Continuing the last photography series about Albania, in this one the focus lies on the beautiful nature and geography of the country. While being a relatively small country, it offers a mix of different landscapes, from Mediterranean sights to mountainous regions. On the coast, more and more centers of tourism come into being, while the center part of the country is still original and raw. Hence, the aim of this particular series is to highlight Albania’s diversity.
Albania is situated in Southeastern Europe, just north of Greece. Due to its long periods of isolation and its status as the poorest country in Europe, it is not well known, and until recently, just a few travelers came to visit. This is changing in the last few years. More and more backpackers come and discover the beauty of this hidden pearl in the Balkans. At the coastline, more and more hotels are being built, and the infrastructure is growing. There are even talks of reactivating the railway, which was put out of use in the last decades. Albania is a multireligious country, you will find beautiful old mosques in the Ottoman style (picture 1), as well as orthodox churches and catholic monasteries (pictures 4, 8). The people of different faiths live together in peace, and no matter which cultural building you enter, you will receive the Albanian way – warmly and with a smile.
Undredal is a small village situated at the majestic Nærøyfjord in Western Norway. Up until 1988, the remote settlement was accessible solely by water. Nonetheless, people lived here for centuries, cultivating the rich soil and living off sheep herding. It is famous for a delicious kind of cheese named Geinost, consisting of goat milk. Also, in Undredal, you can find the smallest Viking church in Norway; it has only forty seats (picture 6).
In 2015, I had the privilege of revisiting the Baltic states, marvelling at magnificent medieval towns like Tallinn, and enjoying the equally beautiful nature of these countries. A few impressions.
Michael Hoffman Photography 