M
A$1.00 = 1.22 Lek
Movie AND popcorn: 130 LekLavaza coffee package 250gr.: 300lek
Bottle of water: 50-70 Lek
Bottle of beer: 150 Lek
My perceived history lesson: after they banded together thanks to Skandeberg, they lived easily together-then came communism, whoe to all, except the politburo, that fell, now Albanians are going full tilt to happy, joyous and free.
Orthodox, Catholic and Bekdashee Muslim exist together.
St. Nikolas Orthodox Church -1721, has original frescos and a pulpit shaped like a hot air balloon. Entrancing.
City of Sarande, booming housing on the beach, flats for $25,000.
Stuffed toy hung at corner of house for the evil spirit to see it first to protect the home.
450 small hydropower plants instead of big one. Economical and ecological-they have plenty of water.
In fact, it's turquoise.
Permanent circus in Tirana, lots of slapstick tumbling. Too hot for trapeze.
Communism oddities: (to us)
1974- Alkan Nallbani paintings blacklisted and sculptures destroyed.
Agave plants covering hillsides to prevent paratroopers landing.
Whole valley hillsides terraced for olive and mandarins after cut off from China.
700,000 bunkers created.
Villages isolated that were close to borders fearing invasion.
Roads curved to prevent planes landing.
No laughing in public.
The Supreme Ruler-Enver
No one could have his name
Lists of prohibited names, mainly saints
Soldiers trained to bark like dogs to flush out game and then shot it for him.
Divers put fish on his hook
Diabetes made him insane
Convinced people outsiders would come and invade and bomb
Gravestones only a slab, now, very fancy.
Et'em Bay Mosque is an 18th c. That stood unmolested during communist rule and has frescos of trees and waterfalls. It's so sweet.
Favorite dish: tavë Kosi. Lamb in a thick base of rice, yogurt and eggs.
A real gem, is Albania.
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