I Love Albania

                The Ottoman Empire was a state and caliphate that controlled much of Southern Europe. The Albanian government has seen a lot of change.  The government declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 .  Then, in 1939 , the country was successfully invaded by Italy.  Shortly after that, in 1944 , Communist loyalist took control.  For the next several decades, Albania aligned itself first with Russia (until 1960) and then China (until 1978).  Finally, in 1991 , the people were able to end 46 years of strife when they once again declared independence and established a multi-party democracy. Not surprisingly, the new government has faced some pretty incredible challenges like high unemployment, corruption, and a crippled infrastructure.  They’ve come a long way thanks to the indomitable Albanian spirit.

Sunday, May 10 Mother's Day 2020 in Albania 🇦🇱       Mother's Day is an occasion which is celebrated in various parts of the world to express respect, honor, and love towards mothers. The day is an event to honor the contribution of mothers, acknowledge the efforts of maternal bonds and the role of mothers in our society. Start her day by offering breakfast in bed,give her Flowers,give your Mom a Day Off,throw a Surprise Party,Spend a Day Together,Surprise her with a Lovely Gift,pamper her. This is a day to recognize and celebrate motherhood, along with all the wonderful things mothers do for us in our lives and in society. why Mother's Day is celebrated on different dates ?     Mother's Day falls on different days depending on the countries where it is celebrated. It is held on the second Sunday of May in many countries, such as Australia, Canada and the United States. It is held exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday in the United Kingdom. ...

         In 1995 a law was passed requiring citizens to pay taxes on traffic-lights in their home towns. The residents of Shkodra were taxed, just like all cities, but staged a protest.  Their reason?  Shkodra has no traffic lights.  It’s one of the oldest cities in Europe and the fifth largest in Albania. With a wonderful Old Town worth visiting, history buffs will love the restoration that’s happening.  Also, the Rozafa Fortress offers incredible views over the lake. About Shkodra      Shkodër or Shkodra is a city in northern Albania. It is written as Scodra in Latin , Scutari in Italian , İşkodra in Turkish , Скадар in Serbian and Skoutari in Greek .  Shkodra, it is one of the oldest cities in the country, founded in the 4th century B.C. as the center of the Labeat tribe of Illyrians known with the name Scodra. The earliest signs of human activity in the land of Shkodra can be traced back to the bronz...

     The heroine of Albania is Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu .  Better known to the rest of the world as Mother Teresa .  She was born in Skopje, which is now a part of Macedonia , and is one of the most beloved religious figures of the 20th century. She is the only Albanian to win a Nobel prize.                             Mother teresa's quotes There are no great things, only small things with great love . Happy are those. Peace begins with a smile. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier . Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. If you judge people, you have no time to love them. If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one. Each one of them is Jesus in disguise. Let us always meet each other with smil...

        The country endured an occupation by Italy just prior to World War II. After the collapse of the Axis powers, Albania became a communist state, the Socialist People's Republic of Albania, which for most of its duration was dominated by Enver Hoxha (died 1985).         When the communist era ended in 1991, there were roughly three million people in the country but only 3000 cars.  Communism isolated the country and for a long time, only Party officers were permitted to use cars.  In the years since, many more cars have come into the country, and the national preference appears to be Mercedes .  Blame it on the late start in getting behind the wheel, or just cultural proclivity, but be warned, Albanians have a reputation for being some of the worst drivers on the planet.  Not only are the roads in less than ideal condition, and not only are the cars barely drivable (think no headlights), but the drivers themse...

              You’re likely to notice a large number of scarecrows in odd places .  Albanians believe that a scarecrow placed on a home or other building while it’s under construction will ward off envy from the neighbours. Sometimes you’ll see a teddy bear serving the same purpose.  The odd part is that the scarecrow or the teddy bear will be impaled on a rod or hung by a rope like a noose.  Some also say that these talismans bring good luck     The common form of a scarecrow is a humanoid figure dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds such as crows or sparrows from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops. In the United States , immigrant German farmers made human looking scarecrows called “ bootzamon ,” which later changed to bogeyman . They were dressed in old clothes with a large red handkerchief around their necks. Native American tribes across North Am...

   The majority of Albanians are Muslim .  About 70% at last count.  A 2011 census shows that about 60% of Muslims are practicing Sunni and Bektashi Shia , making it the largest religion in the country.  About 17% are Christian , which makes it the second largest religion, and another 17% are either undeclared or atheist.       Islam in Albania mainly arrived during the Ottoman period when the majority of Albanians over time converted to Islam and in particular two of its denominations: Sunni and Bektashi (a Shia-Sufi order). Following the Albanian National Awakening ( Rilindja ) tenets and the deemphasizing of religion during the 20th century, the democratic, monarchic, and later the communist governments followed a systematic dereligionization of the Albanian nation and national culture. I Love Albania

        When an Albanian is agreeing with you, he or she will shake their head, and when they are disagreeing with you they will nod.  Be warned and avoid confusion.  Yes means No and no means yes. Interesting Facts about Albania Psychological facts about nodding head Psychologists believed that just as smiling can make a person feel happy, nodding could encourage positive thoughts. It isn't that simple, say psychologists Richard Petty of Ohio State University, Columbus, and Pablo Briñol of the Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain. Petty and Briñol asked undergraduates to listen to various radio editorials through headphones while either nodding or shaking their heads. As expected, students who nodded during an editorial that made convincing arguments agreed more strongly with what they had heard than those who shook their heads. Surprisingly, students who listened to an editorial that made poorly reasoned arguments had the opp...

