February 2018 - The Balkanista

Komiteti Kafe Museum- One of my favourite spots in Tirana.

February 28, 2018March 28, 2023The Balkanista

I stumbled across Komiteti back in October, the first day that I came to Tirana. Drawn like a magpie to its quirky and brightly coloured façade, I could not contain my curiosity as pondered what was hiding behind its doors. Since then, it has become one of my favourite places to go for a coffee […]

Quality picks

The Balkanista Meets Zhaklin Lekatari

February 27, 2018February 27, 2018The Balkanista

For those that don’t know, Zhaklin Lekatari is a successful journalist, television presenter, and Albania’s only sex blogger. Founder of the popular site tabu.al, she was inspired to start writing about sex, sexual health, and relationships as a way break down the stigma’s around such topics, and to find out more about her own self […]

My great uncle, Edward Lear and his love affair with Albania

February 26, 2018February 26, 2018The Balkanista

The owl and the pussycat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money Wrapped up in a five-pound note. The owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, “O lovely pussy! O pussy, my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, […]

The Communist History of Albania

February 25, 2018February 26, 2018The Balkanista

Albania’s relationship with communism only came to an end in March 1992 but its legacy can still be seen to this day in its architecture and the 700,000 dome-shaped bunkers that pepper the country from north to south. These bunkers were built by the regime of Enver Hoxha over the course of his 40-year dictatorship […]

10 Things I Learned After Moving to Albania

February 24, 2018February 26, 2018The Balkanista1 Comment

To say Albania is a fascinating place would be a bit of an understatement. The whole country is a dichotomy, a paradox, and a mish-mash of contradictions. When I touched down in Tirana, I readily admit to not knowing anything about the place or its people. Now I live here, I have had a crash […]

An Ex-Pat in Tirana

February 22, 2018February 23, 2018The Balkanista

I have lived in Tirana for a total of four months. My Balkan journey started when my boyfriend of the time came on a sight-seeing mission to Albania with the view to set up a new call centre. Shortly after he arrived in Tirana, he rang me with a voice full of excitement, telling me […]

Month: February 2018

Komiteti Kafe Museum- One of my favourite spots in Tirana.

Quality picks

The Balkanista Meets Zhaklin Lekatari

My great uncle, Edward Lear and his love affair with Albania

The Communist History of Albania

10 Things I Learned After Moving to Albania

An Ex-Pat in Tirana

Categories

The fight to protect the Vjosa continues as European scientists visit Albania

Third edition of Albanian Diaspora Conference ‘Diaspora Flet’ heads to Kosova

Call for applications from Albanian civil servants in capacity building scheme

After UK drop, EU sees decline in Albanian asylum seekers in 2023