Dashnor Kaloçi
Memorie.al publishes some unknown press articles of the period of the Zog Monarchy of the late 1930s, which paid special attention to the promotion of tourism resources offered by Albania, where the National Tourism Authority developed a propaganda large through the press for some of the most frequented places by local and foreign tourists, such as the cities of Pogradec or Korça with its picturesque villages, such as: Mborja, Drenova, Morava, Bozdoveci, Boboshtica, Dardha, Voskopoja, Vithkuqi, etc. , where among other things it was said: “In the 17th kilometer from Korça. We have to relax in Dardhë without filling another kilometer. The road now passes through forests. An extremely beautiful scenic view develops before the eyes when the car turns even a road elbow and let a part of Pear be seen. St. Peter’s grove, the autumn stone for the opposite, the Suare hills in the West and the hills near the Devoll road in the East and in the middle Dardha. Nature has been very generous, has given Pear a good climate and has adorned it with the most beautiful colors. The pears have not spoiled anything from this beauty, on the contrary, they have taken care to preserve it in time “
“The city of Korça offers not only an ideal climate, not only clean air, not only light, healthy and cold water, but also all the conveniences of life. Me 12 to 15 fr. gold per month one finds in Korça a good room, nicely furnished, with one or two beds. Food is not expensive. Very tasty Korça meat, eggs, chicken and plenty of milk, scented butter, fruits and vegetables better than anywhere else. Even amusements are not lacking. Entering the cinema where the same movies that are brought in Tirana are played, costs 2 lek in the loggia and 1 lek in the parterre”. This is what the daily “Drita”, one of the many newspapers of the period of the Zog Monarchy, wrote about the city of Korça, among other things, at the beginning of the summer of 1938, when the summer tourist season was preparing to start and that city was populated by visitors. and numerous vacationers, local and foreign. But what were the other resources that the city of Korça and its villages offered to many tourists and visitors during the years of the Zog Monarchy and what problems did that city face at that time? What was the role and work they were doing then
municipalities, communes and the National Tourism Authority for the promotion and development of tourism in that city with an excellent climate? Regarding these and other problems of this nature, we know some writings and reports, which Memorie.al has taken from the press of the Bird Monarchy of 1938, publishing them without any changes and in the official language of that time.
“DRITA” newspaper: Korça, an ideal summer place
We are on the verge of spring. After a long and wild winter, we must prepare to start the activity in all branches, with which in winter we do not have the opportunity to work. One of these branches is that of tourism. Of course, in winter we have nothing to do in the field of tourism development, except for the preparations and plans that we have to develop next summer. By closing the balance of tourist activity during the last summer, to try to correct the shortcomings that were noted, while trying to improve the means for the reception of tourists such as hotels, restaurants, communications, etc. We do not know what is happening in other cities of the Kingdom, we do not even know what the “National Tourism Office” has done in this area, but we know that we here in Korça, alas, have not done anything, and it is not even felt a math interest from the competent for the development of tourism. Everyone you talk to thinks that tourism should be given the utmost importance, but despite all this, no one takes the initiative to create a society for the development of tourism. The development of tourism today has taken a big boost in all advanced countries. Entities and companies have been set up with significant funding from the respective states. The great economic, social and cultural benefits that tourism brings are indisputable. Among us tourism has started to develop in recent years, with the efforts of the National Tourism Office, and the results have been good, but not excellent. The reasons are many. One of the main reasons is undoubtedly the disinterest of the people, and the second, the lack of comfortable means of receiving foreign tourists. Speaking of Korça, we are giving an example: If it were possible for a group of 100 tourists to visit our city at the same time, Korça would not have comfortable hotels to sleep in. Also, if these tourists want to visit the districts of Korça, to say that they will not find any means of communication, but without a doubt that these means will be very expensive and unsuitable.
What should be done for Tourism?
