Its said that: Religion of Albanians is Albania - to convey that surely as a population it has adapted any possible religion out there depending on the influence of each conquering empire but in the end only the love for the country itself will make their blood rage. Thus, 99% of the population, simply associate themselves with a certain religion but are not practitioners of that religion or its rules & practices. Fun Fact: Muslims, Catholics, Orthodox have been constantly marrying one another without any consideration of the religion.
Sounds like the worst form of tribal complex to be honest. Where the puny piece of dirt patch one was born on is worshipped as the GOD Almighty(Astagfirullah) and not the supreme Lord of the worlds and creator of the universe.
An Albanian girl I knew told me that religion (Islam) is just something that they identify as, nothing more. She eats pork, drinks alcohol, no namaz, no fasting, nothing. She always said that her parents never tought her to practice the religion.
Ah! This might be similar to a lot of the Christians in Canada - especially Protestants. No strict practices but just an underlying belief in God, good behavior, etc. Interesting!
alcohol drinking ocassionaly is ok but she should do namaz atleast 3 times....fasting also she should do...and she should not eat pork...if she identifies herself as muslim...she should do namaz and do fast...it is main pillar of islam...leave the alcohol and pork part...
you havnt seen the Albanian Riviera or the alps and and old towns yet 😂 as an Albanian who is born in Greece when I go in albania i prefere visiting other cities like berat for example
@@albanianorthodox8659 this is not true at all. Tirana is a great city as well as Shkoder. THe south has also some very excellent places, but they are not way better at all. They are just different. In Tirana you have all the business and community you need. In many other smaller places, you have to leave to get certain things or have them shipped.
Why do I feel like I have stepped into Alice in wonderland while watching this vlog. Had very little idea about Albania before you guys went there, this is what a travel channel should be about. Going to under the radar places and changing people's perceptions.
Seeing u two walking around like that with people without masks feels like traveling back in d old normal ... It is as if u guys are not travelling in 2021 or during Covid times .... So nice to see ....
Albania might be "majority muslim" (like around 50% identify themselves as muslims) but very few practice it. Albania really isn't muslim in the way westerners think lol, religion wise it's a pretty chill country. And no there aren't religion segregated neighborhoods. There's religious harmony across the country and ppl really dont judge each other based on ones religion. You could be a Christian, your neighbor Muslim another neighbor Orthodox catholic and there would be absolutely no problem.
Albania is absolutely a model for peaceful inter-religious coexistence. It's such a friendly country and when I visited, I was treated with so much respect as a Pakistani (by both Muslims and non-Muslims). Also, the version of Islam practiced in Albania would be surprising to most non-European Muslims, since it is far more permissive and liberal than the Wahabbist interpretations of Islam preached across much of Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.
Islam isn't really big in Albania, I feel like Religion itself isn't tbh. The people there care more about their people than their Religion, in fact, I find Albanians to be more Nationalistic than Religious. They're not anti-God by any means but their culture focuses more on the strength of the family and preserving their traditions. Another thing to keep in mind is that Albania was under Communist rule from the 40's up until the mid 80's and ALL Religion was eventually forbidden and State atheism was promoted to children. Churches and Mosques were closed and the Country focused more on Nationalism and teaching children secular ideas rather than Religion. If I'm not mistaken, I believe Albania was the first Country in the world to declare itself an Atheist state but I could be wrong. So, a lot of the people who grew up between that time period didn't have a strong Religious faith, I know a lot of Religious traditions were still practiced in secrecy but it obviously had a dramatic effect on the people. I find that Albanians who do have strong religious faith tend to be Catholic or Orthodox. I honestly believe whoever took a study on Islam being the predominant Religion there didn't really do a proper study because you'll see Albanians say they're Muslim but have probably never even read a page of the Koran before, it's almost like they see being Muslim as a genetic thing or something, lol, like they're born a Muslim in the same way someone would be born a certain ethnicity. What's even more odd is that their National Hero is recognized across all their people, his name was Skanderbeg and they have a statue in the downtown area of Tirana, not to mention you'll see his statue in almost every Albanian home. It's odd because Skanderbeg was a Christian crusader who fought off the Ottoman Empire until his death. Then after his death, that's when the Ottomans conquered Albania and converted a lot of the population into Muslims with Albania being the only Muslim majority Country in Europe.
