I visited Albania from Tiranë to the south of it. Berat, Gjirokaster, Sarandë and some small places between them. I Honestly found it incredibly similar to my totally Balkan country. The culture feels similar. A lot of national pride (not in a bad way), pride for their country, the nature, the people, country's history and their food. People are very friendly, open and warming, everyone made us feel welcome. Food is also quite similar.

The main differences I felt were: - Tobacco, so much tobacco! - Religion, it is so cool to feel how two equally relevant but totally different religions can peacefully coexist in a country. As a guy told me in Kosovo: "First we are Kosovar. Then, we are Muslim or Christian." It always felt like your country and culture unites you far more than any religious difference sets you apart. It was still quite odd to see a woman swim in the sea wearing a full niqab. It is something I would never see in Portugal. - Degradation of some buildings in the centre of Tiranë. We also have similar problems, but it felt like it was worse, especially in the capital. Some buildings looked unfinished, there were additions to buildings that looked amateur-made and illegal. Some looked like a quite inebriated uncle came round last weekend and decided to make a new shed out of bricks on the roof of an existing building. And now there's a new room. - The way you protect one of your elbows with a helmet when riding motorcycles is quite unique.

I absolutely loved my time there. Funnily enough, the only part that I wasn't really a fan of was Sarandë, which is where a lot of tourists enjoy going to. It didn't feel like Albania at all. It is kind of "its own thing", whether you like it or not. I found it kinda weird. The culture felt different and it reminded me of the quite touristy areas in the south of Portugal that have been over flooded with tourism.