOltyietN4lfl8NHmwe9N8Gby-MC8Hpwe9OtHs=SfejgCS1PYDgCL3ga=X34Y7TBUd

me and my friend are on the trip with 2 bikes, we are going to drive the coastal road from Rijeka - Dubrovnik and than MNE, so we came from coast. once i driven with the car from Uljcin - Skoder - Tirana - Elbasan - Ohrid. this time we wont to travel with the Koman-Fierze ferry, than forther to Ohrid. what would be the best way to take from Fierze to Ohrid? we can also get from Fierze to Prizren and then to MKD?
or is it bether not to go to Koman-Fierze and take the road to Tirana and Elbasan?

Koman - Fierze is breathtaking so the longer journey would be worthwhile.

I would go for 2 options here! From Fierz to Kukes, then pass the Albanian border to Prizren and from there ride all way down to Macedonia.
The other option would be sort of reverese plan, meaning you travel from Fierz to Kukes, Durres, southern Albania, Pogradec, Ohrid and then you ride through RKS to MNE and back to Slovenija.

yes, thats why we wont to take it!
so the road to Prizren and than to MKD would be bether than anything else?
for the back trip we will go Pogradec-Korce-Saranda-Vlore-Dures-Podgorica-Mostar-Sarajevo-Banja Luka-Maribor.

I'm not quite sure what the road from Prizren to Ohrid would be like, but hope other members with better knowladge on this matter will elaborate a bit further.

hroval,
This is A1 motorway that leads cars from Durrës to Morinë crossing border with RKS.(Second option of Bvizion)

SG5SkNK2rtQ

I'm not quite sure what the road from Prizren to Ohrid would be like, but hope other members with better knowladge on this matter will elaborate a bit further.

There is no road connecting Prizren and Tetove so they would have to drive toward Ferizaj then either Skopje-Tetovo-Ohrid or Jazhince(MK-KS border)-Tetovo-Ohrid. Its quiet a detour and unless they want to visit Skopje, there isnt much reason to take it. Prizren-Ohrid this way will take about 7 hours to drive.

Arriving tomorrow with 50 geography students of the Utrecht University in Albania!

Back in Holland! We stayed in Albania the 12-17 april and slept in Sarandë, Berat and Tirana. Arrived in Durrës by the Bari ferry, we visited (route (http://maps.google.nl/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=nl&msa=0&ll=40.988192,20.742188&spn=2.877587,6.696167&z=8&msid=214234933523972142139.0004a1d3c989563e8253f))
- Vlorë (only lunch brake),
- Sarandë (the city and "beach"),
- Butrint (the archeological site, the scrapped houses and the Blue Eye Spring),
- Gjirokastra (the mayor at the town hall, the bunker, a typical house),
- Berat (the city, the castle)
- Tirana (the pyramid, the city, a shopping mall (QTU), the dutch ambassay, the former ambassador of Albania in the Netherlands, the party district)

After that, we travelled through the night via a very bad road from Tirana to Sarajevo via Shkoder and Podgorica.

Although i visited Albania once before (2008: Pogradec, Elbasan, Tirana), i experienced the country as i've never been there before. It's a very interesting country with a beautiful landscape. Nevertheless it has sadly a long way to go: poorness and a very bad infrastructure..

Images of the group can be seen here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1803865492784.2100164.1124267182&l=72ffecc870
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1803876533060.2100166.1124267182&l=e510cef01b
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1803888733365.2100173.1124267182&l=9635ac8c0a
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1803905373781.2100182.1124267182&l=ed57b09f03
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1803917254078.2100185.1124267182&l=8aec9542e9
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1803936974571.2100187.1124267182&l=d3d5505ecd

^^Can we post some of your photos here?

hello, my name is uroš and i am from slovenija
i was once in Albanija with a car, now this year i'm planing to visit the country with the motorcycle.
i have the plan to entering Albanija from MNE by Skoder and than going further to Koman- Fierze farry. i dont have off road bike just normal road bike.
can you sugest me where would be the best to travel from Fierze to Macedonia - ohrid? i just need the information where are the roads with termac, don't wont to make many kilometers on the gravel.
fiew days in ohrid and than throu Elbasan or Pogradec to south of Albanija and coast road back to Dures.
thanks and greetings from Slovenija

Thats an long and strange course,really.I have no idea how the road between Fierza and Diber is.

