Lets start

As non albanian would I like to learn more about the culture, the food, what is typical for Kosova / Albania. Is there such a typical national dish you eat? What about music, folkdances and other culture things. what about authors besides Ismail Kadare.
What is the things you like to show people from out of Kosova and Albanian when they come to visit. Is there more to see besides the Marble cave in Gadimë.

I am sure that alll of us non Albanian speakers in the forum who works in Kosova or know someone who invited us to the forum would like to know more about the country and who is better to share and tell us about your country than all of you.

Annika everything is on the portal but also here some topics may be worth.
In the portal left corner line one there is menu and there are many links about Kosova and Albania by chosing favorite language 8) 8) 8) .
If you need further informations take a good room in a hight hotel pay it for me one pizza and two beers i will let you know some really wanderfull albanian traditions

Note:
This is typical for Kosovo.

Naki shkruajti:Annika everything is on the portal but also here some topics may be worth.
In the portal left corner line one there is menu and there are many links about Kosova and Albania by chosing favorite language 8) 8) 8) .
If you need further informations take a good room in a hight hotel pay it for me one pizza and two beers i will let you know some really wanderfull albanian traditions

Well Naki some of us do not speak albanian even if we try . most of the times its better to ask the people who lives in the country about things than reading just simply tourist information.

I am sure you can show me some "really wonderful" Albanian traditions

I am sure you can show me some "really wonderful" Albanian traditions

What this mean can you translate for me in Albanian please

What this mean can you translate for me in Albanian please [/quote]



My Albanian isn't good enough in translation... and I "pledge the fifth" ( No comment)

Well since we covered some of the traditional food in Kosova and Albania. Thank you Arla. Would you Arla or some of you others in the forum like to share some of your favorite recipes?

Well what is some of the things you would recommend me and others to visit in Kosova and Albania? I am confident that you have lots of things you would like to show your friends if they come to visit you. I would like to know from all of you who lives in Kosova and Albania. (I don't like to read tourist broschyrs).

Here is some information for you, Annika
Nowadays, Albania is a "work in progress' country. This is more evident in the large cities, mainly in Tirana and Durres. Tirana has probably changed 65 -70% of its 1988's infrastructure.The same may be true for the Durres city.
The other cities are changing to a slower rate. Saranda may be an exception.
Unfortunately, Shkodra, despite its very rich cultural and historical heritage remains one of the poorest and dangerous cities in Albania.
South of Albania has probably more to explore than the rest of Albania combined. Cities of Berat and Gjirokastra are very pleasant and very rich in historical monuments. Butrint, in the far south is the jewel of the Albanian archeology. Saranda is the top vacation destination for the Albanians.
However, you don't want to miss the Albanian Riviera, which includes Dhermi, Himara and Vlora.
Infrastructure is changing and once you set foot in Tirana (which you may have to visit anyway, the only international airport is there),
you will see the fast pace of which the city is growing.
Weather on October/November can be upredictable, unless you stay in the southern tip of Albania.
In Tirana, you never know, it may shine or it may rain. However, it is not cold. The coldest months are January and February, where the temperature in Tirana may drop in negative values(celcius)
Saranda, Vlora have a more stable and comfortable weather

The Hotel Kalemi is in a beautiful location in Gjirokastra. The views over the city from the upper floors are truly spectacular. For this reason alone, I would recommend staying there, despite some problems.

The lower floors of the hotel are indeed quite cosy and evoke a Gjirokastra of earlier years. The woodwork is simple but effective and creates a very pleasant atmosphere in the public areas. The owners and staff are all very pleasant and make one feel welcome.

On the floors where most of the rooms are located, there are some problems. First, they tend to be covered in tile, which is quite cold, both to the feet and to the eye. A few rugs would probably change this. Secondly, in the rooms, one notices a lack of attention to detail, which is a shortcoming of many Albanian hotels of this sort. In my rooms, the shower was loose and had to be held by hand. There was no cabin or shower curtain, so the entire bathroom floor got wet - and because the bathroom was rather small, so did a part of the bedroom floor.

Gjirokastra is the subject of jokes among Albanians who claim that its residents are particularly stingy. My Albanian friends therefore all laughed when they heard that the shampoo in the shower had been watered down!

There was either a modern television antenna or satellite dish outside my bedroom window. Nevertheless, the television in my room hardly got two stations. Luckily, I did not really have time to watch it anyway.

