It was a pleasant surprise today to watch a documentary produced by Italian television “Linea Blu” about Albania’s 474 km long coast, spanning from the Adriatic to the Ionian seas. This successful program by RAI TV has explored on a weekly basis, for the past 15 years, the coastal areas of Italy, above and below the water level. This time, apparently, it decided to step a bit further to the east, and to visit also the country with which Italy has had, and continues to have traditional relationships since centuries ago. Albania is, in fact, the closest nation, not bordering with Italy, but directly across from its heel, with only 60 miles separating the bay of Vlora from the port of Brindisi.
Although this program was originally aired in Italy on June 21st, the timing seems quite appropriate in view also of the very recent European gathering “Paris Summit for the Mediterranean” that took place about a week ago in France. Albania was also represented at this assembly of 43 nations that, on July 13th, issued an interesting “declaration” with ambitious plans ahead (available in PDF format when clicking on the above title).
Obviously the Italian television crew and reporter had access to some areas not normally visited by the occasional tourist thanks to the Italian armed units and Coast Guards still stationed in Albania, such as on the island of Saseno in the bay of Vlora, which is still considered today a military zone. This area has always been a strategic point of control of the Otranto Canal, and here many ships sank over the years, and now are being explored by scuba divers. It is also very close and overlooking the entire Karaburun peninsula, which, with its numerous large caves and underwater passages, has been the stage of many sorties and the base of covert operations during WWII in Albania, so beautifully described by Peter Lucas in his book about the OSS.
Interesting were the interviews with local fishermen, local authorities like the mayor of Saranda, the Italian Ambassador, and even the clip taken from an earlier reportage about Mussolini’s daughter. On March 14, 1941 she was traveling as a ‘volunteer nurse’ and was rescued when the Italian ship that she was traveling on was sunk in the Otranto Canal. The current underwater research about this ship pointed out that this was originally a luxury vessel transformed into a military Red Cross transport, when it was torpedoed by the British. Amazingly, most of its furnishings are clearly identifiable and still well preserved.
This is the first time that “Linea Blu” has been filming along the Albanian coast and underwater, and it covered a lot of ground in the one hour long program, but it did not spend much time talking about the local cuisine, which is what they usually do in Italy toward the end of the program. The display of local dishes was a good, but a brief one, especially when the conversation began to delve into less known delicacies such as “burek”…...
Much is still to be done for tourism in Albania, but see how inviting can be its southern 'riviera', for instance. As I've indicated elsewhere in this blog, foreigners are flocking into the country by air, by car, by boat, and their number continues to increase because there is much, still unknown there, to be explored and enjoyed.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Albanian tourism
Although Albania is coming up in the world of tourism, it is a great surprise to find out, thanks to this blog, that it's still lacking an important facility such as marinas for pleasure crafts.
In May 2007, I pointed out here my amazement when I read that large cruise lines were beginning to stop along the southern shore, known as the Albanian riviera. Apparently, small vessels and private yachts,however, cannot be accommodated anywhere along the Albanian coast to date, contrary to Montenegro. When I toured that coast last April I thought for a while in fact of being back in Sardinia's "Costa Smeralda", especially in the beautiful bay of Kotor. An enormous number of beautiful yachts were completely lining the piers, from where the entrance to the old walled city was just a few feet away.
Albania has nice beaches and accommodations all along its coast from north to south, which are now getting crowded. I am told, in fact, that the inland Kosovars are becoming good customers, since they are now shunning Montenegro that has not yet officially recognized their independence.
In May 2007, I pointed out here my amazement when I read that large cruise lines were beginning to stop along the southern shore, known as the Albanian riviera. Apparently, small vessels and private yachts,however, cannot be accommodated anywhere along the Albanian coast to date, contrary to Montenegro. When I toured that coast last April I thought for a while in fact of being back in Sardinia's "Costa Smeralda", especially in the beautiful bay of Kotor. An enormous number of beautiful yachts were completely lining the piers, from where the entrance to the old walled city was just a few feet away.
Albania has nice beaches and accommodations all along its coast from north to south, which are now getting crowded. I am told, in fact, that the inland Kosovars are becoming good customers, since they are now shunning Montenegro that has not yet officially recognized their independence.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Columbia University campus
The other day I went back to Columbia University for a brief visit to renew my id card, and decided to take some pictures of my old stumping grounds. Here, during my tenure of 22 years, I have successfully accomplished a variety of large and challenging projects, and solved a myriad of complex and problematic situations, which provided stimulating and engrossing experiences.
The original main campus, confined between two large city avenues (Amsterdan & Broadway), spans several blocks on its south-north axis.
Amsterdam avenue looking southward
Main campus entrance on Broadway
The Rotunda
Alma Mater
This campus can be an oasis of peace, especially during the summer months. I can remember, however, the hard times of the late 60's during the students demonstrations, as well as the joyful celebrations during every May, when thousand of people converge on campus to participate in the commencement exercises for the students' graduation.
a quiet corner....
....and 'The Penseur'
Notwithstanding the hot day, a few students were around, probably to attend summer courses, and I enjoyed a leisure walk, which brought back quite a few memories.
the Columbia Lion, an emblem also in its sports
a site gate along Broadway
The campus now is a mixture of classical and modern buildings, and scattered here and there are quite a few modern sculptures.
the interdenominational chapel
quiet, cool, and beautiful, but difficult to capture on film!
from Amsterdam avenue, the back view of the Chapel
The original main campus, confined between two large city avenues (Amsterdan & Broadway), spans several blocks on its south-north axis.
This campus can be an oasis of peace, especially during the summer months. I can remember, however, the hard times of the late 60's during the students demonstrations, as well as the joyful celebrations during every May, when thousand of people converge on campus to participate in the commencement exercises for the students' graduation.
Notwithstanding the hot day, a few students were around, probably to attend summer courses, and I enjoyed a leisure walk, which brought back quite a few memories.
The campus now is a mixture of classical and modern buildings, and scattered here and there are quite a few modern sculptures.
Albania's new partners
Although at a slow pace, it's nice to see Albania acquiring new partners and ventures in various fields: from today's critical need of more energy sources, some of which remain untapped, is the announcement of oil expansion in southwest Albania, to the development of international tourist facilities that will take advantage of the beautiful nature that the country is also endowed in its south.
A share purchase by a German media giant into the Albanian TV channel Vision+ is also in the news today.
Let's hope that the government can now keep up its end of the bargain with proper and effective support on behalf, and for the account, of its citizenry.
A share purchase by a German media giant into the Albanian TV channel Vision+ is also in the news today.
Let's hope that the government can now keep up its end of the bargain with proper and effective support on behalf, and for the account, of its citizenry.
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