Whilst some might scoff at you if you tell them you are taking a trip to Durres, don’t let them dissuade you. This is a small city, with a BIG past and if you are looking to mix up a bit of beach time with a dose of history, you could do a lot worse […]
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I am not sure why I am wasting time adressing a bully with a bizarre obsession, but I felt a little clarification was due. Over a year ago, I interviewed Erion Veliaj. I had heard of him through a Mjaft documentary prior to coming here so when the opportunity to interview him came up, I […]
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When you think of great, Albanian writers, you probably think of Ismail Kadare. Of course, he is an excellent writer and his books deserve recognition for the great literary works that they are, but what about Musine Kokalari? Whilst Kadare’s work is widely published in English and a museum has just opened in Tirana in […]
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Butrint, situated in the far south of Albania was the first place in the country to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Having been inhabited since prehistoric times, it gives visitors the unique opportunity to quite literally take a walk through centuries of Albanian history, all in one place. Now the ancient city, […]
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When most people think of Albania, they probably think of the Liam Neeson film Taken. Hollywood and the media have done a very good job at painting this Western Balkan country as a hotbed of criminality and violence, but is that really the case? The short answer is no. Whilst the country does struggle with organised […]
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The hearts of several million Albanians were shattered on Saturday as Eurovision hopefully Jonida Maliqi crashed out of the finals in18th place. Whilst she did well to qualify, and the song was well received, Albania only managed 90 points and did not receive a single “douze points” from any other country- not even its Western […]
Continue ReadingI have always felt that Albanian people are incredibly friendly, welcoming, tolerant and kind. This courtesy, more often than not, does not extend to members of the LGBTI community. For over a year I have been engaging with members of the community, attending events, spreading awareness, and combatting hateful comments and attacks on social media. […]
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When Elizabeth Gowing visited a Roma community on the outskirts of Pristina in 2011, I don’t think she could have imagined that eight years later, she would be part of something rather incredible. Having moved to Kosovo a little over 12 years ago, she had been involved in a number of small charity based projects. […]
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For too long, Albania has lived in the shadows of its European neighbours like Croatia and Italy. But despite its rocky history, it more than deserves a place in your holiday destination list, too. Fortunately, more and more travellers are finally discovering the gem that is Albania. From its picturesque shores to its pastel architecture, […]
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What are you doing on Saturday 11 May between 2pm and 7pm? Taking place at Urban Roots in Tirana and organised by myself, The Balkanista, is the second charity artisan bazaar. The first, held in December 2018 was a roaring success with several hundred attendees and over 20 artisans, we raised over EUR 500 for […]
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