^^Can we post some of your photos here?

Of course you can, this is a discussion board!

Btw, everybody is really small in Albania. During my whole stay in that country, i noticed that only one inhabitant was taller than me (1,97m). That inhabitant was -of course- an old dutchmen...

^^
Tosks(southern Albanians) are short,Gegs(N.Albanians) are tall.

:)

^^
Tosks(southern Albanians) are short,Gegs(N.Albanians) are tall.

:)

We did the northern part only in-bus through the night. The only tall things we saw were the large rocks on the road..

^^
An short trip isn't enough to understand things.(People,country ect).

Of course you can, this is a discussion board!

Btw, everybody is really small in Albania. During my whole stay in that country, i noticed that only one inhabitant was taller than me (1,97m). That inhabitant was -of course- an old dutchmen...

Depends really on the peopel you come accross. I for example am 1,99m tall, and I am 100% Albanian.

Back in Holland! We stayed in Albania the 12-
Images of the group can be seen here:
]

Well of course Albania can not be compared with Holland, but it seems that your main attractions in Albania were the gypsies in the streets(which by the way are not of albanian nationality and live through most countries of Europe) since in your photos you can see more them than the beautiful and interesting country you mentioned.

Well of course Albania can not be compared with Holland, but it seems that your main attractions in Albania were the gypsies in the streets(which by the way are not of albanian nationality and live through most countries of Europe) since in your photos you can see more them than the beautiful and interesting country you mentioned.

Well I dont think it was his intention to portray Albania in a bad light. Those things are just different for him and maybe interesting to take pictures from. I for one have been in Holland and there are a lot of gypsies there aswell. Mainly around the shoppingcenters and mostly playing music of some sort for money, but its no big deal ofcourse Albania is beautiful and interesting country, but just like everywhere else in the world it has its bad sides. In this case the gypsies. We cant argue about the infrastructure. Albania is working on it, but seen the history we have I would say we are well on our way to become an prosperous country. It just needs time, and hard work.

Well of course Albania can not be compared with Holland, but it seems that your main attractions in Albania were the gypsies in the streets(which by the way are not of albanian nationality and live through most countries of Europe) since in your photos you can see more them than the beautiful and interesting country you mentioned.

Mirë që ngelëm të na i tregoj hollandezi romët me karroca apo qentë e rrugëve.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/223289_196251870418476_113246285385702_511569_6678121_n.jpg

lol.

Well I dont think it was his intention to portray Albania in a bad light.

Yes I know that this was not his intention, and of course Albania has many bad sides which we have to accept and improve. I understand that many of these things are new for him, so interesting and attractive . But for me as a viewer , just watching these photos the impression and image of the country is bad . And that is not right:ohno:.

^^

Per pune gjatesie ske cfare ti thuash ketij tipit, se hollandezet jane njerezit me mesataren e gjatesise me te larte ne bote , kshuqe qe normal do i dukemi te shkurter ne:lol:

^^
Ja fut çik kot ai..po v/k.

Well I dont think it was his intention to portray Albania in a bad light. Those things are just different for him and maybe interesting to take pictures from. I for one have been in Holland and there are a lot of gypsies there aswell. Mainly around the shoppingcenters and mostly playing music of some sort for money, but its no big deal ofcourse Albania is beautiful and interesting country, but just like everywhere else in the world it has its bad sides. In this case the gypsies. We cant argue about the infrastructure. Albania is working on it, but seen the history we have I would say we are well on our way to become an prosperous country. It just needs time, and hard work.

Tani ky ne Paris s'po shkonte qe te habitej.:).Ballkani eshte cik i prapambetur dhe ky zoteria e di perderisa paska bredhur dhe me pare nga keto ane..ca nga turqit e ca nga regjimet diktatoriale..qente e rruges apo romet me karroca i sheh dhe ne mes te Bukureshtit e Sofies.

It is true Albanians are on mostly short, but then again the dutch are known to be the tallest in the world...

And its interesting because the poster does seem to like Albania, yet most of the pictures are of ugly images.

