Ask me how much I knew about Albania before coming here and my list would be a short one: Enver Hoxha, bunkers and Sir Norman Wisdom. I have no idea when or how I acquired this extensive body of knowledge, but the association of Norman Wisdom with Albania was by far the most interesting part of it. I remember watching Norman Wisdom's old films on British television. My parents were fans of his wholesome, slapstick comedy, but apparently missed the ideological significance of Pitkin's relationship with Mr Grimsdale. Pitkin, the downtrodden and oppressed representative of the workers, triumphed every time over his capitalist oppressor, Mr Grimsdale - and he got the girl. It took a theorist of Hoxha's insight and profundity to discern this deeper political message. It always seemed tremendously unlikely, yet the story of Sir Norman's fame in Albania has been reported in worthy sources like the BBC , the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph . According to the Guardian, when Wi...
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The lady int he first picture is the "Mother Albania" statue from the cemetery of heroes. I don't know if you've been there.
On Mr. Elvis: I don't know if it refers to Presley or not. Many Albanian guys are called Elvis. Who knows maybe their parents were honoring Presley anyway.
I'd love to be in Tirana for all these music events. What about these stupid bombs in our country?Why people still do silly things in that place?Maybe because they don't listen jazz...it would help them be more peacefull!!!!
See U!
Eni me N si nata
Did you do the checkup you talked about some posts ago. It took shorter than I thought for the anti-tobacco law to be forgotten. The worst part is to say: I knew it.
It was nice to hope for a very short time, though.
But I have been in five restaurants / cafes this week and of those five only one still had ashtrays on the tables though nobody was smoking. One place had a large no smoking sign.
One waiter told me that he used to smoke 2.5 packs of cigarettes a day, but sine the ban he is down to 1 pack every two days.
Maybe if people smoke less and then realise they have a lot more money in hand it might help reinforce it as well.
Also, just from looking in the windows in passing it seems that the pattern I first described is still true.