TheCity

Author: The City’s Newshound

  • Peaky Blinders Season One Overview

    Peaky Blinders Season One Overview

    Promotional picture for BBC3 series, Peaky Blinders. (filmaffinity.com)
    Promotional picture for BBC3 series, Peaky Blinders. (filmaffinity.com)

    Rachael Hussey
    The fact that I watched the entire first season in one weekend will tell you all you need to know about BBC2 series Peaky Blinders (or maybe about my social life). With only six episodes in the season, you will not be left feeling shortchanged, as they are an hour long and certainly pack plenty of drama in to the sixty minute slot. While it aired originally over a year ago, premiering in September 2013, you can now catch up with season one and two on Netflix.

    Set in the mean streets of Birmingham city in 1919, Peaky Blinders deals with the aftermath of World War One both for the soldiers who survived but will never be the same and for the women who were left to pick up the pieces. The series follows the Peaky Blinders gang on their escapades around Birmingham, as they establish their bookkeeping business and deal with family trials and tribulations.

    Despite the ridiculous name of the criminal gang there is real historical precedent. A British gang in an earlier period bore the name ‘Peaky Blinders’ due to the razor blades stitched into the front of their caps, ready to blind an enemy. In the show, Tommy Shelby is the head of the gang, with his brothers at his side, causing mayhem wherever they go. Tommy, played by Cillian Murphy, is a force to be reckoned with and his steely looks could frighten the most powerful foe.

    The star-studded cast helps make this TV series come alive, along with the first class production values and great script. Actors like Sam Neill, who plays the loathsome Northern Ireland Police Officer Chief Inspector Campbell. and Helen McCrory, who plays the Shelby brother’s Aunt Polly, are along with Murphy the stars of the show and take the drama to another level.

    The main storyline through season one pertains to some misplaced weapons that have got into the hands of the Peaky Blinders. With the British police force quickly on their tale to avoid the guns being sold on to the IRA, CI Campbell comes on the scene, travelling from Belfast to take back the weapons. The series sees a game of cat and mouse between bad boy Tommy Shelby and obsessive Campbell. With love interests, enemies, family issues, post-traumatic stress disorder and everything in-between, Peaky Blinders is a strong, well developed and entertaining series.

    This series is not for the faint-hearted with plenty of violence and sex so be warned! There is a definite resemblance to HBO’s prohibition-era American series, Boardwalk Empire, in both style and script. Peaky Blinders looks promising so far with strong acting and incredible detail to set and wardrobe. If anything will put you off it will be the accents: it sounds like every actor has taken a different route with the Brummie twang. But don’t let that put you off: by the end of episode two you won’t even be distracted by it.

  • Settlement reached in McIlroy case

    Settlement reached in McIlroy case

    The Rory Mcilroy versus Horizon Sports Management case was due to tee off at 11am on Wednesday, but the crowds were already gathering outside the Four Courts almost an hour before. A throng of media were ready to greet golf’s golden boy. Photographers were scattered about the entrance, all looking for the optimal position for their shot.

    An excited chatter broke out as a car approached from down the street. The photographers moved down looking for a better angle of the approaching star. Unfortunately, it was not the world-number-one arriving but instead they had been tricked by someone cheekily waving a cardboard cut out of Mcilroy.

    At 11am, and with no Mcilroy in sight, the general consensus seemed to be that he would not be coming. Word quickly spread that the sides had reached an agreement the night before. The crowds made their way into the small courtroom and the jostling began to get the prime spot. The public gallery was full to the brim and even the jury’s box had been taken over by dutiful reporters.

    Judge Brian Cregan entered from his chamber and everyone rose. Horizon’s barrister stood, as the rest of the room took their seats, and revealed the worst kept secret of the day. The two parties had agreed a settlement.

    Just like that, a dispute that was expected to last eight weeks and cost millions in lost sponsorship deals for McIlroy, was over in about two minutes. Cregan called an end to the briefest of hearings and congratulated both parties wishing them success in the future.

