The Land Of The Free: 10 Ways You KNOW You’re Living In The Greatest Country On Earth

You’ll NEVER forget the names of the Founding Fathers, from Ismail Qemali, to Luigj Gurakuqi, to Dom Nikollë Kaçorri.

November 28 just isn’t Independence Day without family, fireworks, and a big plate of tavë kosi.

You KNOW never to get on the Adriatic–Ionian motorway past 4 p.m.

You are proud to live in the home of the last remaining Balkan lynx.

You perform the dance of Osman Taka every year to commemorate the legendary Cham Albanian leader’s stay of execution under Ottoman imprisonment, when he performed this dance so beautifully that he warmed his captors’ hearts.

You’re totally sick of the Kejsi Tola song “S’jemi më atje.”

You know that it isn’t summer without Lake Skadar. Fun-filled July weekends on this Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance are about as synonymous with the summer season as Pogonishte dancing and walnut cake.

You salute the ol’ red and black wherever you see it flying. These colors don’t run.

No matter whom you voted for, you support your president. Especially if it’s President Bujar Nishani, kicking ass and transitioning the Albanian economy to a free market model since July 2012.