We said above that the National Tourism Authority is conducting a lively and continuous tourism propaganda activity. But this activity, no matter how lively, can never give the desired results, without the help of the people in general, and the municipalities and communes in particular. People need to understand that every penny that a tourist leaves in his country, goes directly or indirectly into his pocket. This is one of the reasons why everyone can help the development of tourism by any means. It is impossible for the State or the Tourism Authorities to do it all. We are bringing a small example of the disinterest of the people towards tourism. Last year a group of tourists came to Korça. We met them on the boulevard and they asked us for some explanations in a foreign language that we did not know. To be able to serve them, we went to the nearest cafe and there we asked a gentleman who spoke that language to give the desired explanations to the tourists. But the gentleman who was chatting, answered us: Who cares now with them! … The municipality should help as much as it can for the development of tourism in Korça. First and foremost, the cleanliness of hotels and restaurants must be under its strict control. At the same time, it should develop a propaganda through illustrated brochures. To print brochures in native and foreign languages showing the different historical, panoramic and climatic areas of Korça, which may interest the tourist. And Korça is not poor in these assets. Voskopoja and Vithkuqi are two villages with historical waste. Also, Dardha and Pogradec are climatic and panoramic places that delight the eye and soul of every tourist no matter how pretentious. But at the same time, the municipalities of our historical and climatic villages must show a tireless activity in the improvement and beautification of the villages in question, and by making as vivid propaganda as possible for the attraction of tourists. We know that last year a special commission was formed by the municipality, which took care of taking pictures of the city and the picturesque areas of the district. It was said then that a brochure for tourist propaganda would be prepared, but to date fortunately we have not seen anything in the square. It’s time to dump her and move on.
Korça, an ideal summer place
Drowned by the heat of the capital – in the absence of villas in the sand dunes of Durrës – with many friends we agreed to leave for a few days in Korça. God bless the “automakers” who quarrel between them and transport us with 10-15 lek from Tirana to here. To be destroyed, they will certainly be destroyed, but let the beneficiaries collect some blessings from us beneficiaries. Even if they suffer in this world, they have the right to hope that in the next world they will be happy. I came to Korça fresh, without dust, without mosquitoes, with cold clear water, with charming people, intelligent, kind and hardworking. We are eight hundred meters below sea level, an ideal place for summer. For the people of Korça who live here in winter and summer, maybe another higher place is needed to change the air in the summer season. But for Tirana, Durrsak, Shkodra, and their friends who live a few meters above the sea, only the city of Korca is the ideal place for summer, because there are seven hundred meters of change in altitude. And the city of Korça approaches you, not only an ideal climate, only fresh air, not only light, healthy and cold water, but also all the conveniences of life. On 12 to 15 fr. gold per month, one finds in Korça a good room, nicely furnished, with one or two beds. Food is not expensive. Very tasty Korça meat, eggs, chicken and plenty of milk, scented butter, fruits and vegetables better than anywhere else. Even amusements are not lacking. Admission to the Cinema where the same movies are played that are brought to Tirana, costs 2 lek in the loggia and 1 lek in the ground floor. Outside Korça there are beautiful café gardens with music and a special place to dance, family bars where coffee costs only half a lek. There are then good and clean restaurants, with very reasonable prices (provided you speak Albanian, why else do they take it for foreigners and then we do not guarantee the prices), there is roasted meat that is sold with scales, ok, very cheap, staple food for families spending the summer here.
-This roasted meat is a blessing of God and a salvation for us- said a friend from Kavaja who came to spend the summer in Korça himself third.
-Why? I asked curiously.
-Because with roasted meat, which you always find fresh and cheap in price, with a good salad and a little cheese and fruit, we eat bread at home, i.e. in the room we rented, without being forced to cook. From time to time we send some casserole to the oven. In this very economical way, we go to Korça for two months very well. -And have you seen the hereafter from the climate here?
-Again. In two months, my son adds 5-6 qillo here. Since we started coming to Korça we have kicked the doctor out of the house! Korça has another advantage There is ok instead of a kilogram. Ancient Turkish oke.
