Sofia One of the most unusual things I saw in Tirana, Albania was a museum of sorts called BunkArt near the central square and the main government buildings. Using a modern reference, it is fair to say that Albania for fifty years from the end of World War II until the embassy sieges and the …
Tag: Albania
Looking at Albania through the Lens of the National Museum
Tirana My visit to Albania was winding down. Only a few meetings left, including a wrap-up and next steps discussion with my colleague and fellow. An email needed to be drafted to follow up with the half-dozen or so people I had met who indicated a real interest in learning more about community organizing …
Curious Tactics of Anti-Government Protests in Albania
Tirana You first feel the tear gas in your eyes, but quickly a small cough hacks away, as you put a handkerchief over your nose and mouth to breathe more easily. Standing back from throng so we could observe clearly, we knew the tear gas was coming even before we felt its effect. A surge …
Hopelessness and Hope Among Young People in Albania
Ndroq and Tirana We drove to Ndroq, a village of about 5000 people, that is part of the municipality of Tirana, Albania, even though it took us almost an hour to get there. Most of the country we drove through was a mixed industrial area interspersed with some vineyards and truck farms yielding produce. We …
Community Center Clashes Show Darker Side of Berat
Berat We drove several hours south from Tirana to Berat, the 9th largest city in Albania. The city is along a river with a massive mountain, the 2nd highest in the country dominating the valley. A castle dating back to the 500 years of the Ottoman Empire’s rule, constructed with Byzantine architectural elements tops …