The breakfast was very simple indeed. What was most disappointing was that the bread was rather stale. Otherwise, it consisted of a few slices of cheese, some fig jam, and a hard-boiled egg.

I have listed quite a few problems with this hotel, but would also like to point out that at the moment there is nothing better in Gjirokastra. I also would like to repeat that the views alone overcome many of these problems.

Well this cover some information about Albania like history, what to eat and where to go. The people who lives in a country is always the best one's to ask since we all have our special places, storys to tell and ur favorit food. Thanks Arla for sharing this with all of us.

Well since Arla covered some information about Albania. What about Kosova then? I know that the marble caves in Gadimë are gorgeous. I also understand from reading some of the articles here in the forum that the Restaurant "TROFTA" is worth going to. What else are there to see and to do? Naki or someone else what is the things you would show people? I am very curious...

Chocolate and your age

The chocolate will tell your age
1. How many times during the week do you get tempted to
have some chocolate?
Think about a number between 0 and 10.
2. Times the number with 2 (for example 4 x 2 = 8)
3. Add 5 to the number above
4. Times the number wtih 50...... I will wait so you can get your calculater
5. If you already have had your birthday this year 2007 add 1757 to the number you got above. If you have not had your birthday yet (2007) add instead 1756.
6. Subtract (minus) the year you were born (four numbers like 1969) from the number above.
7. The result will be three numbers. The first number is how many times during the week you are tempted to have some chocolate. The other two numbers are your age.

(This will only work this year 2007)

Have fun.

There has been written a lot of beautiful music over the centuries. Everything from classical, folk music, opera, ballet, pop, rock'n roll, R & B, film music and I can go on and on...... what are some of the songs and music pieces you consider to be among all this beautiful songs or are they still yet to be written?


Here are some of those beautiful music pieces and songs.

"Wiosna" by Chopin, "Canon in D" by Pachelbel, "The Spinning Song" by Elmenreich, "Jessica's Theme" (breaking inthe colt) from The man from the snowy river by Rowland, "Sonatina in C" by Clementi, "Cavatina" from "The Deer Hunter" by Myers, "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin, all the music of ABBA, The Rose by Mc Broom which Bette Middler sings, Love changes everything by D.Black/ C. Hart.......

I am sure there are a lot more out there, so what are your favorit songs, music, composers, singers and groups?

Please Forgive me Bryan Adams
Everything I do Bryan Adams
My heart will go on Celine Dion

Si thuhet...në shqip? Hur säger man...på Albanska? How do you say...in Albanian?

There are always good to know some words in different languages. They might be helpful to break the "ice" with. Here are a few good sentence to know.

Shqipe/ Suedishte/ Anglisht
Si jeni? Hur mår du? How are you?
Unë kam emrin... Jag heter... My name is...
Mirëmëngjes God morgon Good morning
Naten e mirë God natt Good night
Falemenderit Tack Thank you
Ju falemenderi shumë Tack så mycket Thank you very much
Nga je ti? Var kommer du ifrån? Whera are you from?
A flet anglisht? Talar du engelska? Do you speak english?
A flet shqip? Talar du Albanska? Do you speak Albanian?
A je i/e lodhur? Är du trött? Are you tired?
Të ka marrë uria? Är du hungrig? Are you hungry?
Më ka marrë uria Jag är hungrig I am hungry
Gëzuar Ditëlindjen! Grattis på fördelsedagen! Happy Birthday!
Gëzuar Vitin e Ri! Gott Nytt År! Happy New Year!
Gëzuar Festat! God Helg! Happy Holidays!

Annika you have forget the most important one ?!!!
Kur po me thua po? ............(translate into swedish and english please)

Well Naki "Kur po me thua po? in translation will be as follow När säger du ja till mig When will you say yes to me

The translation of "Gëzuar Ditëlindjen! in Swedish should be "Grattis på födelsedagen!" (not "fördelsedagen)

Naki shkruajti:Annika you have forget the most important one ?!!!
Kur po me thua po? ............(translate into swedish and english please)

The answer depends on when you ask

Ok Annika very soon i will ask it 8) 8) 8)

.......... 8) 8) 8)

Naki shkruajti:Ok Annika very soon i will ask it 8) 8) 8)

I'll wonder what it could be Naki....

I am sure you will enjoy Annika 8) 8) 8)