Letter from Albania: Into one of Europe's last dark corners {Gadling}

Jun 26th 2008 4:55PM So, there is no comedy, no humour in Albania. A supposedly 'sad' place. Well, I am a Brit, unfortunately, and had the privilege to live and work in Albania for eight years before having to return to this sad country - Britain that is.

Before I went I was told that people did not laugh much, never touched strangers and a host ofothrer negative things.

What I found was a country that had suffered long and hard. It was May 1997 and they had just come trough major civil unrest, and there was no rule of law. But I found a people who had a 'wicked' sense of humour. Who were the complete opposite of what I was expceting.

Today I have many wonderful friends in Albania, people I love and trust further than the average Brit. Yes they are poor, they do have traditions that puzzle and amaze me. Yet I would do anything to leave Britain and spend the rest of my life in Albania.

I had American friends who comapred everything with what you would find in the USA. But you can't do that. The Albanian's have not had the opportunities the west have had. But they will catch us up, and indeed, overtake us.