Albanian woman, Albania, by Natasha and Elsa Paje

"A man is washed clean with a glass of water, but the entire sea can't clean a woman."

—Albanian Proverb.

Meaning: Men are easily forgiven for the same mistakes with a small gesture, while women face ongoing judgment, revealing unfair expectations based on gender. This proverb shines a light on sexism within a culture, illustrating unequal forgiveness based on gender and emphasizing the need for awareness and change.

“Free Palestine” Albanian written graffiti seen in Prishtina, Kosova.

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Alb

Bashi-bazouks before a Gateway by Paul Joanowits

Bashi-bazouks were irregulars in the Ottoman army and hailed from lands across the Ottoman empire, from Egypt to the Balkans. The two soldiers converse in an Egyptian setting, the gate topped by Mamluk carvings and flanked by East African 'Grandees' chairs', amalgams of Mamluk, Portuguese, and Indian influence.

a 1966 Albanian postage stamp from a series on domesticated animals

[ID: a postage stamp with a detailed illustration of a side view of a large pink pig. the pig appears to be a sow, with visible teats. the pig as been labelled "derri - sus scrofa". the face value of this stamp is 20 Albanian qindarkë. end ID]

English is part of a large language family that includes French, Welsh, Polish, Persian, Greek, and Albanian. They stem from a common ancestor reconstructed as Proto-Indo-European.  The cardinal numerals from 1 to 10 illustrate their relationship well. Click the image for a selection.

 Detail of an Albanian traditional costume from Shestan.

Albanian men, Albania, by Natasha and Elsa Paje

Washing porsche

Young Albanian girl wearing a traditional dress in Tirana, circa 1938.

BlueMoon