Night in Korça
On warm summer evenings, I. Zog i Boulevard in Korça is the most popular place for walks. Hundreds of people, men and women, walk side by side and in groups along the Boulevard. It is a beautiful western view that no other city in Albania can present today. A café-garden at the end of the Boulevard and another, larger and more beautiful from the Mborje road, of saze and a special place to dance, give the visitor a cool and pleasant place to relax on warm nights. The night in Korça has no humidity, so the summer night is sweet in this mountain town. Sleep is easy and in the morning the person wakes up fresh and exhausted, full of joy and health.
Missing a tourist office!
For those who need to change the air and whose pocket does not allow them to spend much, the city of Korça and the picturesque villages of the region, are the salvation. In the villages of Dardhë, Voskopojë, Vithkuq, Hoçisht, Boboshticë, as well as inside the city, there are many rooms or houses that are rented out for the summer season, but the summer person has no contact with them. There is a lack of a special tourist office in Korça, which will take care of and register these apartments in time, together with the respective price, so that it can serve reliable information to those interested. Such an office should be established as soon as possible. Both the National Tourism Office and the Municipality of Korça have a duty to support the tourism development of the city and the region, so they can spend enough to cover the rent of a small office and the minimum wage of an employee who will deals with this work. If this office does nothing but register housing and pensions and distribute information, it is still worth the rent. In reality this office will have a broader mission and will bring very great services. To love and help Korça, because from every point of view it deserves it.
How was the first heat received in Korça. Shesteve Fair-Excursions through the villages
The traditional six-month fair was helped this year by a beautiful but warm time. Almost all the people from Korça, small and large, get up and go to Mborje to happen in these fair rich in simple but pleasant amusements. Korçars, last Sunday, on the occasion of this celebration, made the first greeting through the hottest fields of summer. The road that led to Mborje, recognized on this day the biggest movement. Automobiles, and pedestrians, men, women, children, all with excursion equipment, form a range that fills the length and breadth of the Mborje road. Korça, an old woman and a bride at the same time, welcomed the warmth of summer with open arms. He had fun and rejoiced. The Shestar Fair has been a good opportunity to feel the transition from a Winter Spring, as it has been this year, to a full Summer. But Korça is not unbearable in Summer. With a healthy climate, this city has some beautiful gardens around it that are worth entertaining the people and giving them a clean smell. This is where the Korça spends his rest hours, this is where the visitor goes to relax his hours.
In the garden of Petraq Osmanlli
It is really a deep pleasure to spend a few hours in the garden of Petraq Osmanlli located on Mborje Street and a few steps away from the new building of the National High School. On the occasion of the fair of sixes, a large majority of the people, buzzing in the streets of Mborje, stopped in this garden or rather, in this small and systematized forest. Here you see a beautiful building in the middle, covered with shady branches of numerous trees and full of tables and chairs scattered in order, among the beautiful corners of this magical forest. The people of Korça themselves have given the name “Paradise” to this attractive nature, which is contemplated in this garden. More than 600 people found themselves here returning from the fair, a place to sit and cold and selected drinks. Gathered in the dense shadows of large trees, the various paratroopers enjoy the music of the orchestra, inhaling the clean and fresh scent amidst a floral and green nature that pervades this magnificent park everywhere. With such locals, Korça, a math city, is also a summer resort. For those who are unable to get away from the city, such parks are a real lifesaver. Find a place to spend your leisure time and strengthen your health.
In Drenovo
In Drenovo, on this day, a rich lunch was served by the councils (Church Council, our note), cathedral for the members of the Metropolitan Choir, a choir which operates under the tireless direction of prof. Sotir Kozmo. In addition to the mixed choir, consisting of 60 people, boys and girls, took part in this lunch. Math Metropolitan, Father Vasil Marko and church counsel. All students of the Orthodox Seminary “Jovan Banka” also participated here. At the same time in the alcohol factory “Mercury” of Mr. Llambi Mano, director of the company in question and President of the Chamber of Commerce, hosted a rich lunch for the council’s council, which was attended by, in addition to councilors, the poet Asdren. Next Sunday, the extracurricular society “Rinia Korçare”, theatrical branch, will make a family math excursion to Bradvica, which will be attended by about 200 people. These excursionist movements are marking a distinct vitality in Korça.