    The courtroom was abuzz with conversation once more, the small gathering of reporters eagerly scribbling, typing and tweeting their updates. The race had begun to break the news. Connor Ridge breathed a big sigh of relief as handshakes were shared and backs were patted.

    Mr Ridge, who was flanked by supporters in the public gallery, hugged and kissed them after the announcement was made.

    Copies of a joint statement were being snatched up and luckily thecity.ie were one of the lucky few to get our hands on one. It read:

    “The legal dispute between Rory Mcilroy and Horizon Sports Management has been settled to the satisfaction of both parties who wish each other the best in the future. The parties will be making no further comment.”

    The crowds began to slowly file out the doors of court one and into the awaiting lobby. There was a sense of disappointment among the reports, a case that attracted many eyeballs was over before it had ever really started. Eavesdropping on conversations and phone calls, one word was being constantly used – anticlimactic.

    Then just like that, something clicked, and droves of reporters rushed towards the main doors. The Horizon legal team, along with Connor Ridge, were departing. The ‘scrum’ descended on the group as they made their way down the steps. Cameras clicked all around them as they tried to walk on through the chorus of voices that had greeted them.

    The brief statement was read out for the press and then the group took their leave up the street. Some members of the scrum followed them. This was the last chance to squeeze something out of the story – to get that quote, or photograph before it was old news.

    After a few minutes, calmness resumed outside the Four Courts. Most had left at this stage, on to their next assignment, but some stayed to film their reports. The next time Mcilroy is mentioned in the press, his dispute with Horizon will probably be long forgotten, and all the focus will be on the upcoming Masters.

    By Donal Lucey

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    https://twitter.com/donaltlucey/status/562931902227959808

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    A photo posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on Feb 4, 2015 at 5:02am PST

  • New travel card divides opinion

    By James Cox

    A new Irish “Passport Card” will be available from mid 2015. The new card will be €35 and available to everyone over 18 who already possesses a passport. Speaking at the launch for the new card, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan said, “The new card will be particularly useful for frequent travellers as it will allow people to travel within Europe while their passport book is with an embassy as part of a visa application process. The new card will also provide a useful backup travel document within Europe in the event that someone loses their passport while travelling.”

    Initial reaction was very mixed particularly on Facebook and Twitter with many people labelling the card as nothing more than a money racket. However, consider your average student. Who hasn’t stuffed their passport into a back pocket for I.D. whilst queuing to get into Diceys or Copperface Jacks? For some its worse when a drink gets spilled on it making that cheap night out very expensive after all. With the new card students can say goodbye to battered and lost passports sacrificed in the name of a good night out.

    At thirty five euro this seems a bargain. Of course I.D. is not the only function of the new cards. Everyone has experienced the panic of misplacing a passport just before a trip. For the most part it turns out to be a false alarm but sometimes this is not the case. That leaves two options: if there is enough time, a stressful wait for hours to secure an emergency passport or the second and worst case scenario; no holiday. This card cuts out the unnecessary panic as you can keep it in your wallet with your bank cards. Valid to travel anywhere in Europe, the card will become a frequent sight in Dublin airport on hopefully stress free trips.

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    photo: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

     

  • January Transfer Window: Winners and Losers

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    By: Daniel Pim

    Transfer deadline day can be one of football’s most exciting days. Big money/name deals have fans watering at the mouth, and invariably teams always leave it to the last minute to make a purchase or secure a season-changing loan deal.

    But that only adds to the excitement, with deals being pushed through after the deadline has passed leading to fans waking up to see that their club has brought in a new star signing. January often doesn’t live up to the buzz that the summer deadline creates, but big names and big money still change hands. Here’s a look at five winners and losers from the January window.

