Introduction to Albania: Discover the Land of the Eagles with Elton Caushi
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Described by Byron as ‘shore unknown, a land which all admire, but many dread to view’, Albania is beautifully positioned in the Eastern side of the Adriatic and Ionian seas. Follow travel veteran Elton Caushi on a journey through the old and complicated story of Albania and its inhabitants. This conversation will venture through Albanian history, culture, geographical landscapes, and national identity as participants gain an introduction to this wonderful realm in the Balkans. Discover the many secrets and the many cliches about the Land of the Eagles and its people.
Albania is a very fertile terrain for nature and history lovers. We’ll see how the Balkanic mountains stretch from North to South, starting at wild peaks of more than 2400 meters and going down to sea level on a flat Adriatic shore and a very rugged Ionian coast. We’ll learn about historical territorial fighting between merchants and armies who tried to control important midpoints between Rome and Constantinople, and the impact this had on local people. We’ll also take time to discuss the very distinct and rare local identity preserved through the language and the traditions, as well as the influences from Roman to Soviet times.
We’ll learn from personal stories from our presenter of growing up in Albania, from childhood days under a North Korean style isolated Albania, into tumultuous transitory years, to a modern Albania still seeped in tradition yet eager to modernize. We’ll also see how fertile lands and an abundance of natural resources allow for a local cuisine that fuses Mediterranean, Balkanic, and Ottoman in a delicious mix. We’ll touch on the array of recipes and surprising wines that Albania proudly produces. We’ll finish our discussion with renowned figures from Albania, from literature greats such as Ismail Kadare to worldwide famous women like Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhi (known as Mother Teresa of Calcutta).
Led by an expert on Albania, Elton Caushi, this interactive seminar will transport participants to the natural splendor and intriguing history that Albania has to offer. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will be taken on a journey through one of the most authentic travel destinations that Europe has to offer.
Elton Caushi, a native Albanian, works in development and travel in Albania and the surrounding region of the Balkans. He has a Master's degree in Development Economics and International Development from the Institut Universitaire des Etudes de Developpement of Geneva, Switzerland.
This conversation is suitable for all ages.
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
We have never had the occasion to visit Albania which, as has been the case with several Context courses, was why we were delighted to learn about the background of Albania and what life is like today. While we'd love to visit, in the meantime this course gave us a detailed understanding of the country.
This definitely whetted my appetite to visit Albania. Mr Caushi is a charming presenter and fitted a lot into his presentation.
Elton did a great job with his presentation of Albania, mixing history, geography, politics, food and drink, along with personal anecdotes. He was passionate and engaging about the country and put Albania on the list of places I want to go once it's safe to travel again.
I learned a lot and Elton shared interesting information about his country. I am quite interested in WW2; the presenter recommended books on what Albanians experienced during this time so I am looking forward to reading these.