Cycling to Albania

Some photos from a recent bike ride across Montenegro and down to Tirana, a relatively easy ride considering the power of prejudice and fear that exists about Albania. Needless to say, both of these countries are stunning and (outside the cities) unspoilt.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Montenegro
• Albania
• Lake
• Skadar
• Virpazar
• Shkodra
• Tirana
• cycle
• bike
• bicycle
• touring
• moulton
• holiday

[cmavi]

Super nice pictures, Rupert. I imagine it was quite a ride to Albania. I just bought a folding bike and am exploring Bucharest from not-behind-the-wheel. Mavi

[rupertwolfemurray]

Way to go Mavi. Bucharest by bike is the only way to get round that gridlocked city. Check out Lacul Mori; from there you can cycle across some wilderness and get into Dimbovita and Dracula land.

[alboshqipe]

AWSOME PICS, hope u had fun in Albania =]

[rupertwolfemurray]

Thanks for the comment. Albania was (and is) really awesome, especially if you're looking for somewhere that hasn't been flooded with international brands, or overrun with tourists. I have always found that the poorer the place the friendlier the people, and Albania is about the poorest (and most friendly) place in Europe. It is also the least known and the most interesting. And I love the sound of their incomprehensible language.

[alboshqipe]

You'll see in a few years time when Albania economy will infact FLY SKY HIGH!

btw my come back does sound like im sort of attacking what your saying, if it does then im sorry but ya know ive gotta speak the truth i suppose lol.

glad you had fun there anyways =]

p.s, as for the language, well when 1 doesnt know a particular language i suppose it has to sound incomprehensible .

[rupertwolfemurray]

I am quite happy to admit I am wrong about Albania, which I saw for just 2 days. I think it's good not to be overrun with brands and tourists, as this is the best way to destroy local cultures. I can also say that I didn't see one single tourist in Shkodra or Tirana. What's interesting about your language is that it is not connected to any of the "big languages" that dominate Europe. If you know some Latin, German or Russian you can understand most people in Europe. Albanian is different.

[gramshin]

Great video! You inspire me to visit my country again...by bike! Keep pedaling

[ealanaj]

nice video.

[alboshqipe]

Lol hmm i tink your kinda wrong there, i mean if you went to Tirana, i assure you that over there its FULL of international brands...as far as tourism goes well, if you went to durres,vlora,saranda,dhermi you should of seen 100s of thousands of tourists, tourism has recently started to play a big part in Albania's economy.

We're neither the poorest in Europe, theres kosova,macedonia,montenegro,mo­ldova etc that are poorer than Albania.