// ALBANIA
Albania was one of the countries that took me in during the pandemic, when the world was in flux and it was impossible to know the rules of the day or what tomorrow might bring. I spent quite some time here, renting first an apartment in the capital, Tirana, then later staying with a great host family for two months in the small central city of Elbasan. We'd go for a coffee every evening and discuss the state of the world, the workings of the Albanian mafia which was everywhere, and conspiracy theories regarding the packs of dogs always roaming the edges of town (dogs who, at one point, mauled me badly enough that I got to experience an Albanian emergency room). I knew Albania was effectively the end of my journeys; I'd spun my wheels too long waiting for the world to reopen, had burned through my savings, and perhaps, more importantly, I was tired and ready to move on to new chapters in life. But Albania is a special place, and holds fond memories for me.
TIRANA
ALBANIAN CAPITAL
ELBASAN
KORCE
SHKODRA
ROZAFA CASTLE
LAKE OHRID
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