Only in Albania...

I took this photo on another one of my "I can't sleep so I'll go explore the city" 6am wlaks. Yah you read that right. George W. Bush Road. And it's a nice road too, right in the middle of the city. I mean it would be one thing if it was the local fish market or sewage treatment plant... but c'mon! Think about it, politics aside, they named a major street after one of the most controversial and reviled men in recent history. I can't think of any other country in the world where he would get an honour even close to this. I think he'd have trouble getting a name change for the road out to Crawford Ranch.

So here's the story. Towards the trail end of his presidency, (when he was doing about 25% approval ratings back home, never mind around the world,) Bush-i came to visit lil' ol' Albania.

At a time when most of the world greeted him like this... (and still do)

Albanians line the streets to welcome him like this...

Why? Well America has long been Albania's patron in Europe and has worked hard to get it into NATO and has pressured the EU to let Albania in. America was one of the first nations to recognize the independence of Kosovo, and helped end the war between Kosovo and Serbia with the bombing of Belgrade. In fact Albania, for a lagre part, owes it's existence to America when after WWI, at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson dismissed a plan by the European powers to divide Albania among its neighbours. And its not just a one way street. Albania has been a staunch(if not terribly helpful) ally in the war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. Albania has 250 troops in Afghanistan comprising 0.25 % of the international force there. 120 special forces troops were sent to Iraq as well.

So America can do no wrong in Albanians's eyes, and this just might be the only country in the world, (excluding the US itself,) where I might be better off lying and telling people I'm American.

lol . Check my boy Jon Stewart.

http://crooksandliars.com/media/play/wmv/1549/

Tirana Sunrise...

I'm staying in a new hotel that my driver from the airport

recommended after he told me he could get me a good deal. I feel like I'm paying a lot still though and I'm looking for a different place. My body doesnt know whether its coming or going but I've been up since 4am. So after watching a couple hours of Albanian TV which is mostly music videos, soap operas, news(by the way theres nothing like an Albanian newscaster doing her report a mile a minute and you understanding 1 in 10 words to make you really feel self-conscious about your language skills,) and finally pirated recently released movies, literally filmed with camcorders and broadcast with Albanian subtitles.

So after not being able to get back to sleep I went out for an early breakfast. At 6 am theres really nothing open except bakeries. As you can see the streets are empty. Luckily I found a good Byrektore where they make Byrek with cheese. Then I went to a park and watched the city wake up.

No sleep 'til Tirana...

Sooo...

this is what I'm leaving behind. This is my backyard in Edmonton the Tuesday before I leave. Serious... and this happens every year. And every year all Albertans say "this is sooo crazy, snow in May/June." Except it happens all the time...

I'm sitting in the cafe/lobby of my hostel in foggy London town, just outside the Euston train

station, and I am jetlagged out of my mind. From the Bus on Saturday to Calgary,

to the plane from

Calgary to Manchester,

train from Manchester to London...

I've been in a lot of small seats.

Before travelling to the land of No-McDonalds I thought I'd have one last meal. Way more american food franchises here then I thought there'd be. I also could have gone with Burger King, KFC, Subway or a different McDonalds all on a five minute walk from where im staying.

I didnt sleep on the plane at all despite having three seats to

myself. Unfortunately the armrests didn't go up so i couldnt really

turn it to my sleeping advantage. I was too wired anyways. By the time I felt like I was ready to nod off, breakfast was being served.

I didn't get any shut eye until I got to the hostel, but seeing as how I didn't have a lock to secure my valuables I was trying to keep one eye open for my other roommates who kept coming and going.

It's really nice here though.

Well I'm leaving for the airport in four hours so hopefully I'll have more pictures then.

The View from my Hostel.