192-PART GUIDE TO THE WORLD; PART 2: ALBANIA
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Your support makes all the difference.OFFICIAL NAME
The Republic of Albania.
POPULATION
About 3.5 million.
SIZE COMPARED WITH BELGIUM
A bit smaller.
ENVIRONMENT
Forested, mountainous terrain, prone to devastating earthquakes. Flora typical of the Mediterranean.
BEST MONUMENT
The 13th-century medieval citadel town of Gjirokastra is perched on the top of a mountain overlooking the Drino Valley in the south of the country. The streets and the houses, which have no downstairs windows, are all built of the same black and white stones. The entirety is a perfect fortress.
MOST FAMOUS CITIZEN
Although she took Indian citizenship - and her place of birth was not Albania but Macedonia - Mother Teresa of Calcutta was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, to Albanian parents.
NATIONAL DISH
The most widely eaten food is probably qofte, a variation of Turkish sausage.
BEST MOMENT IN HISTORY
Between 1443 and 1468, the national hero, Skanderbeg, led an extraordinary resistance against the Turks from his stronghold at Kruja. In 25 years he won 25 battles and the conquerors of Constantinople were never able to dislodge him.
WORST MOMENT IN HISTORY
The anarchy and financial collapse of 1997.
ESSENTIAL ACCESSORY
Antiseptic soap. Bear in mind that this is a country which was recently reported to have only a couple of ambulances in its capital, Tirana.
HOW TO BEHAVE
Nod when you mean "no".
HOW NOT TO BEHAVE
Don't expect anything to work.
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