As soon as we crossed the border from Montenegro, we entered a new world. Going through customs and border patrol, alone, was an experience! And, the roads... oh, the roads... It was entertaining to me (frightening to Emily and Kent) that the main vein from the border to the capital was more extreme than any off-road adventure any of us had every been on. It was a one-ish lane rock and dirt road, filled with crater-sized potholes.
Fortunately, the sun came up and our nerves were eased a bit (as we could then see, and avoid, the huge pits in the road), but unfortunately we could also easily see the insane amount of rubbish heaping in the streams and along the road. It is a sad sight, because as I look beyond the litter, I can see the beauty of the Albanian landscape...
We made our way to Tirana just in time to take part in an (unexpected) national holiday, the Dita e Verës: a pagan lunar spring festival. The capital was filled with energy and people filled the streets and parks. We had no choice but to park for a while and fit into the celebrations...
Eventually, we were able to get out of the mayhem, and started into the mountains. People spilled into the nearby towns and the family holiday even showed up outside the villages on the roadside. Families were cooking, playing football, along the side of the 'highway!'
As we got further out of the city, I realized that the Albanian landscape is like a really dirty Switzerland (and I mean it as a compliment). Herein, lies the potential... I believe the beauty can be uncovered, saved... but I think it will require some western influence to make it happen.
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