    Winners:

    Tottenham

    Spurs were able to sign Dele Alli from MK Dons, though Alli will stay at Stadium MK for the remainder of the season and will join up with Tottenham next season. Since he has been described by some pundits as the next Steven Gerrard, Spurs fans are already pleased by his signing.

    Also signing Harry Kane to a new extension that could keep him at White Hart Lane until 2020 deserves a mention, rewarding the 22-year-old for his stellar breakout season.

    West Brom

    Tony Pulis has successfully begun his “Pulisification” of West Brom: Darren Fletcher and Callum McManaman are the first players through the door. They’re both strong and athletic players exactly in the Pulis mold: fans should be happy with the new signings that will bolster the squad for the remainder of the season. They will be slightly frustrated that the Carlton Cole deal fell through.

    Everton

    Bringing in Aaron Lennon on loan could turn out to be a fantastic bit of business for Roberto Martinez. Seeing his career stall at Tottenham, Lennon could really kick start it back up with the help of Martinez and that attractive brand of football that they play. Adding Lennon also adds good depth to the already exciting wingers that are at the club including Aidan McGeady, Fifa starlet Christian Atsu and the injured Steven Pienaar.

    Chelsea

    Chelsea were able to unload three of their squad players while bringing in one of their top targets in Juan Cuadrado. Shipping Andre Schurrle out of the club to join fellow Chelsea cast-off Kevin de Bruyne for £23 million as well as making Ryan Bertrand the fourth most expensive player bought in the transfer window was good business. Cuadrado made his name at the World Cup with Colombia and was second in assists for the competition, Mohamed Salah meanwhile goes in the other direction to Fiorentina. By the sounds of things teaming Cuadrado with Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas will make Chelsea truly frightening going forward.

    Eoin Doyle

    Possibly the biggest winner of the entire window (excuse the Irish bias). Scoring  25 goals in all competitions for League One outfit Chesterfield this season, Doyle has now secured a deal with Vincent Tan’s Cardiff City. His fee could potentially rise to £1.25 million including some potential add-ons for Doyle.

    Losers:

    Davide Santon 

    Santon is on his way back to his old club Inter Milan. Originally it looked like Santon was happy about leaving Newcastle and returning to Inter. But a series of tweets from Chloe Sanderson, Santon’s girlfriend shed some new light on the move.

     chloe sanderson

    West Ham 

    West Ham missed out on all of their transfer targets. Big Sam tried to bring in Darren Fletcher before the Scot decided to team up with Tony Pulis. They were also looking to get Emmanuel Adebayor on loan to help out their strike force only for the deal to fall through.

    David Moyes

    Moyes was rumoured to be looking at several Premier League targets to add to his squad throughout January. Arsenal’s Joel Campbell, Tottenham’s Etienne Capoue and Burnley’s Danny Ings were all bandied about as possible targets. But in the end Moyes wasn’t able to secure any signatures to bring to the Basque country.

    Manchester United

     The whole of United’s fan base were crying out for their team to bring in a centre-half throughout January and their calls fell on deaf ears. Mats Hummels, a long-term target, wasn’t secured and they were quoted a ridiculous figure for PSG’s centre back Marquinhos. The only player that Louis Van Gaal brought into the squad was Bolton defender Andy Kellett.

    Football Fans

    There were no real massive deals done throughout the period, leaving fans with a huge sense of anti-climax when the deadline finally passed. Juan Cuadrado’s move to Chelsea was for a relatively big fee, but since he is a relatively unknown prospect in this part of the world, it still left fans looking for satisfaction. Apart from that, Martin Odegaard’s move to Real Madrid was one of the only other big moves with the teenager moving to the Spanish capital.

  • FA Cup magic lives on, but are replays part of it?

    Photo by Carlos Yo (Wikipedia)

    By: James Cox

    James Cox takes a look at the shocks of this seasons FA Cup and the complex issue of replays.

    The latest round of FA Cup replays starts this Tuesday with three fourth-round replays followed by one more fixture tomorrow.

