My first-ever visit to Albania in 2021 was largely about redefining my notion of Europeanness. Albania is different from other European countries in so many ways that I found it hard to grasp I was still on the same continent. And yet when I was reading about Albanian history and the experience of communism and isolation, I had that feeling of solidarity and familiarity with the Albanian people.
Our first stop in Albania during the Balkan road trip was in a tiny cabin high up in the Accursed Mountains, also known as the Albanian Alps. According to local folklore, the mountains were created by the devil himself who escaped hell for one day of mischief. Other legends say that the mountains were so difficult, if not impossible, to trespass that people would often curse them.
Gjirokastër - the 'City of a Thousand Stairs' with the old town on the UNESCO's World Heritage List
During the four days in Gjirokastër, we stayed on the outskirst of the city where we had a chance to experience the local life away from the tourist hustle. We were hosted in a beautiful apartment by a very friendly Albanian couple.
The neighbourhood when in Gjirokastër
<< They're not wrong when they say 'A picture is worth a thousand words' >>.
The most valuable souvenir I brought back from Albania was this - a photobook titled "Albania's 90s: Photographs and Narratives" by Robert Pichler and Edit Pula
