"In The Land of the Eagles" Top 5 Page for this destination Albania by illumina

Albania Travel Guide: 2,308 reviews and 5,328 photos

Ksamili

One of the smallest countries in Europe, Albania is also very mountainous and little known to outsiders. Albania is known as Eagle's Country, Shqipëri in Albanian.

I went to Albania in September and October 2002, as a volunteer archaeologist. We were digging at the World Heritage site of Butrint, just south of Sarande.

The steps that can be seen in this postcard actually run down to the shore from the hotel I was staying in, the Sea Eagle in Ksamili.

Butrint

This is a view out over Lake Butrint from the peninsula, looking towards Diaporit and the Greek border at the top of Mt. Mile.

Diaporit was the area I was working in, excavating a late Roman villa and bathhouse, and the overlying 7th century church.

As well as Sarande, Ksamili and Butrint, I also visited Gjirokastra and the Blue Eye while I was there.

I was lucky enough to be working with some Albanian students amongst the volunteers, and learned a lot about Albanian history and culture from them. I also managed to pick up just enough of the language to get by!

A few Albanian phrases:

(ë is pronouced 'uh')

Po - yes
Jo - no
Faleminderit - Thankyou
Mirëmëngjes - Good Morning
Mirë Dita - Good Day (Don't use after about 5pm or you'll get strange looks and be firmly told 'Mirëm brëma'!)
Mirëm brëma - Good evening
Natën e mirë - Good night
Tungjatjeta - Hello (but this is very formal, and rarely used. I read somewhere it means 'May you have a long life'. Kosovans apparently use a shortened version 'Tung', but most just say good morning/day/evening.)
Mirupafshim - Goodbye
si jeni - how are you (formal)
C'kemi - how's it going (informal; the c is pronounced half way between ch and sh)
C'ka - more or less ok (in response to above)
poi jo - and you?
Gëzuar - cheers, a toast.
Sa kushton - how much (this is what I was told, but sa e:shte: may also be right)
molla - apple (this was the surname of one of the girls I worked with!)
avash - a turkish loan word, meaning slow down, take it easy! Usually doubled (avash, avash)
ik orë - go away
shqo para - go ahead (this is something I was told, not sure about the spelling)
një - 1
dy (pronounced du) - 2
tre - 3
katër - 4
pesë - 5

Pros and Cons

Pros:Beautiful scenery, friendly people.
Cons:Ugly concrete buildings springing up in hope of tourism; no rubbish collection (so ends up being dumped on the beaches)
In a nutshell:A beautiful, mysterious land

Last visit to Albania: Sep 2002
Intro Updated Apr 21, 2006
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (48)

Guidebooks What to Pack (2)

The guidebooks which I took with me were the Blue Guide to Albania and Kosovo, a very informative book with plenty of... more travel advice

Tell everyone where you've been! - Albania

Tell everyone where you've been! Shopping (1)

You will probably see these T-shirts everywhere in Albania - as far as tourist souvenirs go, they and the Albanian... more travel advice

Spinning Local Customs (10)

On one of the bumpy landrover journeys back from site, driving between the villages of Xarra and Vrina, we saw an old... more travel advice

Music Favorites (12)

Traditional Albanian music is a mix of diverse rhythms and melodies. The songs of Albanian music are an oral tradition... more travel advice

Warnings Or Dangers (8)
See All Amusing language tip!
Off The Beaten Path (3)
See All Children
Transportation (2)
See All Roads
Hotels (1)
The Sea Eagle

Tourist Traps (1)
Changing Money
Things to Do (7)
See All Butrint National Park
Restaurants (1)
Snacks
Been to Albania?
Share your travels with the world!

Travelogues (1)

Written Apr 21, 2006

5 photos

Ksamili

1 - 1 of 1

Comments (23)

CatherineReichardt Apr 2, 2012 at 5:25 AM Report Abuse

Hi Joss
Thanks for the fascinating 'virtual tour' - yet another place that is on the (very long) To Do List!
Did you see any evidence of the much-related Albanian fascination with Norman Wisdom, or is that just a myth?
Regards
Cathy
Nemorino Jul 26, 2011 at 1:00 PM Report Abuse

Great that you were able to work as a volunteer archaeologist in Albania!
xaver Dec 9, 2010 at 12:29 PM Report Abuse

interesting useful tips, hope to be able to go next summer.
Arkeolog Apr 27, 2010 at 6:03 AM Report Abuse

I visited your Albania page once again. Greta page... to be volunteer archaeologist in Albania sounds cool. Also liked your local custom tips. Bora
omidamini Dec 3, 2008 at 6:00 AM Report Abuse

Dear, You have nice Albania Page, Thanks, I hope see you in my country Iran, I am sure you will enjoy from here.
sourbugger Sep 28, 2008 at 11:46 AM Report Abuse

great albanian pages - better than mine that come from a trip afew years before your visit (and it shows) .Bravo.
sachara Mar 26, 2008 at 3:12 PM Report Abuse

Joss, thanks for dropping by my HP. Nice page of Albania, one of the countries which is on my wishlist allready for a long time.
nepalgoods Mar 18, 2008 at 11:25 PM Report Abuse

To be a voluntary archareologist in Albania sounds like a big adventure! Happy birthday!
hunterV Mar 9, 2008 at 8:48 AM Report Abuse

Great! Albania should be discovered too!
FruitLover May 12, 2007 at 6:08 AM Report Abuse

Very helpful & sensitive page, Joss! Thanx. Do you have more 'old stuff'? Any pic of Albanian Raki? FL