Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
Albania Local Customs
Search:

Home » Travel Guides » Europe » Albania » Local Customs

Albania Local Customs


House with dolls attached - Albania
House with dolls attached
by SallyM
Learn the local customs of Albania. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Albania locals.
Map
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
abanian weddings.
  • Tip Rating:
  • cachaseiro
  • By cachaseiro on October 6, 2004
  • Albania Page by cachaseiro
  • albanian wedding. - Albania
    albanian wedding.
    by cachaseiro
    when albanians get married, the married couple tends to drive through town in a decorated car while they hunk the horn constantly.
    they will have some freinds following in their cars and they will make as much noise as possible too.
    i have seen that in a few countries, but what struck me in albania is that there is always a car driving next to them with a guy who is video filming it all.
    usually he is hanging out of the sun roof.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Albania?

    Read reviews about Albania Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Standard Albanian language
  • Tip Rating:
  • JLBG
  • Updated By JLBG on November 9, 2007
  • Albania Page by JLBG
  • The Indo-European group of languages is usually divided into 9 sub-groups. One puts together the Romance languages (Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Rumanian, etc…) that derivate from Latin. Another one, the Germanic languages (German, English, Dutch, Scandinavian languages, etc…). Another again the Balto-Slavic sub group of languages divided itself between the Baltic sub-sub group (Latvian, Lithuanian, etc…) and the Slavic sub-sub group (Russian, /…/, Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, etc…). Modern Greek derivates from Ancient Greek and is the only language of its sub group.

    Albanian (shqip in Albanian) belongs to the Thrace (or Daco-Thrace) subgroup and derivates from the ancient Illyrian. The only other living language of the Thrace group is Armenian, though not closely related. No other language derivates from the ancient Illyrian.

    Albanian has burrowed a lot of words to its neighbors (Latin and Italian, Slavic languages, Greek). It has also words also found in Rumanian and in Armenian.

    Albanian has two main dialects.
    Gheg, in Gheg gegnisht, in standard Albanian gegėrishte, is spoken in the Northern part of Albania, in Kosovo, in Eastern Montenegro and in Western Macedonia.

    Tosk,, in Albanian toskėrishte, has 3 millions speakers in the south of Albania, in Epire (Ēamėria in Albanian) and in southern Macedonia.
    The Albanian that emigrated in the 15th century in Southern Italy speak Arbėresh, a variety of Tosk

    In Albania, the limit between Gheg and Tosk is drawn by river Shkumbin.

    Standard Albanian is mainly based on Tosk.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Turkish coffee
  • Tip Rating:
  • JLBG
  • By JLBG on March 4, 2006
  • Albania Page by JLBG
  • Turkish coffee - Albania
    Turkish coffee
    by JLBG
    As in many places in the Balkans, Turkish coffee is traditionally done in pots of the shape shown on the photo. I do not know if in Albania it is still called Turkish coffee or if it has been renamed in the same way then the Greek that call it "Greek coffee"! Finely ground coffee is added with water and sugar, brought to the boil for a few minutes and poured delicately in a glass or a cup. You must then wait a few minutes to allow the powder to settle at the bottom. You can also add some cold water that will sediment faster. Anyway, never drink the bottom or you would not "drink" but "eat"!

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    get an albanain tatoo
  • Tip Rating:
  • cachaseiro
  • By cachaseiro on December 23, 2004
  • Albania Page by cachaseiro
  • nice tatoo place. - Albania
    nice tatoo place.
    by cachaseiro
    i liked albania so much that i decided to get a tatoo while i was there.
    i ended up getting the double headed albanian eagle tatooed on my back.
    the guy who did it was very good.
    he's an artist that does tatoos aswell as paintings and the place was very clean.
    unlike most tatoo guys he was well spoken and really nice.
    not the criminal biker type who normally do tatoos in the western world.
    all together a very cool experience and i can only recommend the guy highly.
    the tatoo place is located in a small side street to a big road called suleyman delvina, right next to the post office.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Stars of the 80s
  • Tip Rating:
  • JLBG
  • By JLBG on March 4, 2006
  • Albania Page by JLBG
  • Stars of the 80s - Albania
    Stars of the 80s
    by JLBG, 2 more photos
    In 1988, the communist red star was everywhere.

    The first photo shows it built on the soil with pebbles, framed by hammers. In the center, this is not the little red book but its Albanian equivalent, the works of Comrade Enver.

    The second and third photo shows a 8 meters high standing star that commemorates the liberation of the country in 1944. There was a celebration for May 1st and I shot the photo from our bus.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Albania?