    The FA Cup is the oldest cup competition in world football, the first having been held in 1871. It has lost a lot of its appeal however in recent years with many of the top teams prioritising the Premier League and European competitions. This year’s competition has already done a lot to restore some of the famous old trophy’s magic with minnows such as Blyth Spartans, Bradford City and Cambridge United exceeding all expectations.

    One criticism of the cup which has persisted is the controversial issue of replays. Up until the semi-final’s any game which finishes as a draw is replayed in the opposite team’s home ground. In theory this is meant to promote the cause of the smaller teams (something which is intrinsic with the values of the FA Cup) however it has drawbacks for both the big fish and the minnows.

    Teams in the Premier League have 38 rounds of fixtures a season, and while everyone loves a cup run, the simple fact is the league will always hold more importance. Quite simply,  money talks. To put it into perspective, Liverpool topped the financial rewards in the Premier League last year with £97,544,366 whilst bottom club Cardiff pulled in a whopping £62,802,302 with the rest of the clubs earning fees from the league in between.

    With money like this on the line it is understandable that the FA Cup becomes ignored, no manager wants replays on top of an already crowded fixture list. While the money in the lower leagues isn’t anywhere as significant as the huge sums discussed, the idea of Cup replays is much more appealing. However what this year has proved is that the lower league clubs are more than capable of taking on the big guns, and do not necessarily need replays.

    The standout fixture of the round saw League One side Bradford City come back from 2-0 down to beat Premier League leaders Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge. In a cup-like twist the equaliser came from Filipe Morais who rejected a contract extension from Jose Mourinho as a youth to leave Chelsea ten years ago. Mourinho branded the Chelsea loss a “disgrace.”

    Another shock result saw Manchester United held to a 0-0 draw by lowly Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium. Cambridge are the lowest ranked team left in the competition and Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal was clearly furious at the result even going as far as to claim “everything, even the pitch was against us.” This result encapsulated both the magic of the Cup and the question of replays. While tonight’s replay at Old Trafford is undoubtedly a dream for Cambridge United’s players and fans, there is also the question of what might have been if extra time had been allowed at the Abbey Stadium.

    At 0-0 United were rattled and Van Gaal had selected a slightly weakened team, while Cambridge were taking advantage of the raucous atmosphere. They were at least a match for United, if not better over the 90 minutes.  At Old Trafford there is little hope of such a result: Van Gaal and his players certainly won’t underestimate Cambridge again.

    While the question of replays will definitely be revisited soon, it has its positives and negatives as we have discussed. Followers of the FA Cup will definitely enjoy the current round with United and Cambridge tonight followed by Liverpool’s replay away to Bolton tomorrow. More giant killings may be in store.

  • Surviving Jack Frost

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     Winter Frost by markoehrhardt (Pixabay)

    By Rachael Hussey

    With temperatures plummeting to minus 7 degrees Celsius this morning in Dublin, what can we do to stay warm?

    As February begins and signs of daffodils approach, many did not expect the drop in temperature this week. According to Met Éireann, ‘‘Today will be very cold but mainly dry apart from a few scattered wintry showers of sleet this afternoon – with some light flurries of snow possible too and tonight will be mainly dry, but very cold and frosty, with widespread icy patches as temperatures fall to between -2 and -4 degrees.’

    With temperatures remaining below freezing we must look to novel ways to keep warm this February. As a person who dreads the cold and feels the need to wrap up warm even in ten degree weather, I have many tricks to remain toasty in any cold conditions. These options are cheap and effective ways to keep Jack Frost at bay. So, whether you are a poor student trying to keep the heating bills down or someone who spends time outdoors, there are many cost effective ways to keep the cold out.

