Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Albania

Balkanization travel tips!

meerkatty — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:18:31 -0800

Travel recommendations please! Tirana - Ohrid - Bitola - Thessaloniki - Athens - Santorini. I've booked places to stay in all of these fabulous-looking towns but would love any personal recommendations for restaurants, tourist sites, travel tips (ferry riding in Greece, for example) or things I shouldn't miss. (Yes, I've read the Greece Askme threads.) Thanks!

How do Kosovar Albanians differ from Albanians in Albania?

jason's_planet — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:26:01 -0800

How do Kosovar Albanians differ from Albanians in Albania? Kosovar Albanians and Albanians in Albania proper share a nationality but their historical experiences seem so different that I wonder if the division has produced cultural differences between the two. The historical analogy that comes to mind is that of Germany, where the Iron Curtain produced distinct “Ossi” and “Wessi” identities which persisted even after reunification

So, how are Kosovar Albanians different from Albanians in Albania? Do they speak a different dialect of Albanian? Do they speak with a distinct accent? How did their experiences under Yugoslav Communism affect them culturally? And how do the two groups view each other?

Many thanks in advance.

FleaMarketFilter: Looking for all Flea Markets in Europe

dripdripdrop — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:55:20 -0800

I'm looking for flea markets in Europe. Specifically we will be going through Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia (Sarajevo), Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland (Krakow) before settling in France, but any other suggestions in Europe are welcome. I'm interested in the kind of flea markets with old, random crap, not the new, cheap crap. I've been to the flea market outside Budapest on Nagykőrösi út and loved all the old nick nacks.

Please be as specific as possible about addresses. If I get a lot of answers I'll put together a Google Map for sharing.

What's to eat in Albania?

dubadubowbow — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:19:59 -0800

What kind of food will I be eating when I go to Albania, both what's available for me to cook myself and what others will be cooking for me?

Why is the US so desirous of independence for Kosovo?

Dee Xtrovert — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:09:15 -0800

Why is the US so desirous of independence for Kosovo? I'm not against Kosovan indepence (in fact, I rather like the idea), but in my rather cynical view of American motivations, I just don't see what's in it for the USA. Many of the Albanians from Albania don't like the Albanians from Kosovo (for complicated but heavy reasons) and pleasing Albania wouldn't seem worth much. "Punishment" for Serbian war crimes has some personal appeal for me (refusal to hand over war criminals, plus support from the Serbian government being largely responsible for the brutal death of most of my family), but that hardly seems it. Russia will be pissed off (they are already, just from the suggestion of it) and there wouldn't seem to be much in terms of exportable wealth from Kosovo. I've spent time in Kosovo and I just don't get it. But Condie Rice is out there, trying to make it happen, apparently. Why?

Falemenderit Shume!

lorrer — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:46:52 -0800

Albania - where to stay, what to do? I'm going to Albania for all of August. Entering and leaving from Tirana, but very interested in travel in country, to Kosovo, maybe to neighboring countries as well. I want to learn the Albanian language (as much as possible - obviously I won't learn all of it in a month!) get a feel for the culture, and also just have fun hanging out in cafes and on the beaches. It's an extended learning vacation.

Mefites: any suggestions on where to stay, what to do, maybe even, dare I hope, people I could meet up with while there?

Bicycling The Albanian Coast

wavejumper — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 12:18:37 -0800

Anyone traveled in Albania recently? I'm looking to bicycle through the country in late April / early May (from Greece to Italy), and I'll be sticking to the coast. How is the road from Saranda to Vlora? It seems extremely mountainous and somewhat sketchy from the map...what do you think - bicyclable? I'm open to any hints or experiences you might've had, especially at border crossings. Thanks!