The country of Albania sits off the Adriatic Sea, and it Bordered by Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, Albania is on the Adriatic sea's southeastern shore. It is a beautiful and bright area of rock cliffs and sunny beaches. The people of Albania are hospitable and friendly; their hospitality belies the country's history of brutal totalitarian rule.

Albania's history is violent and long, from the time that Julius Caesar and his army came through to recent totalitarian regimes. However, the country has had a reversal of fortune lately, and the hospitality there is reminiscent of that offered to medieval kings. Albania is a mix of Mediterranean ambience and modern culture.

The country has its struggles; it is one of Europe's poorest. That lack of wealth is attributed to a lack of tourism infrastructure and advertising, but that is changing as we speak. The country has lacked ATMs (a major inconvenience for travelers) but as it modernizes, that is changing.

If you wish to see all the sights that Albania has to offer, then you should first check the country's northern area. There are boat rides available along the river between Bajrum Curri and Komani. The latter can be reached by road; be there on time because the boat leaves promptly at either nine or ten a.m. When you get to Bajram Curri, you will have the opportunity to explore nearby mountains before the boat departs at 6 a.m.

History buffs will want to see Butrint. It is chock-full of historical landmarks, but is scantly explored. There aren't many road signs and nothing is written down, so unless you've been there before, you will want to hire a tour guide.

Albania's capital, Tirana, is a small town that can easily be explored on foot. Albanian architecture contains a mix of Turkish and Italian styles, due to its location between those two countries. Be sure to check out Skenderberg Square, where you can see Mt. Dajti. The next steps shoudl be Butrint, Durres and Shkoder.

Near the Greek border is the town of Gjirokaster; it's worth a day or two's stay with its tourist sites and historical attractions. When you enter the town, get a cab to the old city, where there are guest houses overlooking the valley. The best time to visit is during May or October, because winters are frigid and summers are dry and hot.

Even though there are drawbacks to visiting Albania, there are still a lot of things to do and see. If you are looking for beautiful scenery and historic landmarks, and you value hospitality and friendship, then you should visit. Albania is growing and evolving, and a trip there will provide you a lifetime of memories.