Last week, we visited Brunei Darussalam. This week, we will be going to…Albania.

Albania flag courtesy of http://www.sciencekids.co.nz

Europe

Capital: Tirana

Official Language: Albanian

Other languages spoken: Albanian dialect: Tosk (south) and Gheg (north); Italian, Greek, French, German, English.

Continent: Europe

Currency: Albanian lek

(as of 10/25/2014)

Albania is in Eastern Europe, bordering Greece. Albania’s capital is Tirana and it’s well-known for its beautiful beaches (nearby…thanks Shelley), but like any busy city, it’s also well-known for traffic. Formally a communist bloc country, it’s now pending EU status.

Where in the world is Albania?

For those seeking more history, head over to the ancient ruins of Butrint. I found a great YouTube video from geobeats for just this visit.

No virtual visit is complete without any food right? So what kind of food do Albanians eat? The cuisine of Albania is very influenced by the Mediterranean. Lots of tomatoes, eggplants, legumes, and they love to make stews, casseroles, stuffed vegetables, or meatballs. And oh yes, yogurt sauce on lots of food. I think it’s very similar to Greek cuisine and incidentally, they are neighbors.

Here’s a link to Saveur.com for the recipe for tavë kosi, baked lamb and rice with yogurt sauce.

And lastly, let’s look at this elaborate Albania’s wedding entertainment. I am actually not sure if it was held in Albania, but wow, it was amazing. This lovely couple has these belly dancers entertain their guests. It’s so over-the-top. I love all the glitzy bling outfits. 🙂

That’s it for this week. We will be virtually going to another country next week.