Writing about the Balkans
On 17th September I took part in a charity swim in Albania which was a great success. Because of inclement weather conditions the organisers were forced to cancel the original plan of swimming from Albania to Corfu and put into action plan B. Over 60 swimmers from many countries travelled in the morning to Albania […]
This is an academic article I co-published with Professor Tonin Gjuraj. It provides a critical analysis of the reform process of policing in post-communist Albania. The article was published online in 2016 and in print in 2019 in the peer-review journal, The International Journal of Human Rights.
Poems by Xhevair Spahiu To fingers of light surrenders the snow A drop of water Like teardrop Struggles to hold on to eyelids of leaves If it falls It disappears into oblivion. Solitary summer stops half way If it doesn’t come Winter won’t go away. A bird delicately drinks a morning dew drop Inside it […]
15 August 2021 Today was my first full day in Albania. My brother Rudi and his family were leaving for Pogradec and Korce and returning on Tuesday evening. Rudi’s party includes Elda, Sophie, Klea and her boyfriend Austin. They will stop for lunch in Pogradec by Ohrid lake before reaching Korce where they’ll stay the […]
Koçova AirBase There is always a bitter sweet moment when when you recognise the place, but do not know the people walking the streets Travelling is an intensely personal experience, especially when visiting familiar places. For this reason my recollection here of the visit to Berat and Kucove together with my brother Rudi and his […]
Botuar fillimisht më 29 shtator 2018 Kur pas 10 vjetësh rrethimi dhe lufte kundër Trojës, grekët e lashtë lanë pas kalin e drunjtë si dhuratë, një prift trojan i quajtur Laokont thuhet ti ketë këshilluar të vetët ‘digjeni kalin sepse ua kam frikën grekeve edhe kur sjellin dhurata’. Trojanët e lodhur nga lufta e injoruan […]
Ismail Kadare is the most famous living Albanian writer. This is my translation of one of his best novellas, Kalorësi me skifter. Hope you enjoy it. The Knight with the Hawk By Ismail Kadare Translated from Albanian By Arian Koci Translator’s note I first read ‘The Knight with the Hawk” in 2002, on the […]