Albania - Albanien

Albania[1] is a country in Balkans, at the Mediterranean Sea. The country borders to Greece, Northern Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Tourism is still a small part of the country's economy as extensive investments are required to meet even simpler needs. There are very great opportunities, but there are many factors that affect the investment. The lack of economy is an important factor, but environmental problems and underdeveloped infrastructure are strong contributing factors. Anyone who still chooses to visit Albania, has to look forward to a very rewarding trip in an exciting country.

Planning before the trip

Comfortable shoes, especially if you are visiting the ancient ruined city of Butrint. Albania is said to have 300 days of sunshine a year and then it is really hot, so remember to always have a water bottle with you. In the ruined city of Butrint, there are also mosquitoes in the cool, shady areas. It is good to exchange money for euros before going to Albania. In Sweden, it can be difficult to find places that exchange Swedish kronor for Albanian play, but in Albania you can then easily exchange euros for play.

To take with you to Albania

To bring with you from Albania

• Woven wall decorations
• The Albanian national drink raki

Facts about Albania

Albania is today one of Europe's poorest countries. About 8% of the Albanian population is extremely poor.

History

Albania was called Illyria (Albanian: Iliria) in ancient times and the Albanians are descended from the ancient Illyrians. What is now Albania was also part of the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages, the land was called Arbëria. Nowadays, Albanians call their country Shqipëria. The area has been occupied several times during its history, including of slaves and Ottomans. Albania became independent in 1912.

During World War II, the Albanians refused to hand over their Jewish population to the Nazis. Among the occupied countries, Albania was also the only one to include more Jews after the end of the war than at the beginning.

After the end of World War II, Albania came under communist rule. During the communist era, the country was notorious for its isolationism, which not only distinguished it from Europe and the West, but also from countries in the same political grouping as, for example, China, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. When the Eastern Bloc collapsed with the fall of the Berlin Wall, it seemed as if Albania wanted to stick to its line. It was not until 1990 that the 44-year-long socialist regime ended and a multi-party state was formed. The transition has been difficult with corrupt governments trying to eliminate high unemployment, non-existent infrastructure, widespread organized crime and violent political factions.

On 1 April 2009, Albania, together with Croatia, became formal members of the NATO Defense Alliance. Today, Albania is aiming for EU membership.

The locals

The majority of the population are secular Muslims. There are also a large number of religious minorities, mainly Christian Orthodox and Catholics. The country was previously, during the time of communism, declared the world's first atheist state. Practicing one's religion during this period was strictly forbidden. However, Albania now has a democratic state and everyone is allowed to practice their religion freely.

Climate

Something unique about Albania is the country's 300 days of sunshine a year. At the coast it is mostly warm. In September, it gets colder in large parts of the country, especially in the evenings, but the days can still feel warm. The lowlands have mild winters with an average temperature of approx. 7 ° C.

Holidays

The Albanians celebrate a number of holidays. Among other things, Albania's Independence Day is celebrated on November 28, summer day, Christmas Eve, New Year's, Mother's Day, and more.

Regions

Albania is divided into the following regions:

Berat	Colonies	Mirditë
Bulqizë	Short	Peqin
Delvinë	Krujë	Permet
Devoll	Kucovë	Pogradec
Dibër	Cookies	Pukë
Durrës	Kurbin	Sarandë
Elbasan	Read	Shkodër
Fier	Librazhd	Scrapes
Gjirokastër	Lushnjë	Tepelenë
Gramsh	Malaysia and Madhe	Tirana
Has	Mallakastër	Tropojë
Kavajë	Food	Flowers

Cities

• Tirana is the country's capital and is surrounded by forested mountains. You have a nice view of the city from Mount Dajt.
• Durrës is one of the country's oldest cities. During its history, it has been flooded three times and the current city is built on top of the ruins of the two older ones. The city boasts the largest amphitheater in the Balkans. Currently, the city has the country's largest port, and also the longest shoreline.
• Shkodra is the largest city in the northern part of the country. The castle, Rozafa, is a very popular tourist attraction.
• Fier
• Gjirokastër has a castle on a hill in the middle of the city. The castle was previously a prison but now houses, among other things, an army museum.
• Sarande is a city in southern Albania and is best known for its beaches and springs.
• Flowers is a beautiful coastal town.
• Lezhe
• Pogradec is a different destination on Lake Ohrid.
• Kruje is the city of the national hero Skanderbeg. Its castle is now a museum and the city is beautifully situated in the mountains.

