In 2011, Albania was chosen by Lonely Planet as the number one destination to visit.. So we followed the advice of the Republic of Albania, which has been around since 1000 BC.. BC, by the Illyrians, Romans, Byzantines and Slavs, etc., was to get to know..

Albania has an area of ​​28748 square kilometers and 2.8 million inhabitants.. The sand and gravel coasts on the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea have a length of 362 km.. The Korab with its 2764 m is the highest mountain in the country and the Drin the longest river, which flows after 282 km in the Adriatic Sea..

 

Until 1944, the history of the country was similar to that of the rest of the Balkan countries.. After the last German troops were withdrawn, Enver Hoxha and his communist regime took over the leadership of the country.. 1946, the People´s Republic of Albania was proclaimed.. In 1978, Hoxha brought the country into total isolation, first with the USSR and later with China.. The Albanians were forbidden to practice any religion.. Houses of worship were destroyed or misappropriated.. Thousands of believers were killed.. Private cars were forbidden, getting in and out was almost impossible..
Hundreds of thousands of bunkers were built to protect independence.. This madness devoured huge bucks.. Only a small part of the bunker could be equipped with weapons because the country lacked the money for it..
Today one tries to use a part of the plants sensibly.. Albanian and German students have started a project and bunkers are converted into guesthouses, restaurants and shops..

     

Following the death of Hoxha in 1985, the country slowly began to open and in 1991 the Republic of Albania was proclaimed..

It is remarkable what this country has created in the last 20 years.. Everywhere is built, built roads, asphalted and created the infrastructure for tourism and constantly improving.. In the last five years, the number of nights have increased by 70% and rightly so..
The supply of petrol stations is huge, ATM, supermarket, restaurants - in the cities everything is sufficiently available.. The hinterland is not so well developed yet, but the essentials are also available here..

     

Time and again one reads that a daily toll is payable.. This is not right.. There is no need to pay for entry or road use..
The majority of the roads were actually better than expected.. There were only a few sections that were bad.. The driving technique of the Albanians, however, takes some getting used to.. As everywhere else in the south, the waste situation in Albania is unsatisfactory..

Wonderful landscapes, beautiful beaches, a variety of cultural sites and the friendly people make Albania a country to visit..


~~halifax7~, 2013-10-29