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The Trip to Albania

If a country's wealth is measured in hospitality, good humor, and intelligent people, Albania must be one on the richest on earth. However, if we look at roads, water and electricity, Albania is still suffering from being virtually closed from the outside world for fifty years by a Stalinist dictatorship. The population in the country is about 3.2 Million.

These are some views of my hotel and from my room overlooking Slanderer Square in the center of the capital Tirana.

Scanderberg is the founder of modern Albania. He fought the Ottoman Turks (not known to be easy people to battle) for 25 years and united the three major portions of Albania. This museum, is built on the ruins of his castle from the 1400's, which at times withstood sieges of six years.

Originally built in the 900's and the place where Scanderberg was married. Used as an army barracks and then a resort during the dictatorship. It is now back as a Monastery.