Getting to Albania

Americans and most Europeans can enter Albania without a visa, but a fee of € 10 or $ 15 USD must be paid. As the customs at Mother Teresa Airport do not have a change, you should make sure you have even money.

Tirana International Airport, Tirana (Mother Teresa) International Airport (also Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, TIA,) [2] is 20 minutes from the city. Most European airlines fly here, including the low-cost carrier Volareweb [3] flying from Bari in Italy.

The old terminal is small, but quite modern. A new, larger terminal was opened in 2007.

At the airport exit, there are taxis around the clock that can take passengers into the city. The fee to the center of Tirana is approximately € 25. The fee for other destinations is appropriated just outside the exit.

Tirana can be reached by bus from Istanbul (20 hours, € 35 one way), Athens (16 hours, € 30), Sofia (13 hours, € 25) and nearby Tetovo in Northern Macedonia.

Ferries to Durrës arrive from Bari (9 hours, € 50) and Ancona (19 hours, € 70). A high-speed ferry operates the Durrës – Bari route (3 hours, € 60). From Corfu in Greece, by boat 1 h 20 min, € 35. Travel agencies often offer package tours such as includes visits to the ruined city of Butrint. They cost about 60 euros / person and include boat, bus trips, lunch. A port fee of € 9 will be added.

There is only one connection between the Albanian and European railway networks. In the 1980s, a line from Shkodra was built Podgorica in Montenegro. However, the line is only used for freight traffic.

You can take a ferry from Italy over to Albania. You can also get there by car Podgorica in Montenegro, from Ohrid in Northern Macedonia and from Prizren in Kosovo. At the border, a tax of € 10 per person is charged. The customs staff then issue a "road tax certificate" which must be carried throughout the stay in the country. When you leave the country, you pay € 2 per day you have been there, and return the certificate in connection with it.

Relocation in Albania

It is possible to move between most cities by bus at a low cost, but to keep in mind for those who easily get sick is that the buses do not have the highest standard, the roads are often in very poor condition, and the journey can therefore take a very long time. .

All train traffic in the country is operated by the state-owned company "Hekurudha Shqiptare" (HSH). The railway is not electrified, but the trains are powered exclusively by diesel locomotives. There is limited train service between Tirana, Shkodra, Fier, Ballsh, Vlorë and Pogradec. The line between Lezhe and Shkodra is beautiful. The trains are in many places (2008) in very poor condition and are not used by well-to-do Albanians who prefer a car or minibus.

However, a rail journey is almost a must because there are hardly any other such lines or nowadays it is possible to experience such journeys elsewhere in Europe. The tickets are very cheap and the trips are long, but the atmosphere is good and the view very nice. At most stations, goods such as sunflower seeds, fruit, chewing gum, and more are sold.

The roads between the largest cities are relatively newly renovated and there is modern motorway service. There are no tolls. In the cities, especially in Tirana, constant road works are taking place, which means that the traffic rhythm is slowing down. In rush hour, traffic, especially in Tirana, is something of a nightmare. A nice stretch of road is the mountain road between Vlorë and Saranda. It is a typical Mediterranean road and the view is very beautiful.

The largest car rental companies are all represented in the country, but only in Tirana:

• Hertz[4] has three offices in the country: Mother Teresa Airport, tel. 04-26 25 11. Ded Gjoluli Palace no. 1 in Tirana, tel. 068-205 87 75. Tirana International Hotel at Skanderbegtorget, tel. 04-26 25 11. All offices are open Mon – Fri 08: 00–19: 00 and Sat – Sun 08: 00–16: 00 except Tirana International Hotel which is closed on Sundays.
• Avis[5] also has three offices in the country: Mother Teresa Airport, tel: 04-23 50 11. Co Rogner Europark Hotel, tel: 04-23 50 11. Tirana Sheraton hotel, Italia Square, tel: 04-26 63 89.
• Sixt has two offices: Mother Teresa Airport, tel. 068-206 85 00, open Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0800-1400. Rruga e Kavajas 116 (a VW dealer), tel: 04-225 90 20, open Mon – Fri 08: 00–17: 00, Sat 08: 00–14: 00.
• Europcar has two offices: Mother Teresa Airport, tel. 04-820 939 08. Rruga by Durresit 61, tel: 04-222 78 88.

Taxis are common and available 24 hours a day. There are taxis that take 4 people and those that take 8. You pay per person, so for those who are not too picky, it is possible to save money. However, a taxi for 8 people does not leave the city without the car being full because otherwise they will not make any profit.

