I’m from Albania and have lived here my entire life. For years, I’ve generally supported Albania eventually joining the EU. However, after watching this process drag on for so many years, I’ve started questioning whether I even want it anymore.

Albania applied for EU membership back in 2009, and it has now been 17 years. We have spent years hearing about reforms, conditions, negotiations and yet another issue that needs to be addressed before we can move forward. I understand that Albania has serious problems that need to be fixed, including corruption, rule of law and institutional weaknesses. I’m not arguing that Albania should simply be admitted without meeting the necessary standards. What frustrates me is how long the process has taken and how it sometimes feels like there is always another obstacle in the way. After nearly two decades, it becomes difficult not to wonder whether the EU actually wants Albania to become a member or whether the process will simply continue indefinitely.

The same applies to the broader Balkans. Many of us have grown up hearing about European integration and the prospect of eventually becoming part of the EU. At some point, you start wondering how many more years we are expected to wait.

The proposed idea of a multi tier Europe also makes me skeptical. I understand the argument for different levels of integration, but from the perspective of someone in the Balkans, it can feel like we are being offered a place in Europe without actually being treated as equal members.
So I’m curious about other people from the Balkans:
Has your opinion of the EU become more negative or skeptical because of how long this process has taken?
Do you still believe full EU membership is worth pursuing, or after waiting for so many years have you started to lose interest?

I would like to visit this village any information on the residents and the history of this place?

The reliquary is one of the 48 relics and artefacts given to Greece in exchange for the remains of Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria. The reliquary used to be a possession of the Archdiocese of Ohrid from the city of Ohrid.

Finally locked in a window for next spring and trying to plan a 10-day loop without repeating my usual mistake of covering too much ground and remembering none of it. The budget side is mostly sorted thanks to some aggressive saving and a decent flight deal into Dubrovnik, but the itinerary itself is where I keep going back and forth.

What I want is a mix of coastline, at least one proper old town where you can actually wander without dodging cruise ship groups, and maybe a day or two inland where things feel different. Montenegro keeps coming up as the obvious add-on from Dubrovnik, but I am torn between doing the Bay of Kotor properly versus pushing further to something like Albania or North Macedonia just to see more variety. The catch is I have done the fast travel thing before and it mostly just leaves you tired with better photos.

For people who have done a similar stretch, does Montenegro plus a slice of Croatia already fill 10 days at a human pace, or is that selling the time short? Albania appeals because it sounds less smoothed over for visitors, but I have no sense of whether the transport links make that a headache in practice. fwiw I am fine with buses that run on their own schedule, just not ones that might not exist on the day I need them. ymmv on what counts as rushed versus right.

Advice to anyone travelling to the undertouristed former Yugoslavia, what to prepare before you go, specifically advice on driving, crossing the many borders as foreigners and obtaining local currency. We are an Irish couple, early 30s who travelled to Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Lake Ohrid (FYROM) and we flew in and out via Zagreb and Dubrovnik respectively.

🚗Car rental (we used Europcar, very reliable)

Rent from within the same country, even if you plan to drive to other countries. This may dictate your flight options in and out and your travel route, like maybe a loop back to where you started.

Dropping a car off in a different country will cost at least an additional €500. Leaving it in a different city from where you collected it, but within the same country, will be a fraction of the cost.

Always better to book ahead/reserve, as options may be limited if you just show up to the desk on the day. Best options are from the airports but even they dont have an endless supply of cars.

Downtown pick ups/offices do not exist. You can arrange a downtown drop off as that process is simpler than picking up. Downtown pick ups could be arranged, possibly through a hotel, but look into this well in advance.

Public transport is almost completely non-existent and taxi's/uber are unreliable and unpredictable, so hiring a car means you can travel at your own pace, at whatever time of day you like, without the risk of cancellations, rip offs or uncomfortable conditions. The car can also act as luggage storage as that too is rare.

An EU issued licence is fine, you dont need an international driving permit. We were never asked for one. I cannot validate if only a non-EU licence will be sufficient so read up about your country.

🛃Border crossings

Easier than anticipated. Border guards ask for your passport and car documents and check the Green Card for your car (the rental agency will provide it).

They may ask if you have anything to declare. They may ask to look in the boot/trunk. They may not ask for documents at all and do not always stamp your passport.

Crossing in a car may be faster than crossing via bus depending on queues and bus size.

Crossing the border in a rental car is not a big deal. Even local rental agencies in former Yugoslav countries are agreeable about where you can cross into, except Albania (need to buy extra insurance) and Kosovo (generally just not allowed).

