Located in Southeastern Europe, Albania is a country off of the
beaten travel road. Of course, this makes Albania a great place
to visit.
Albania - History
Albania is a Mediterranean country sitting on the coast of the
Adriatic and Ionian seas. The country is bordered to the north
by Serbia and Montenegro, Greece to the south and Macedonia to
the east. Involved in the massive strife arising in the former
Yugoslavia, the country was previously a Soviet-Bloc country.
These days, Albania is a democracy fighting to find its economic
feet.
Tirana
Tirana is the capital of Albania and has a population of a
little over 300,000. The city is an eclectic mix of traditional
European structures, soviet style five story buildings and
mid-east influenced architecture. Relatively small, Tirana is a
city with a small town feel.
Korca - Rugs, Rugs, Rugs
Korca is a city located in the east of Albania close to the
border of Greece. Built high up on a plateau, Korca is a must
see if you love Turkish style rugs and carpets. The entire city
seems to be devoted to the manufacture and sale of every size,
color and type of rug. If you're staying overnight, Hotel Iliria
is your best option.
Petrela Castle
Dating back to 500 AD, Petrela Castle is an ancient structure,
which is in relatively good shape considering the history
attached to it. At one time or another, Petrela was the primary
defense of the city of Durres. It has been held, used and
conquered by Romans, Greeks, Turks and other. Seriously off the
beaten path, getting to Petrela requires a sturdy Jeep or
Landcruiser. It is a very bumpy road, but the view is more than
worth it.
While Albania is struggling to recovery from a communist pass,
it is a fairly safe place to visit. The people are nice and it
is definitely an opportunity to visit a country off the beaten
path.
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