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 A street scene by SirRichard
Albania has been one of the strongest communist regimes in Europe, almost hermetic to the outside influence, and while the other Eastern Europe countries start developing faster and faster, Albania seems still in the 50s... Leave a Comment
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 Ruins in Sarande by SirRichardLeave a Comment
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 the freindly internet place. by cachaseiro
most places don't have USB connection though, but i found that the internet center at the sheraton hotel has it.
it looks very posh and expensive, but it's the same price as the rest of town and the staff is very freindly and helpful. Leave a Comment
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Sheeps are everywhere, on the road as well as grazing on the land. When driving, beware of sheeps!
The first photo, taken in 1988, shows a sight that few of us have ever seen at home, a shephardess spinning while keeping the sheeps.
The second and the third photo show that in 1988, you could find very often flocks of sheeps on the road. In 2005, we have not driven enough in Albania to know what is the situation. I guess that with the increase of the number of cars, they do not feel as much at home on the road!
The fourth photo (1988) shows that even in a state driven agriculture, sheeps have a distinctive mark : some have three strips while others have a round. Were they privately owned or were they belonging to two different state farms, I do not know. Leave a Comment
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Donkeys are cheaper to get and to feed than horses. Then, no wonder that in 1988 there were so many donkeys.
I do not know the name of the breed of donkeys appearing in the first and second photo (region of Shkodėr). They are rather short and with a very thick fur, thicker than most breeds I know. They look like mountain donkeys, adapted for low temperatures.
On the third photo, taken in the south, another breed of donkey, darker and with a thinner fur. They are overloaded with bow branches. For what use, I do not know.
The fourth photo
Wow, what are you doing here, this is a donkey page! Well, it is true that women too can be used to carry heavy loads (1988)! Leave a Comment
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In 1988, as no private person could own a car and as there were anyway so few cars and trucks in the country, horses were widely used for transport of persons as well as of goods. Breeding and trading horses was mainly the job of Roms (the word "Gypsies" should not be used). In 2005, there are still many horses.
Photos 1 through 3 shows a group of Roms heading across the mountains with horses, asses and dogs.
On the fourth photo (1988), a herd of horses are lead for grazing somewhere else along the road. When driving, beware of horses!
On the fifth photo (1988), three horses are loaded with hidden goods. Leave a Comment
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 Ducks by JLBGLeave a Comment
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We are so used to see either pigs fed in an industrial pig house and never going out but for final slaughter that it is always a surprise to see flocks of pigs roaming almost freely in the country. Actually, in 1988, we saw that only once, along the road between Tiranė and Shkodėr.
On the first photo, the group of women in the background are obviously surprised to see a bus stopping and half a dozen citizens taking photos of the pigs! Are pigs that interesting ?
On the last photo, the children, that came closer to see who were these strange visitors wave at use while we are leaving. The one in the middle does not care that his fly is fully open! May be it cannot close! Leave a Comment
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In 1988, the use of oxen to draw heavy loads was very frequent. For centuries, oxen have been extensively used as farm animals all over Europe. They are very powerful and quiet, which makes them easy to drive. They are perfectly fit for example to draw carts heavily loaded with hay from the fields to the farm. If the cart, with its wooden wheels, sinks in the mud (fourth photo), they just draw stronger! Leave a Comment
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Most of the time, horses are used for faster and lighter transport.
However, as can be seen on the first photo, carts with inflatable tyres can be used for heavy loads too, given that the surface of the road is hard enough for the cart will not sink. On the left, one of those small bunker of the 50s. Leave a Comment
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