Albanian Designs : Albania
Albania is a mountainous county situated on the Mediterranean. After many years of suffering under communist rule Albania is now an emerging democracy which is booming.
While Albania still has some improvements to make such as maintaining a constant supply of electricity and fixing a dodgy phone system, this can be overlooked when you encounter the generosity of the local people and when visiting the beautiful countryside.
Over three quarters of Albania is mountainous and there is a significant coastal plain. The mountain range stretches the length of the country with its highest peak being Mt Korab at 2751 metres. The longest river in Albania is the Drini River which starts at Lake Ohrid. The coastal area from Vlora to Saranda is one of the most beautiful in the region with forest covered mountains and turquoise waters.
The Albanian people are typically helpful and generous. More and more Albanians are learning to speak English, especially young people, and many also speak Italian. The two main dialects spoken are Gheg in the north and Tosk in the south.
Two unusual things worth noting about Albania is that the people shake their heads sideways to say yes and they nod to say no. The other thing is the bunkers which are found everywhere throughout the country. The bunkers were built under communist leader Enver Hoxha and can be found in the hills, by the beach, and especially near the borders. There are said to be around 700,000 of them which is quite a sight!
Albania is an unusual country with friendly people which is well worth visiting. Our
Albanian t-shirts are the perfect souvenir of a vibrant country.