The macchiatos here are incredible - you’ll get used to them quickly 😂. Definitely check out Ceren Ismet Shehu for your food tour - they have amazing traditional dishes like byrek, fli, and qofte! There’s one at kalaja in Tirana, and also near Dajti Mountain. Also, raki tasting at Komiteti is a cool experience! Enjoy your time in Tirana 😄
Tirana is indeed very beautiful and clean. Wow, that man made lake is amazing ... lots of greenery around...👍👍. Am loving it !!! Oh gosh, that duck pasta looks yum, yum. Great to know that price of breakfast and meal there is affordable and reasonable. Thanks for the cool vlog, Steve lvana. Always enjoy watching !!!
Hello guys, Albania is secular state, not islamic. Mostly Albanians are non-religous, our motto or whatever you wanna call it is "Our religion is Albanianism". About the pyramid - Dutch-architecture studio MVRDV is set to convert the 11,835-square-metre pyramid in central Tirana into a "peoples monument" that contains cafes, studios, workshops and classrooms where free lessons will be available to young Albanians.
Right, ah, I meant to say Albanian has an Islamic population, rather than Albania is an Islamic country. That's my mistake but "our religion is Albanianism" is really great! Makes me feel like Albanians are proud of their country. And the pyramid sounds like it will be awesome!
@@andrewchong2616 No religion rule any country these days though, but most countries do take religious moral practices mainly Christianity in their laws, like in the US and everywhere else in the Commonwealth countries, something which many people are not aware of 🤭
Hi, I'm looking for some info as I'm going to travel to Albania in next few weeks. Are there any places where I can get "HALAL" food specifically in Tirana. Tried to search it online. Would really appreciate it if you reply. Thanks.
Hi! I liked your vlog! And about religion, Albanians are mostly Agnostics and Atheis. According to the Imams and Priests in Albania the religion practice is around 7%. Don't be surprised if you see many people drinking beer or eating pork and churches and mosques next to each other 😁👋.
@A bit of Everything No you are wrong. Majority are clearly muslims. Official data shows this. Of course; when it comes to practise religion, its different, but you can say that in every country in the world. Most albanian are muslims, eventhough we are white europeans.
@A bit of Everything I am only stating statistics and fact. What you are talking is complete rubbish. 1. Albanian Muslims fought against Serbian Christians who destroyed more than 500 mosques in the Kosovo war 1998/1999. 97% of all UCK members were Albanian Muslims. 2. You are talking about practising religion, and thats a different topic. One may pratice once, and less another time, thats not possible to measure. 3. Scanderbeg fought against ottomans, but that was 500 years ago. Today things are changing. By your logic, France, Germany and UK should be bitter enemys? Well, sorry my friend, but we live in 2021. Albania and Turkey enjoy close relationship.
Tirana ia absolutely beautiful.Thegreen trees,the calm vibes,the absence of litters and tall sky scrapers...all cities should be this amazing. Yea Steve you should limit your machiatto intake to one a day only. Or you will become the Energizer bunny 😀
Malaysian is difficult to get visa to Albania, Embassy is in Jakarta. I been to Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Montenegro. You should go to Croatia.... so beautiful.
@@andrewchong2616 so happy to see peoples in Albania now can walking without wearing mask....its so annoying wearing mask in Malaysia and the cases here is crazy...7000 cases??? USA and Israel much better than in Malaysia
That’s European coffee cup and style. .. wow it’s nice ..beautiful trees.. love the colors.. people just enjoying .. Good no big franchises Just support the local shops ..the nature is beautiful .and looks clean .enjoy and stay safe
In Tirana you will find a lot of shops that sell byrek and sufllaqe, there are also some good crepe places you could try. For traditional food there is tave dheu, tave me fruta deti, qull pule, tave kosi, kernacka, lakror, speca te mbushura, presh i mbushur, etc. For dessert I recommend trilece, it is the Albanian/Italian version of tres lecces of Central America. Try Mon Amour pastry shop in Tirana.