    Hand Warmers

    hand warmer pack

    Hand warmers. Photo by Rachael Hussey

    Now these are particularly useful if you know you will be spending some time outdoors in the freezing weather, it could be for a sports event, if you work outside or if you have a long walk to work or college. The hand warmers work by disk activation for the first time, instantly heating up and remaining warm for a couple of hours. After the first use you can reheat them by placing them in a bowl of boiling water for five to ten minutes. Once heated you dry them off and they are ready to go. they are most useful in your pockets, putting your toasty hands in to keep warm.

    Alternatively, you can keep them under your clothes, warming up your tummy or back whenever you are feeling the cold. You can find these online at Littlewoods Ireland, Go Outdoor Ireland and many pharmacies stock them too. For around a tenner you can have warm hands for hours.

    http://www.littlewoodsireland.ie/emergency-heat-handwarmers/1310423912.prd

    http://www.gooutdoorireland.com/store/survival/rechargeable-hot-gel-hand-warmers.html

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/b?node=3076575031

    Thermal Wear

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    A person wearing long johns. Photo by John Lee (Wikipedia)

    Another cheap option to staying snug is thermal wear, okay it is not the sexiest of items but if you are feeling good on the inside it will shine on the outside! Nowadays you can pick up thermal wear in Pennys, Dunnes Stores or any department store.  From long sleeved tops to long johns, you no longer have to suffer in sub-zero weather.

    http://www.dunnesstores.com/2pk%20thermal%20vest/socks-and-underwear/dunnesstores/fcp-product/614171

    http://www.dunnesstores.com/thermal-leggings/lingerie/dunnesstores/fcp-product/456149?colour=ivory

    Fleecy Blankets

    fleece blabket

    A small fleece blanket can become very useful at home for times when you just need that extra level of comfort.  Whether you are sitting on the couch watching TV or your room feels like the Antarctic, a fleece throw can be your best friend. A personal tip for those particularly cold nights is to place a fleece blanket between yourself and your duvet, the trapping of the fleece between layers adds the much needed extra warmth.

    You can pick up these blankets in Penneys, Dunnes Stores or any home store around the city. Penneys have a blue throw for only six euro and with prices like that you really cannot go wrong.

    https://www.primark.com/en-ie/whats-new/product/27220,blue-cosy-throw

    http://www.dunnesstores.com/soft-touch-throw/cushions,-throws-and-rugs/dunnesstores/fcp-product/7562709?colour=duck-egg

    Slippers

    slippers

    Bear Slippers. Photo by kerryaki (Deviant Art)

    Once you have braved the elements and have returned to the safety of your home I suggest you pull out the slippers! You do not have to be 85-years-old to enjoy a good pair of slippers. They are much warmer and comfortable than wearing your shoes indoors so find your inner granny and whip out the slippers!

    The kind with a sole are most durable but fluffy soft soled slippers are also great. Another tip is to wear slipper socks in bed and if you are particularly cold like me, wear them around the house under your slippers. These items are cheap as chips and again, Penneys and Dunnes are the best places to find these items on a budget. For slippers under a tenner they are a steal!

    http://www.dunnesstores.com/women’s-fur-bootie-slippers/shoes-and-boots/dunnesstores/fcp-product/4140801?colour=beige

    http://www.dunnesstores.com/men’s-memory-foam-mule/shoes/dunnesstores/fcp-product/4240374?colour=navy

    http://www.dunnesstores.com/luxury-socks—2-pack/tights-and-socks/dunnesstores/fcp-product/262264?colour=plum

    Hot Water Bottle

    hot water bottle

    Hot water bottle. Illustration by Nemo (Pixabay)

    Lastly, we have the classic cheap and effective way to warm the cockles, the hot water bottle. Small, light and economical, the long established heating method is perfect for a student or someone on a budget to instantly heat up. All you need is your trusty hot water bottle and a kettle with some water. In Ireland the hot water bottle is a staple in any household and with more fashionable covers coming out all the time there is no excuse not to indulge in one.

