Stories from Quick Reads and Albania
Albania: A Travel Blog
A Nevada Yankee in King Zog's Court links to the “blog/diary of Mykel's Italian-Albanian trip.”
Albania: Robert Elsie's “Albanian Dialects”
Albanian Blogger recommends scholar Robert Elsie's work to those interested in the Albanian language and literature.
Albania: Enver Hoxha
Albanian Blogger links to an article about the former Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha, which appeared in the Guardian: “Also the picture of the statue of the dictator in the main square, which was pulled down by protesters about 19 years ago brings back memories for me. I was very young...
Albania: Honey
Stepping Stones describes an accidental stopover at a honey-processing place located on a beautiful lake in southern Albania.
CEE, Central Asia: Post-Communist Leaders
A Fistful of Euros writes about “the first generation of post-Communist leaders”: “Well, here’s a question: almost 20 years later, how many of them are still running things? Not so many.”
The Balkans: More on EU Visa Rules
More on the new EU visa rules for the Balkans – at A Fistful of Euros.
The Balkans: EU Visa-Free Travel Controversy
AriRusila of Blogactiv.eu‘s BalkanPerspective writes that the EU's intention to introduce visa-free travel for some Balkan entities but not others is dividing the region.
Albania: No Playing in Parks
Living in Shkoder, Albania learns that kids aren't allowed to play in Albanian parks.
Balkans-EU: Schengen's leftouts and letins
Eberhard Rhein of BlogactivEU writes about the EU's plans for visa deregulation to Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia. Gray Falcon presents some critical views from the perspective of Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina, and Albanian Blogger gives his version on why also Albania is left out.
Albania: Electoral improvements and lingering problems
Albanian Blogger comments on the 2009 general elections in Albania.
Albania: Female Solo Singers
A post on “some of the most important Albanian female solo singer artists of the last century” – at The Balkan Crew.
Albania: Trees in Tirana
A Nevada Yankee in King Zog's Court writes about the efforts of the Tirana mayor's office to make the city greener.
Albania, Croatia: Newest Members of NATO
Albania and Croatia joined NATO earlier this month: Albanian Blogger and Croatian Crescent write about it.
Albania: Snow
A Nevada Yankee in King Zog's Court writes about Albania's high mountain villages isolated by snow.
Albania: Anti-Smoking Law Not Working
Albanian Blogger writes that Albania's “antismoking law has gone up in smoke.”
Albania: Ponzi Scheme Experience
A Nevada Yankee in King Zog's Court links to Steve Sailer's post about Albania's experience with Ponzi schemes: “[…] an interesting look back at what happened here and how the Western Capitalist World “tut-tutted” at the naivete of Albanians. Who's laughing now?”
Albania: Mountains and Bunkers
Via Stepping Stones and A Nevada Yankee in King Zogs Court, a link to a travel blog – Vagabond Journey.com Travelogue: 9 years of travel through more than 40 countries on 5 continents – whose focus has been on Albania lately (here and here).
Albania; Croatia, Slovenia: New IDs; Bay of Piran
Blogging Balkanistan links to a round-up of reactions from the Albanian blogosphere on new ID cards and to a post about the dispute between Slovenia and Croatia over the Bay of Piran (at The Croatian Crescent, here and here).
Albania: New ID Cards
Albanian Blogger writes about the introduction of new IDs in Albania.
Albania: Superstitions
A Nevada Yankee in King Zog's Court writes about superstitions in Albania.
Albania: New Highway
A Nevada Yankee in King Zog's Court writes about Albania's new 4-lane highway that “is causing so much uproar in political circles” but is “close to completion.”