Walking around the city without wearing masks is totally out of my imagination where we have another round of lockdown in Malaysia. I am super jealous.... Keep posting your great vlog. I must put Albania in my travel bucket list.
Told you bro, you will enjoy. I would like to visit Albania myself. Love your honest pure vlogs. You guys have a clean heart 😊 would love to meet you next time you are in Lahore
It’s so beautiful there…I’m glad you are enjoying Albania. I always heard it was lovely there with sweet people. I’m looking forward to seeing your upcoming vlogs….enjoy❤️❤️❤️❤️
Its good to see a country that is not effected by Covid19. Shops are open, people can walk and eat freely ... those are things that we in Malaysia take for granted before and now really missed it ....
Albania has never been a religious country. I don't know why some of you Westerners keep talking about it as if its something important to Albanians. It is not and never has been.
Albania is only 60% Muslim, also during a lot of the Soviet era religion was violently surpressed. So post 90's religion is now allowed again, although Albania is formally a secular country. This is why you see a big European influence in how people dress and also in cultural stuff, like the drinking for example.
@@avitiusrufinus6980 you're right - that's poorly worded on my part. My point being that traditional orthodox observation of Islam is not as common place as it is in other Muslim countries because of the impact of the repression of Islam and religion in general by the communist regimes of the past.
Byrek..traditional Albanian “pie” with meat or cheese or onions or spinach. Gotta try the dyjath or cheese. Awesome! Keep enjoying. Jo falemenderit is right.
Well planned beautiful lake indeed! Loving Tirana vibes, its first time seeing the city through your video and its 'fresh'. The land where the mask no needed...
Thanks! It looked like it might have been abandoned and was starting to fall apart, but the plans look pretty fantastic for when it's done! We should be posting a video nearly everyday for the next while... any recommendations for things to go in Tirana? Or other parts of Albania? Thanks again
@@JetLagWarriors I don't really have recommendations because it's been 30 years since I was there. I'm sure it's changed quite a bit. Your videos are already inspiring us to consider going to Albania in 2022. Thanks!
gotta open my bottle of skenderbeu brandy :p beautiful surprising city, was amazed at the pyramid, the park with the lake, the caffés, the colourful buildings, the market near the university and stadium...
I'm jealous of how many trees in Tirana! It dwarfs of what we have in Malaysia in terms of city scape. Our City hates trees now. Also Steve now you know why the coffee was so small. Hahaha. This video is like your vacation part 2. Also that bookstore is awesome. That's a Swan or maybe a goose. Ducks have short neck
Ive been following you guys since your Pakistan series and it always amuses me how you guys find such beautiful places it makes me wanna go explore the world ❤️ you guys from India 🇮🇳
Albania is about 60% Muslim, the majority of Muslims are Sunni, but the Bektashi doctrine, which allows the consumption of alcohol and is less "severe", is also widespread. Many Albanians converted to Islam during the Ottoman occupation in order to benefit from fiscal burdens, and there are also many Christians, about 40%, divided between Catholics in the north and Orthodox in the south. During the dictatorship of Enver Honxha atheism was compulsory in the constitution, places of worship were plundered and whoever professed a religion ended up either in prison or in forced labour, for this reason the country is very secularised. Furthermore, a famous Albanian poet and intellectual, Pashko Vaza, said "don't look at churches and mosques, the faith of an Albanian is Albanianism".
The pyramid will be a startup accelerator and learning code, design, video editing place introduced by TUMO center for young children from 12-17 years, it will be very good for people to learn those stuff when young :)
100% love💛😇 Hope you visit the public beaches. New subscriber. Loved Pakistan series. My Fiancée is from Mardan, Pakistan. Albania on my travel bucket. Love from US.
Will definitely be hitting some of the public beaches. We re hoping to rent a car and start freestyling soon. Even if we can't get the car, we will be at the beaches regardless! Stay tuned and thanks for subscribing!