    My personal favourite brand is Fashy, a German brand which lasts for years and is very user friendly, meaning a wide spout to avoid any burns or mishaps. They also have many funky covers to choose from and are relatively inexpensive.  Everywhere from Boots to Debenhams stock hot water bottles in Ireland so pick one up and you will not regret it.

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fashy-Water-Bottle-Cover-Peru-Design/dp/B008CCPMBU/ref=pd_sim_d_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=01GES4W5ZX50TFPENGTA

    http://www.boots.ie/en/Boots-hot-water-bottle-multi-coloured-spots_1605572/

    We here at TheCity.ie hope you can stay warm this February and if you follow these helpful tips you are sure to find a happier and healthier version of yourself through the cold snap.

  • McIlroy’s case set to tee off at 11am on Wednesday

     

     

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    (Image by Mark Shierbecker/Wikimedia)

    By Donal Lucey

    The first major of the season, the Masters, is just nine weeks away but world number 1 Rory Mcilroy must first face a tough battle in the High Court.

    The multi-million euro case involving the golfer and the Horizon management firm was set to begin this morning but has been further deferred until 11am.

    Fresh from his weekend victory in Dubai, Mcilroy is suing his former management company and is in turn being counter-sued by them after an acrimonious split in 2013.

    McIlroy joined Horizon’s stable of golfers – which also included fellow-major champion Graeme McDowell – in December 2011 and, in March 2013, he signed an extended contract that would take him up to 2017.

    But Mcilroy now claims that he was just 22 when he signed with the firm, without the benefit of legal advice and for this reason the agreement must be unenforceable. The defendants deny his claims and estimate they are owed up to $9 million.

    Barring a deal being struck McIlroy will be in court but it is likely to be Thursday at the earliest before the world No1 takes to the witness box.

    Stay tuned to thecity.ie for any further updates on the case.

     

  • 50 shades of pale

    Tuesday, 3rd February.

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    Sunburn. Photo by Phil Kates (flickr)

    Man I’m cooking! Lobsters of the world, I feel your pain. The lobster, as a crustacean, wears its bones on the outside: this is why when cooked the flesh inside is steamed to perfection. As a human my flesh is on the outside and after a week in the tropical sun my flesh is certainly cooked and I sure do bear a resemblance to my pincered friend.

    In Bali, only my Irish companion shares my plight as all other travellers appear to glow effortlessly, their skin simply absorbing the heat of the sun and transforming them to radiant golden caramel gods and goddesses. Oh Helios, where is the love for the pasty Irish?

    As the days go by, the glare of my practically translucent whitish blue legs ebbs and is replaced with a new shade of pink, which in turn converts to bright red and eventually reaches lobster status. While this transformation is taking place I begin to obsess over the mysterious golden creatures all around me and try to mimic their tanning behaviours in the hope they might reveal their toffee-coloured secrets. My efforts are in vain, the caramel Gods retain their enigma.

    I begin to question the Irish palate and wonder why it is the Irish have such an issue with tanning. Of course we don’t see a lot of sunshine at home, but that could be said of many nationalities and yet these have managed to bypass any tanning torment.  The Swedish, Germans and Canadians all manage it beautifully despite having extreme low temperatures during winter, in the sun they instantly transform into hot tanned bodies. It baffles me. Share your secrets with us, I implore you!

    I believe a niche report on the subject is drastically required, a cry for any Irish person who has mastered the art of metamorphosing from milk bottle white to golden caramel, to please share your secrets. Please. We’re listening. With our SPF-60 sun cream in hand.

    Aoife Lawless

  • American Sniper – a must see

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    Bradley cooper as Chris Kyle in American Sniper – photo by Sahil Khan

    Chris Kyle is an American Sniper dubbed by Iraqi insurgents as the ‘devil of Ramadi’; he earned this nickname by being the deadliest sniper in American history with at least 160 confirmed kills. He was heralded by Americans as a deadly force on the ‘War on Terror’.