The big tourist walks of the theatrical branch of the society “Rinia Korçare” in Saint-Kostandin of Bradvica. 200 boys and girls participated.
An internal tourist movement is reviving in our city: tourist excursions through the mountains and tourist places of Korça, are often organized in these weeks. And it is a sin for Korçars, and especially boys, to be locked up in cafes or in the city on holidays, and these days they have the opportunity to spend contact with nature, in the fresh air and full of health. Drenova, Boboshtica, Dardha, Voskopopja, Vithkuqi and Pogradec, are beautiful and healthy areas where the boys from Korça can have a lot of fun. However, the tourist movements of this summer, and especially the previous day’s math excursion organized by the theatrical branch of her husband, “Rinja Korçare”, give us hope for a continuous start in the development of domestic tourism in our region.
Tourist walk of the Theatrical Branch of Assoc. “Korça Youth”
It is the first time that such a magnificent tourist walk was realized by the youth of Korça. Usually tourist walks and picnics are organized between friends and acquaintances; but the day before yesterday’s excursion was not like that because it was also aimed at brotherhood among the youth: most of them did not know each other at all, but thanks to this excursion they met and spent a happy day with songs and dances in the romantic forest of St. Kostandin of Bradvica. Saint Constantine of Bradvica, is located only about 20 km. lark Korça, in the mountains of “Morava”. Since in the large group of 200 people participated about 70 ladies and gentlemen, it was decided that the departure from Korça to be done no later than 2 o’clock, on Sunday morning, in order to make the trip slow so as not to get tired. Girls. Exactly at the appointed hour, the 200 excursionists took the road to Bradvica; the night was very beautiful and the moon full; under the echoes of national songs, which sounded powerful in the stillness of the night, the human caravan passed through the village of Mborje and entered the gorge of the skrk. Although the road was quite steep, the boys did not stop singing. As soon as it came out of the dry and black gorge, the dense forests of Morava were traversed. After two hours of traveling to the picturesque and forested places, we arrived at “Çezma e Gjergos”, where the first station was designated. Here the whole group stopped to eat breakfast. The water of “Gjergo Fountain” is worth half a beer, since this delicious Korça beer is made from this water. Here the Company “Birra Korça” has installed a large warehouse and hence with pipes (pipes, our note), leading to the factory. In the fountain lawn, the youngsters of the group got to know each other. After a half-hour break, the journey resumed to touch the summit of Morava, some 1,700 m. high; here is Bozdovec full of pine trees; a little further west, the Dry Skrka. In the end, far away, the mountains of Ostrovica, still covered with snow, greet with greatness. From the South; “Guri i sharp” and the mountains of Dardha, here is “Guri i Capit”.