Albanian driving style, traffic, bad roads and lack of accommodation make Albania a challenge for cyclists. Anyone who still gives in to this and is aware of the shortcomings, will be richly rewarded. Usually, the only accommodation option is to ask if you can stay at someone's home, for example to camp in the garden. Food and water are readily available at the many roadside taverns and cafes. It is usually okay to camp in most places that are not obviously individual. Asking first is always good. Also be aware that there are very few opportunities to repair modern bicycles or to find spare parts for them.

Payment

Some Albanians write prices with an extra zero. This does not mean that they are trying to cheat or charge ten times the price of an item, they are just using the old exchange rate.

Many grocery stores in the countryside do not accept debit cards or currency other than Albanian play. Supermarkets, larger bookcases and larger clothing stores take credit cards. The most common cards are VISA, MasterCard and Diners Club.

The national currency is called Lek, but it is often possible to use the euro, which is a strong currency and which the country needs.

ATMs accept most cards such as Mastercard, Visa and Maestro. You can use debit cards in some hotels but rarely in shops, so cash is required. However, there are plenty of ATMs and they are very visible.

Hundreds of ATMs have been installed in the country, mainly in the cities, and more are constantly being added. In many cases, ATMs are guarded by armed guards. ATMs accept most major debit and credit cards.

Accommodation

In the cities there are plenty of hotels, and prices start at € 25 / night. Most hotels are fresh and their staff speak English and / or Italian.

Outside the cities, the presence of hotels is worse.

Food and drinks

Restaurants in Albania are easy to find. The food, like most countries in the Balkans, has mainly Turkish influences - a memory from more than 400 years of Ottoman rule in the region. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, strong influences from Italy and Western Europe have come to Albania, and especially in the larger cities you can find the same dishes as in, for example, Italy and Greece.

Albanian food is very good and filling. Many people grow fruit and vegetables. Particularly popular are all types of grapes used to make the national drink raki, a variant of fruit spirits. Albanians prefer Turkish coffee.

Albania is a very mountainous country and olive growing is found almost everywhere. The olives are found in many Albanian dishes. Salads are usually made with fresh tomatoes and onions. Many Albanians bake their own bread and eating out is unusual. Fruits and vegetables are usually grown without fertilizers or pesticides, which affects and makes the food taste even better.

Spicy stews and stews are common in Albanian cuisine. They are easy to make and the ingredients can be easily varied. Common ingredients are potatoes, onions, rice, etc.

Byrek is a common pie or pie that can be cooked in many ways, for example with spinach and feta cheese, minced meat and onions, and more. A popular dessert that is also a must on New Year's Eve is baklava. Lamb is common and two byrex and one ayran is a regular breakfast, well worth a try.

Cheese is common, especially feta cheese. In a rural store, you should not be surprised if the handling is not quite as hygienic as in a supermarket, but the cheese is definitely worth a try because it is usually really good. Always test the more expensive variants first.

To see

• Butrint. In southern Albania, near the coast and just across the sea from the Greek island of Corfu, lies the town of Butrint. Butrint has previously been a Greek colony, a Roman city and a diocesan city. The city was abandoned during the latter part of the Middle Ages. There are archeologically interesting places that show different eras in the city's history. Butrint is also one of the 35 sites on the World Heritage List that is considered to be in great danger, and is therefore placed on a special protection list. The city was included on the World Heritage List in 1992 and on the special protection list in 1999. It is in the risk zone due to the development of tourism. There are Albanian stamps depicting mosaics from Butrint. They were released in 1974.
• The coast. Here is clear, turquoise water and many islands, for example Saranda which is a city in southern Albania.
• Dajtiberget. A popular destination in Tirana which offers a green view of the capital.
• Castle. There are castles in many Albanian cities. Their beauty is reminiscent of ancient times in Albania and in the world. Examples of castles are Petrela near Tirana, Rozafa near Shkodra and Skanderbeg in Kruje (named after the national hero and now a popular museum where his belongings are displayed).

To do

Work

Unemployment in Albania is high. Many therefore leave the country to look for work in countries such as Italy and Greece.

Communication

Language

Albanian is the official language. English, Greek and Italian are other useful languages. Most young people speak at least basic English, while the older population generally speaks Italian.

Internet

Almost all major cities in the country have internet cafes. The telephone network is in very poor condition and the connection to the internet is therefore via satellite. It costs about 150-200 LEK for an hour.

Security

The security situation in Albania is improving, but visitors should continue to exercise caution. So far, local crime does not pose a major threat to tourists.