                     In the evenings, the locals like to walk .  But it’s not just a walk.  Known as xhiro , it’s an official evening walk where every resident comes out to stretch their legs and catch up with their neighbours.  In many towns, the roads close to cars for certain hours! Apartment blocks empty and everyone gathers at various places, walking and talking until nightfall. evening walk                          Evening Walk Benefits        Simply walking more often can help you lose weight and belly fat , as well as provide other excellent health benefits, including a decreased risk of disease and improved mood. In fact, walking just one mile burns about 100 calories . 1. You are in the peak period for body temperature. 2. Muscles are warm and flexible. Perceived exertion is low. You may be able to wor...

     Ramadan in Albania 🇦🇱 how important ramadan in Albania Ramadan 2020 Ramadan 2020 began in the evening of Thursday, April 23                and ends in the evening of Saturday, May 23 Dates may vary. Albania is not a Arabic country , in 15th century Albania converted to Islam ☪️.  727 mosques in Albania operate outside legal standards and Muslim Community regulation - raising fears about the potential growth of radical Islamist ideas. Islamic country The start of the month of fasting is determined based on the movement of the Moon , which for all Muslims of the world conveys justice or harmonization to fully complete this important month. What makes this month distinctive is fasting, which is done at the same time by all Muslims in the world. At the end of this month, Muslims around the world celebrate Aid al-Fitr (Eid) . Albania during the Ramadan Everything is normal during the...

        On the beach, you can wear a speedo, a swimsuit , a bikini, some shorts or a miniskirt . You will see that the Albanian people will be wearing flipflops and beach wear, like they do anywhere in Europe. The only people in Albania, who are wearing the traditional clothing are usually 60+         The grandfathers and grandmothers of Albania are often still wearing the more old-fashioned clothing. The older women do wear long flowery dresses. And the men wear a suit jacket , linen pants and a sweater . However, as a foreign tourist, you are not expected to wear the Albanian traditional clothes. What clothes to Wear in Albania.

             Better known to the rest of the world as Mother Teresa. She was born Skopje, which is now a part of Macedonia , and is one of the most beloved religious figures of the 20th century. She is the only Albanian to win a Nobel prize . what is Albania famous for- Mother Teresa        Mother Teresa grew famous for humbly ministering to lepers, the homeless and the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta (otherwise known as Kolkata ), India . She was proclaimed a saint by the Catholic Church in 2016. In 1928, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Lareto, a Catholic order that did charity work in India. She took the name Sister Teresa and for 17 years taught school in the country. In 1950 she founded the Missionaries of Charity, a new order devoted to helping the sick and the poorest of the poor; the order grew to include branches in more than 100 cities around the world, and Mother Teresa bec...

                      Albania is a low income country by Western European standards, with GDP per capita lower than all countries in the EU. According to Eurostat , Albania's GDP per capita (expressed in PPS – Purchasing Power Standards) stood at 35 percent of the EU average in 2008. Mosque Why Albania is the poorest country in Europe ? Albania has made remarkable economic progress during the past three decades. Due to the strong growth performance, Albania grew from one of the poorest nations in Europe to a middle-income country, with poverty declining by half during that period. Why is Albania poor? Why is Albania poor ? The country's transition from a communist regime to a free market in a democratic republic has disrupted economic growth and has caused high levels of poverty. Church

        Albania 🇦🇱 has been an independent country for 104 years.  During that time, it’s become an increasingly popular tourist destination.  It attracts beachcombers, foodies interested in unique traditional cuisine, and history buffs looking for a rich cultural heritage.  If you’re planning to visit, there is some very interesting facts about this county. Albania , country in southern Europe,  located in the western part of the  Balkan  Peninsula on the Strait of Otranto, the southern entrance to the Adriatic Sea.  The capital city is  Tirana . Skenderbeu There are precisely the evidences of numerous archaeological findings in different parts of the Albanian regions, such as those of Lepenica in Vlora , Tren in Korca, Xara in Saranda, nearby Shkodra at Selca, Dajti Mountain, Prizren etc., that prove for traces of ancient population on Albanian territory. By studying these archaeological objects, ...

             The  best time to visit Albania  is between April - June , and September - October , when the weather is just  right  for a mountain or a beach holiday. July - August is the peak  season  for tourists, but the coastal summer heat will be scorching, so you won't be able to explore the entirety of the country in peace.  Time to visit Albania Better Time to go Albania  Map of Albania