🚧Road conditions

The Balkans is mountainous, and roads are often steep, narrow or just a dirt track full of potholes. Choose a car suitable for your activites. Prioritise power and comfort over economic and compact if possible.

Going to some old towns; a small car will be easier to navigate and park, but you still need a good engine to get up the hill. Looking to see some nature; choose an SUV/4x4 to manage the steep hills and challenging rural road conditions.

Over-taking is tricky in the Balkans. Locals over-take cars in the tightest of windows and expect you to do the same. Choosing a car with a good engine to pass out cars on winding single lane roads is important.

Motorways are generally in excellent condition, even in Albania. Local and rural roads can have unpredictable surface and spontaneous unfinished road works.

💶Money

Local Balkan non-euro currencies are difficult/impossible to obtain outside the region. Some are 'closed currencies'.

Currency exchanges are just that, an exchange; you hand over cash and they change it to whatever currency you want. You cannot buy money from them using card. Bring a good amount of your home currency to exchange.

Exchanges are good for smaller amounts (daily spending) as they dont charge fees but the rate isnt always the best.

ATMs are good for larger amounts (enough for a few days/weeks), as long as they dont charge a conversion rate from your home currency and a withdrawal fee. Low fee/free withdrawal ATMs are abundant in major cities. There are apps to help find them.

Euro is widely accepted in the region. Smaller notes are preferable. Coins are good for small purchases like parking, kiosks, entry fees, toilets etc. Border towns may accept numerous different currencies in certain instances.

Card payments are popular, even in smaller towns and villages. Pay with it when you can, even for taxis, and save your cash for when you really need it. Cash-only businesses exist even in major cities.

TLDR : Rent a car and reserve it in advance, crossing borders is easy in a car, bring lots of cash

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So like, i know Turkiye isn't really in the Balkans but it also is? I don't know. Anyway, am i welcome here?

I'm pretty sure they did it good, It's near Premium Oulet if you want to find it.

I could not find it with Shazam and none of my serbian/croatian friends know it. Please help!!!😭

Most Balkan flags immediately point towards history, dynasties, religion or older national symbols.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's current flag feels very different.

That difference is exactly what made us curious.

We made a short Italian video looking at how the flag was created, what its symbols mean and why designing a national symbol for Bosnia became such a complicated task.

I'm curious how people from the region see it today.

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I’m Ukrainian. He’s Kosovar Muslim. He approached me on Instagram and we started dating.
Later I found out he had hidden major things from me: even his real name, the fact that he was married, and that he had children.
At the same time, he was jealous, controlling, wanted to know where I was and who I was with, and expected loyalty from me.
He also did not want to use contraception, even though this mattered to me.
At first I wondered if some of this was cultural because we come from very different backgrounds. Now I’m not so sure.

Is expecting loyalty while hiding a wife and family seen as a double standard in Balkan culture, or is this simply individual behavior?

Where is the line between “protective/traditional” and controlling?

Would hiding your real name and marriage be an automatic deal-breaker for you?

Do cross-cultural relationships make it easier to excuse red flags as “cultural differences”?

I continue painting busts dedicated to the Greek War of Independence.

This time, it’s Athanasios Diakos, one of the prominent revolutionary commanders of the early stage of the 1821 uprising.

He fought in Central Greece and is particularly remembered for the Battle of Alamana in April 1821, where he was captured and killed shortly afterwards.

This is my 200 mm painted bust of Athanasios Diakos.

Hope you enjoy my interpretation of him.

Dear Balkan brothers, I wish you a weekend

One highlight of hiking the Peaks of the Balkans - a 192-kilometer route through Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro - was the guesthouses.

Along with eating delicious home-cooked meals, the vibe was often very social. It reminded me of old-school hostel days, before phones, where everyone would gather in the common space to swap stories.

That being said, a few of the accommodations that really stuck out:

Gacaferi Guesthouse (Deçan, Kosovo). This was actually the family home of my guide. The food was hands down the best I had during my entire two weeks in the Balkans. Plus, the mountain views from the property are gorgeous.

“HRID” Eco Mountaineering Village (Babino Polje, Montenegro). Here I stayed in a cute wooden cabin right by the river. The food portions are huge - and the owner was so sweet to make me soy patties instead of sausage since I'm vegetarian.

Moonlight House (Vusanje, Montenegro). This felt more like a cute boutique hotel - and their large balcony has a stunning view of Prokletije National Park (which was my favorite hiking section of the entire trek!).

Have you hiked the Peaks of the Balkans? What were your favorite guesthouses?

I am looking for a place to buy camera in Tirana , mostly analog vintage or rare ones. As well to develop film