The northeastern part of the country bordering Kosovo is the only one that should be avoided by visitors. Old active munitions and unexploded ordnance and bombs are still scattered throughout some parts of the region. It is a corrupt country and therefore one should be vigilant with both civilians and the police, but people have great respect for European citizens and are usually treated with great respect.

It is best to drink bottled water, but boiled water is usually useful. The food is usually good and plentiful, no matter where you are. It is common to take walks to stay in shape, especially in the capital. Be careful on the beaches - as mentioned above, tourism is underdeveloped and cleaning can be deficient so that broken glass and sea urchins are not cleaned away. Pharmacies and similar shops are often closed from 12:00 to 16:00, and you should make sure you have the medicine you may need. Many Albanians smoke (see below), something that is seen as normal and that one must accept occurs everywhere. However, it is not allowed to smoke in a restaurant.

Respect

Albanians hold hospitality high. As in the rest of the Balkans, however, the traditions are strong and older men expect to be treated respectfully because of their age, even by guests and tourists. In the same way, the men in the family are the ones who decide. You should shake hands with them, treat them with respect and not discuss religious or political issues. Some issues are completely taboo, such as homosexuality or women's menstruation. Girls and women should make sure to keep bandages and tampons tucked away and not touch on issues such as menstrual pain or the like, as this is considered extremely inappropriate when in male company.

Many Albanians smoke. Do not start blaming them or lecturing about the dangers of smoking, as this will only cause irritation. On the other hand, it is good to politely and kindly point out that you have difficulty with tobacco smoke and would appreciate if they did not smoke right there and then.

Problem solver

In Sweden

The Albanian Embassy in Stockholm is located at Capellavägen 7 in Lidingö. Phone: 08-731 09 20 Fax: 08-767 65 57

In place

Embassy

The Swedish embassy is located in Tirana. The authority was upgraded from section office to embassy in December 2010. The ambassador is side accredited from Skopje in northern Macedonia. In his absence, the embassy is continuously headed by a chargé d'affaires a.i. The embassy's main focus is political / economic reporting, and dialogue as well as development cooperation with Albania. The embassy is open for visits Mon-Thu 9.00–16.00, Fridays 9.00–12.00

Pass

The embassy only issues temporary passports in case of emergency. The Swedish Embassy in Skopje, Northern Macedonia is responsible for ordinary biometric passports.

Visa (handling and application for a visa)

Visas are not processed by the embassy. Visa applications from persons legally residing in Albania are processed by the Danish Embassy in Tirana.

Since 15 December 2010, Albanian citizens holding a biometric passport will be able to travel freely to the Schengen countries.

The Embassy of Denmark receives Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 09.00–12.00 (Address: Embassy of Denmark, Rr Nikolla Tupe No 1 4th Fl, Apt 4, Tirana, Albania) Phone hours Monday – Thursday 8.30–16.00Phone: 355 4 22 80 600Fax: 355 4 22 80 630E-mail: [email protected], Internet: www.ambtirana.um.dk

Application for a residence and work permit in Sweden for Albanian citizens:

An application for a residence and work permit must be submitted to the Swedish Honorary Consulate General in Tirana. It is then forwarded to the Swedish Embassy in Skopje. The Swedish Embassy in Skopje then contacts the applicant for an interview.

It is not mandatory to submit an application for a residence and work permit to the Swedish Honorary Consulate General in Tirana. The application can also be made directly to the Swedish embassy in Skopje.

Since the Swedish Migration Agency in the spring of 2011 replaced residence and work permit stickers in favor of a residence card (UT card), each applicant must submit biometrics. This means that all interviews for Albanian citizens are conducted at the Swedish Embassy in Skopje.

If the applicant receives a positive decision, the completed UT card is sent to the Swedish Embassy in Skopje, which then forwards the UT card to the Swedish Honorary Consulate General in Tirana for extradition to the applicant. This means that Albanian citizens only visit the Swedish Embassy in Skopje once during the application process.

For any reason, the Swedish Embassy in Tirana would like to point out that no processing of residence and work permit matters takes place at the Swedish Embassy in Tirana.

Consulate General of SwedenOpening hours: Tuesday, Thursday 10.00–12.00 (address: Rruga Qamil GuranjakuPall.12 Kat, Sh 2 / 5C, Tirana) Phone: 355 42 347523Fax: 355 42 347523Mobile: 355 69 2029699E-mail: atlascopco @ icc-al. org

Other

Standard is 220 V 50 Hz with sockets of the type CEE-7/7 "Shukostecker" or "Schuko", or the compatible but unearthed CEE-7/16 type. Albania has major problems with electricity supply.