Weird Facts About Traveling in Albania

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Located in the Southeastern portion of the Balkan peninsula, Albania boasts of the Adriatic and Ionian coastlines - which should depict shimmering aquamarine waters, endless sunshine, and happy people. To some extent, that is true, but to many who have been to the country, the experience can only be described as... jarring. Traveling in Albania is often foregone for its neighbors, such as Greece and Croatia, and for quite convincing reasons. Although holding a lot of promise for the future, Albania comes with many disjointed and weird realities that make traveling through it an interesting experience. Here are some of them:

Great divide between rich and poor. Most of the countries in the world have obvious disparities between the rich and the poor, but in Albania, it is pronouncedly marked. On one hand, you will see many luxury cars, but also, there will be kids walking up to you and other tourists asking for money.

A lot of bunkers out in public. Albania has been through a civil war, and it shows. Everywhere all over the country, you can see signs of it in abandoned bunkers and tanks. In fact, there are reportedly over 750,000 one-man bunkers in its countryside alone, replete with forlorn tokens of a difficult period, such as hanging stuffed toys. In addition, the country has melded its militaristic past with its hope for the future, as some former military bases have been turned into seaside resorts.

Empty beaches. Speaking of resorts, you will find many in Albania - but some of them will not evoke the breezy getaway vibe that a resort is supposed to. Sure, there are resorts that are filled to the brim with sunbathing locals and tourists, but there are also many who have been abandoned. It seems like in its quest to transform itself into a tourist destination, the country has gone overboard with building and skipped all the masterful planning. In fact, one of the main tourist areas in the country is regarded to have underplanned developments, which have resulted in issues such as the accumulation of urban waste.

A Hopeful Future

However, all these things mentioned above do not at all mean that Albania will never be able to catch up with some of the other more well-discussed destinations around the globe. Albania has some of the friendliest people in the world, and you won’t ever have to worry about getting around the country, even without a map! Locals may not always be able to speak perfect English, but the language barrier isn’t a hindrance to them when it comes to extending help and guidance.

In addition, Albania has delicious vegetables, and a whole lot of cafes! Eating out and drinking in this country will never be an issue, and you’ll get to enjoy their specific brand of Balkan cuisine, too. And if you want picturesque views, you’ll never have to look far to find them when you’re in Albania. Be it deep valleys, pretty villages, and dramatic backdrops of twisting roads against gorgeous mountains, you’ll find them all.