    Read reviews about Albania Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Banknotes
  • Tip Rating:
  • JLBG
  • By JLBG on March 4, 2006
  • Albania Page by JLBG
  • Banknotes - Albania
    Banknotes
    by JLBG,
    1 more photos
    The money of Albania is the lek. The international abbreviation is ALL, for ALbanian Lek.

    One Euro is worth around 140 lek
    One US Dollar is worth around 120 lek

    There are certainly other banknotes but I have in 2005 seen notes of 100, 500 and 1000 lek.

    The 100 lek bears the figure of Fan S. Noli, 1882-1965.

    The 500 lek bears the figure of Naim Frasheri, 1846-1900.

    The 1000 lek bears the figure of Pjeter Bogdani, 1625-1689.

    The 100 and 1000 lek are of the same set while the 500 is of an older issue. This is even more evident when looking at the other side of the notes (second photo)

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Vine growing over the houses!
  • Tip Rating:
  • JLBG
  • By JLBG on March 4, 2006
  • Albania Page by JLBG
  • Vine growing over the houses! - Albania
    Vine growing over the houses!
    by JLBG
    Both in the city or in the country, there are often vine rooted in front of the houses and growing on top of the roof. In 1988, our Albanian guide explained us that the people could not own privately more than 100 m2 of land, including the house and that, like that, even with a 1m strip of land around the house, they could make their own "raki" anyway!

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Tirana beer
  • Tip Rating:
  • JLBG
  • By JLBG on March 4, 2006
  • Albania Page by JLBG
  • Tirana beer - Albania
    Tirana beer
    by JLBG
    In 2005, from what I have seen in Shkodėr (limited experience!) cafes sell Tirana beer, a local beer and Niksicko beer, coming from Montenegro. We have tried Tirana beer. It is a light beer, not unpleasant to drink when it is hot outside but I preferred the Niksicko that has more flavor.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Bunkers of the 50s
  • Tip Rating:
  • JLBG
  • By JLBG on March 4, 2006
  • Albania Page by JLBG
  • Bunkers of the 50s - Albania
    Bunkers of the 50s
    by JLBG, 4 more photos
    In the 50s, Albania was more and more isolated. Enver Hoxha feared an invasion either (or both) by its neighbors and by the Allies. He initiated the building of hundred of thousands of small bunkers, growing like mushrooms everywhere in the country, built by the people of each village on almost the same plan. They are estimated between 100,000 and 600,000.
    Most of them are remaining today and are either just staying in the landscape or used as a shelter for animals, when they are close to a farm. The photos show various aspects and various situations.

    Photos 1 to 4 were taken in 1988, the last one in 2005.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Field writing
  • Tip Rating:
  • JLBG
  • By JLBG on March 4, 2006
  • Albania Page by JLBG
  • Field writing - Albania
    Field writing
    by JLBG, 2 more photos
    Field writing was in 1988 widely practiced.

    First photo :
    6-Dershor Kongresi 10 BGSH
    In the foreground, an older inscription is hardly visible. The stones must have been used for the new one.

    Second and third photo (enlargement) :
    populi

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    More Albania Tips
    Overview
     
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 39 - Photos: 43
    Things To Do
    Tips: 133 - Photos: 194
    Nightlife
    Tips: 14 - Photos: 13
    Transportation
    Tips: 65 - Photos: 54
    Restaurants
    Tips: 47 - Photos: 45
    Shopping
    Tips: 21 - Photos: 27
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 32 - Photos: 53
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 13 - Photos: 11
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 47 - Photos: 53
    Local Customs
    Tips: 44 - Photos: 35
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 14 - Photos: 14
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 7 - Photos: 9
    General Tips
    Tips: 133 - Photos: 363

    Best Albania Travel Deals

    Pawleys Island, SC Condo
    Online Auction, Beach & Golf Resort Reserve $150,000, 1 br/1ba Condo

    Tirana Flights $940* RT
    *taxes incl., NYC dep. by 12/11/09 *weekday fare, Limited seat avail.

    Hotels Cheap
    Save up to 50% on Hotels and Now Get Our Best Price Guarantee.

    Albania Hotel
    Compare Top Travel Sites Find Lower Hotel Rates Instantly!

    Hotels Deals
    Great Hotel Deals & Packages at Marriott's Official Site. Book Now.

    Sponsored Links

    More Albania Travel Deals

    Own Timeshare * $995*
    Closing & RCI Points Included The Best Value In The Industry

    Hotels - Up to 75% Off
    Find the Cheapest Hotel Rooms Now Compare Rates up to 75% Off!

    Relax at Westin Resorts
    Exclusive Rates & Vacation Offers Westin Hotels & Resorts

    Sponsored Links





    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.