Gheg Albanians are quite tall.

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/3730/gheg2.jpg (http://img840.imageshack.us/i/gheg2.jpg/)
"Mountains of Giants: A Racial and Cultural Study of the North Albanian Mountain Ghegs - Carleton s Coon"

Don't get so emotional you guys! He took pictures that from his point of view were interesting, end of story! The world doesn't need to look at these pics to realise that there are some gypsies in Albania! You name a place on the planet where they aren't!

The main intention of my pictures was of course a report of our trip, for us for later and for other one who didnt do the excursion.

For Facebook i only made and uploaded photos which were that funny, interesting or different for us as dutchmen.

More "normal" pictures made by me in Albania recently, but not uploadable to Facebook without the idea that im a little bit crazy, can be seen here:http://busfoto.nl/foto/index.php?cat=40

The main intention of my pictures was of course a report of our trip, for us for later and for other one who didnt do the excursion.

For Facebook i only made and uploaded photos which were that funny, interesting or different for us as dutchmen.

More "normal" pictures made by me in Albania recently, but not uploadable to Facebook without the idea that im a little bit crazy, can be seen here:http://busfoto.nl/foto/index.php?cat=40
Nice:) you like taking pictures of buses, do you:P?

The main intention of my pictures was of course a report of our trip, for us for later and for other one who didnt do the excursion.

For Facebook i only made and uploaded photos which were that funny, interesting or different for us as dutchmen.

More "normal" pictures made by me in Albania recently, but not uploadable to Facebook without the idea that im a little bit crazy, can be seen here:http://busfoto.nl/foto/index.php?cat=40

No worries. People here get touchy touchy for no reason. These pictures are not intended to represent the advancement or backwardness of Albania. They're simply pictures that caught your attention.

No worries. People here get touchy touchy for no reason. These pictures are not intended to represent the advancement or backwardness of Albania. They're simply pictures that caught your attention.

How can you be so sure? Are you inside his head, or what?

No worries. People here get touchy touchy for no reason. These pictures are not intended to represent the advancement or backwardness of Albania. They're simply pictures that caught your attention.

x 2

How can you be so sure? Are you inside his head, or what?

Because I'm assuming that people take pictures of what they find unique or what attracts their interest. And because I myself have taken pictures of ghettos abroad, because I found them interesting, which cannot be said about a shiny new mall.

But no I am not inside his head. If he has a hidden agenda, then I guess he fooled me, but I don't think that any rational person would believe that. If you or anyone else are not happy with the pictures that other people take of Albania, then simply go take your own pictures.

Because I'm assuming that people take pictures of what they find unique or what attracts their interest. And because I myself have taken pictures of ghettos abroad, because I found them interesting, which cannot be said about a shiny new mall.

But no I am not inside his head. If he has a hidden agenda, then I guess he fooled me, but I don't think that any rational person would believe that. If you or anyone else are not happy with the pictures that other people take of Albania, then simply go take your own pictures.

fair enough :)

hello, my name is uroš and i am from slovenija
i was once in Albanija with a car, now this year i'm planing to visit the country with the motorcycle.
i have the plan to entering Albanija from MNE by Skoder and than going further to Koman- Fierze farry. i dont have off road bike just normal road bike.
can you sugest me where would be the best to travel from Fierze to Macedonia - ohrid? i just need the information where are the roads with termac, don't wont to make many kilometers on the gravel.
fiew days in ohrid and than throu Elbasan or Pogradec to south of Albanija and coast road back to Dures.
thanks and greetings from Slovenija

hello, so i am goin on the road 19.05. and i'll be in Koman 21.05. in the evening is there any possibility to overnight in Koman?
and does the ferry also drives on Sunday 22.05. at 09:30 in morning?
thanks

hroval,hello again.:)

This is the situation of the mountainous road Shkodër-Fierzë.

http://oi54.************/2vn2t0y.jpg

http://oi55.************/nleqty.jpg

And this is the view.

http://oi55.************/e9vq84.jpg

http://oi56.************/2lnedc1.jpg

http://oi56.************/mrp9ut.jpg

hroval. There is hostels in Koman where you can stay overnight. Not too sure if ferry is operating on Sunday, but we will find out.