Why so Many Mercedes?

A Country Full of Mercedes

Everywhere you turn in Albania, you will see Mercedes Benz's flooding the streets. Just look around and you will find just about every model since the 1970's. 


One might wonder how the poorest country in Europe is filled with so many Mercedes? My guess is that some are stolen. In fact I learned in one of my Polsci classes earlier this year that once communism collapsed in Eastern Europe and the borders opened up, people fled to Western Europe, stole their cars, and brought them back to sell in their own country. until 1990 very few people in Albania had cars; those that did were people in power and high up in politics.  Actually, My mom tells a very funny story that highlights how scarce cars were at the time; on the day of her wedding, back in 89', my father and her could not find a taxi or any other car to take them back home so my dad put her on the back of his bike, wedding dress and all, and took her home. It sounds unimaginable, but it's true. I laugh every time I here the story. So when borders opened, Eastern Europeans took advantage of the opportunity. In fact, the unofficial Tourist Slogan of Albania and many other Eastern European countries at the time was "Come Visit Albania. Chances are you're Car is Already Here." 

Out of curiosity I did some more research on the topic. I don't know how accurate these numbers are but I wouldn't be surprised if they were true. Here's what I found:

• It is estimated that over 80% of Cars in Albania are Mercedes
• Albania has the highest percentage of Mercedes per capita: 1 Million Mercedes: 3 Million people

Many Albanians will tell you that everyone drives Mercedes because they are durable long lasting cars that can endure the tough roads and conditions of Albania. This very well may be true but it doesn't explain how people that earn, on average, a salary of $300 a month can afford to purchase a mercedes, a car that costs anywhere between $30,000 to $90,000. My theory is that this phenomenon of car theft from Western Europe into Eastern Europe, especially Albania, that started in the 1990's still continues today. 

I don't mean to make my country of origin sound like it's full of thieves. In fact, it's not. Rather It is only a select group of people that have made a very lucrative business out of stealing mercedes and selling them for as little as $2,000-$3,000 to Albanians, who simply see a good opportunity and take it. With $300 a month people simply cannot afford any car at MSRP value so they figure out alternatives. 

Regardless, it's an interesting Phenomenon. Albania: Mercedes Galore!  (I think it should become our official state car). 

If you still don't believe me, check out this Youtube video and many more like it from tourist noticing the same thing as me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oexYeK-bdFs


My next blog will be about food! :) 

So Far...

It's day 4 of being in Albania.

After 24+ hours of travel time I finally made it to Albania. My flight was really tiresome and long. It was the first time I have flown by myself; it wasn't too bad. The worst of it was the hour plus car ride from the airport in which we had to drive 30 mph on up and down mountains with sharp turns. One quick turn on those roads and you're a goner. (I have provided a visual aid below to illustrate my point). Anyhow It took me a couple of days to recover from the jet lag but I am all good now.

This part of the road fortunately has a railing, there are a lot of areas that don't .

I am staying in the city of Elbasan with my grandparents in their 3-room apartment along with my aunt, her husband, and their 3 daughters.  Things are a little tight but we make it work.   The weather has been really nice with high 60's in the early morning and night and high 70's during the day.  I have been waking up at 6 AM the last few days mostly because my grandparent's apartment is off of a main street and the noise of morning traffic along with vendors opening their stores for the day and mostly because of the smell of breakfast food that comes from the surrounding restaurants tend to wake me up. It seems like everyone wakes up early here. I don't mind it though. I think I'm starting to like becoming a morning person.  Hopefully I can carry it over to the fall semester when school starts.

The first morning here I finally got to eat Simite me Bugace. This is a breakfast food made only in Elbasan. It's pretty much bread with fried dough and a lot of butter. It's one of my favorite things to eat here for breakfast.  (see picture)

Simite me Bugaçe

In other news, It's election time here right now. People have been glued to their T.V's watching as the government counts every single vote live (no joke).  Being a developing democracy with an unemployment rate of what seems to me to be ridiculously large, politics is a big thing for people here.

My grandma has been really sick lately and so I haven't done too much yet. I've mostly just been home  trying to help her out here and there.  She seems to be doing much better lately though. Regardless, I don't mind staying in, I love spending time with her and my the rest of my family too.

I don't see too many changes since the last time I was here 2 years ago. Although, they have fixed a lot of the stone/cobble roads and  the city has become more developed. Otherwise the pollution is still really bad. My eyes itch all day and I'm constantly sneezing. I think the people that live here have just become immune to the pollution because they don't seem to be having as many problems with it as me. Water is still not available 24 hours a day here. This has been challenging; it comes on and goes off unexpectedly. You really don't realize how important having constant water is until you don't have it.

Tomorrow I start my first day of Albanian tutoring. Today I met 3 American boys who are here as missionaries. They have only been here for 3 months and they speak Albanian better than I do! I am embarrassed. Anyhow, tomorrow I am going with them and their church to volunteer at a local orphanage. I am really excited to go.

Here are some pictures I took around town today so you can get a general idea of what the city looks like.