Albania is a little self-obsessed, slapping itself heartily on the back for its own spirited survival and unique take on life. To be fair, it has a point. Lots of places like to think of themselves as the bridge between east and west, but Albania has a better, and deeper, pounding out of the boomboxes of the flashier cars in Tirana: the wail of perfumed eastern exotica over the Eurobeat of a western disco.
Mike Parker first explored Albania for his book Map Addict (12.99 British Pounds; Collins).
