As someone who has made Albania my home base fro the past year and a half, this captures the essence of discovering a place beyond its stereotypes and misconceptions. Especially, Albania! I have few related experiences along these lines myself ;)

Your article is a refreshing reminder that travel is about peeling back those surface-level fears and assumptions to reveal the true character of a country.

Your light-hearted approach to these preconceived notions while also sharing a genuine cultural experience is what makes this piece so relatable, especially with me.

Thanks for sharing!