    Clint Eastwood directed the film, based (rather loosely at times) on Kyle’s autobiography. The film is homage to the struggles that soldiers face when confronted by modern warfare. The first scene the audience is confronted with is the moral dilemma of whether Kyle’s character (played by Bradley Cooper) will shoot and kill a young child who carries a bomb. The fierce intrusion of this morally heinous situation draws the audience in to the darker sides of war.

    Many have heralded American Sniper as glorifying war, and yet Eastwood shows a brutal and gripping account of war that leaves Cooper shaking and volatile from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that has earned him a nomination for best actor for the Golden Globe award.

    American sniper will often leave you breathless, literally at the edge of your seat (or pinned down to it, depending on the type of person you are) watching a Marine live through war and attempting to heal from it after. It is likened to Saving Private Ryan for its unflinching portrayal of war. What one must do is separate American Sniper from Chris Kyle, the controversy that  is embedded from his book and when you look at the movie as a standalone you are left with is one of the best films of the year.

    By Natasha Reis

  • Albania: somewhere different to visit this summer!

    We know that it is freezing here in Dublin, and a lot of people are already looking forward to summer holidays. While you are wearing this big padded jacket that makes you look like one of Bibendum’s relatives, here at The City we would like to talk to you about Albania. Yes, Albania.

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    You, trying to make the best out of it during winter – (Michelin’s Bibendum) – Photo by Kevin Kim

    If you are looking for a sunny country, with astonishing landscapes and amazing cheap food that is not-so-touristic, A-L-B-A-N-I-A.

    Are you crazy about old objects which will certainly be useless once you purchased them? I think we all are. We advise you to go to Kruje, in which there is an outdoor market full of typical Albanian souvenirs. You can also find a huge range of metallic objects, such as old wind instruments and soldiers’ helmets. Not to mention old soldier’s outfits. And old soldiers’ flasks. You can actually find a lot of old army equipment. Kruje is an ancient fortress town. As you climb up the hill, you can see all the ramparts. If you like to find old stones, this town is also for you.

    If you like crystal blue water, you have two options. The first one, and the one which is certainly better, is to go to Koman artificial lake. To have the best bathing time ever, we advise you to organise something with one of the boat companies around the lake. They will take you to a private beach and prepare the lunch once you arrive. The water might be quite cold, but the landscape surrounding you at this very moment will make you forget the fact that your toes might be freezing.

    The other option is to visit the Blue Eye (in Delvinë District). Blue Eye, called Syri Kalter in Albanian, is a water spring from which you can see the source. What’s so special about that? Well, the depth of the source hasn’t been determined yet. But it appears to be more than 50 meters, and that is pretty impressive. If you’re brave enough, you can try to jump in at the source – good luck with swimming back up!

    If you are more of a city person, Korçë is made for you. You can visit museums as well as Korçë’s Orthodox Church. You can find a various range of restaurants and bars in the city. There is a nightlife in Korçë, and young people are always happy to go clubbing. Korçë is also famous for its annual beer festival, which happens around the 13th of August. Families and people of all ages are often outside, giving to Korçë a friendly and convivial atmosphere.

    If you would like to learn more about the country’s culture, history and religion, Voskopojë is the right village to go too. During the 18thcentury, Voskopojë was the cultural centre of the area (Korçë). Nowadays this small village is not considered to be the main cultural centre, but you can visit five ancient Orthodox churches, where you will be able to admire great murals. You can also go to Apollonia (Illyria) in Vjosë. Apollonia was an ancient Greek city, in which there was a theatre, a library and an entire street with shops. Nowadays, you can walk through the archeological site and see the ruins of this ancient city.

    If we did not convince you that Albania might actually be a brilliant idea for your next summer destination, we advise you to actually go there and make up your own mind. Come on, you can’t say you don’t like it if you don’t try it!

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    Monday, 2nd February. Text & Photos in the Slideshow by: Defné Cetin