Word for the Travel Wise (06/02/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

As some of you may recall, Neil is on his way to distant lands and I can’t say how green with envy I am. Sure, I’m bopping around the U.S. on a walking tour, but nothing thrills me more than coming in contact with a completely different culture and people. Although, I must admit the folks in the Mid-West are certainly groups of their own. Anyhow, one of his destinations appears to be Albania and while I’m not sure how long he’ll be trekking around the country it is my hopes this word comes in handy.

Today’s word is an Albanian word used in Albania:

muaj – month

Albanian is spoken in Albania, Kosovo, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro, and the Republic of Macedonia. It is in its own independent branch of the Indo-European language family with no living close relatives as stated by Wikipedia. Argjiro is a pretty new site with a long way to go, but there are a few things there to help a beginner in the Albanian lang get a foothold. Start with the English-Albanian dictionary. Single-Serving online has an awesome Albanian phrase guide for the tourist with audio files. For history, lessons, and other useful knowledge on the tongue of Albania visit, Albania World.

P.S. Have fun Neil!

Red Corner: Albania as the Next Great Outdoor Destination?

by Neil Woodburn on

Albania has a reputation that’s been difficult to shake. Most outsiders only know of it as a backwards, communist hermit kingdom that is dangerous and tourist-unfriendly. This is no longer the truth–at least according to a recent article in The Tirana Times.

“Off the Beaten Path in Albania” is a rather redundant headline, considering Albania itself is way off the beaten path. Nonetheless, journalist Besar Likmeta does a good job explaining how the Ministry of Tourism is trying to rebrand the country as an attractive vacation destination by focusing on the natural wonders Albania has to offer.

The country’s “unsullied mystique” is perfect for ecotourism, for example, as well as outdoor adventure sports. A recently created NGO, Outdoor Albania, is already operating with this in mind. According to their website, Outdoor Albania, “organizes nature-friendly tours in Albania, promoting the protection of landscapes, bio-habitats, traditions and monuments.” The company currently offers trekking, snow shoeing, mountain biking, white water kayaking, rafting, climbing and ski touring (ski touring because there are no ski resorts in Albania).

These are the first baby steps of an emerging travel industry. Wouldn’t it be exciting to go and check it out yourself before it becomes just another over-touristed European country?

Red Corner: The Joys of Croatia, Montenegro and Albania

by Neil Woodburn on

I was a bit surprised to run across the following article, “Trip Lives up to Eastern Promise: Croatia, Montenegro and Albania provide a rewarding alternative to tourist traps,” for the simple reason that those are exactly the same three countries I will be visiting shortly.

Writer Cath Bennett did somewhat of a whirlwind tour in order of the most commonly visited (Croatia) to least commonly visited (Albania). She writes most fondly of Dubrovnik where she basked in a luxury hotel and strolled the town’s 13th century city walls. Montenegro, however, presented some hotel problems (no running water) but redeemed itself with the ancient city of Budva–a “veritable maze of winding streets featuring a mix of museums, shops and bars.”

Lastly, Bennett spent time in Albania–which she describes as a fascinating country of extreme contrasts where ox carts and Mercedes share the roadway.

It’s not the most detailed article, but it still gives a flavor of what to expect when traveling through this region of the world.

Red Corner: Albania and Montenegro Advice

by Neil Woodburn on

I’ll be leaving in a few weeks to tour through popular Croatia, less popular Montenegro, and virtually unvisited Albania. While I’ve come across many guidebooks and suggestions for Croatia, the other two countries are remote enough that very little travel literature exists for those who venture this far.

So, I am appealing to the masses. Has anyone out there been to Montenegro or Albania recently and do you have any recommendations for me?

The first clown who writes “don’t go” will be duly ignored.

Thanks!

Red Corner: Corfu to Albania

by Neil Woodburn on

While visiting the Greek island of Corfu in 1990, I heard a rather frightening story. Apparently two college students rented a little paddle boat and headed out to open waters. They went a little too far, got caught in the current and were swept across the channel. They eventually landed in communist Albania, with only bathing suits and with no identification whatsoever. They were quickly jailed as spies.

Up until 1993, Albania was a Hermit Kingdom cut off from the rest of the world, both East and West. Although the country was only a short boat ride (two kilometers at its closest point) from the shores of Corfu, it remained mired deep in the past.

Today, a hydrofoil now zips across the divide, taking tourists from the charming, narrow streets of Old Town Corfu to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gjirokaster in Albania. Both, according to a recent article in The Times (UK), are very well worth your time. And for those slightly intrepid about travel to the former Hermit Kingdom, you can jet over for just a few hours and be back in Old Town Corfu dining on calamari before the sun sets.