In St. Constantine
A dense forest of centuries-old beech trees, a fountain of cold water, some beautiful lawns and churches, complement the beauties of this romantic place. Some friends, who had come on Saturday with the necessary food, pressured the excursionists. Twenty minutes of rest on the beautiful lawn was enough to relax from the four-hour journey. The ladies and gentlemen shook hands, started dancing, and the boys started various toys. To the delight of all a group of uninvited sazejins arrived shortly after. National dances were proudly performed by boys and elegantly by girls. A little further on, two small groups had laid out Albanians. With songs, brandy and beer. At 11 o’clock lunch was laid in the shade of the trees and everyone took their seats. From two uzo cups — not to whet the appetite, why no one felt this need — but to wish one the other, were emptied. “Brom, Akim”, I found you. “Krainar”, to find the good “bridges” and find it from humanity, so the boys were called by different names of the roles they had a player on stage. Lunch did not last long because the sazejins continued tirelessly to dance and the youth boiled their blood. The amusement continued unabated until 3 o’clock in the afternoon; was given the departure signal and after 10 minutes, the group took the road to Korça. (KTONA)
Dardha e Korçës: The most beautiful place for summer-Unique natural beauty-Developed life of Dardhë
To date, no systematic propaganda has been made about the beautiful areas of Albania. Probably due to this, the fact that the attractive and healthy nature of our country is not sufficiently known by the majority. It is not our intention to serve those few families who, from time to time, go for summer on the slopes or in the mountains. These, from the test they have done, know the qualities of these areas. In addition, it would be a limited service if we just stopped here. So, we’re going to give the summer movement some sort of popularity. To know our climatic countries as much as possible and thus cause a denser movement. Movement is a sign of vitality and strengthening it brings with its well-being. But what can be the most beautiful summer areas? Here, for example, Dardha e Korçës fulfills all the conditions that give it the right to occupy a place of honor in the range of our summer areas. There are two good things: very beautiful nature and developed society. Years ago, during this time, one of the editors who visited Dardha published a long overview of the life and nature of this very attractive climatic place. We are republishing a part of that report here.
Going to Pear
The ascent to Dardhë started. We walk a few kilometers and feel that a diverse nature surrounds you. Nothing is monotonous. The road, which goes to the foot of the Bigla mountains, leaves beautiful views on both sides. They are becoming more beautiful when the whole country starts to turn green. The mountains are not dry, they are forests. The green color, which now dominates everywhere, relaxes the eye. The mountain lines, which sometimes end in some wild slope, somewhere just bend, form the narrow horizon line. It is not like on the field here, where the gaze lies in space. In the 17th kilometer from Korça. We have to relax in Dardhë without filling another kilometer. But why not, where is the Pear? The road now passes through forests. An extremely beautiful scenic view develops before the eyes when the car turns even a road elbow and let a part of Pear be seen. St. Peter’s grove, the autumn stone for the opposite, the Suare hills in the West and the hills near the Devoll road in the East and in the middle Dardha. Nature has been shown to be very generous. He gave Dardha a good climate and decorated it with the most beautiful colors. The pears have not spoiled anything from this beauty, on the contrary they have taken care to preserve it in time. But how was this standard of living created in Dardhë? It is a rich country in itself. No, the country produces nothing. The pears went into exile, we say they went that now no one can move the country. The doors of the curve closed. Pears should live in Pear. What are they doing here? It is astonishing how the people did not move from this place at all! Once over 2000 inhabitants, today nearly 1100 people are constrained to live in this very beautiful place as a position, but poor in land wealth. Use the forests? It would be a crime. It would collapse, it would lose all the beauty of the Pear, all the work of the painter Nature who adorned it with the most attractive colors in this climatic place of great value. And now Dardha is valued as such a place and therefore, come here from all over Albania to spend the summer season. Dardha became an important summer place in the region of Korça. Nature and the Pears contributed to this. They made sacrifices, melting thoughts not only the pears that live today in this village-town, but also the sons of Dardha who are in America, Romania and Greece. These have been the curves of the Pears. They have formed societies, have kept unquenchable the fire of love for their homeland, have preserved their nationality and have helped Albania and Dardha. The first Albanian club in America was founded by Dardharëst in 1909, in E Cabridge, Mass. Today, the “Bee” Society of Romanian Pears sent money, with which the school was built, roads were opened, taps were made. Water to drink, is abundant in Pear.
How do those who spend their summers in Pear spend their time?
Near the forest of St. Thanas, in a convenient and beautiful position, is the hotel “Tursit-Park”. The beautiful garden of this restaurant gathers everyone who spends the summer in Dardhë. Lark from the village at an altitude of 1344 m. (the center of Dardha has a height of 1316 m.), “Tourist-Park” gave visitors the most convenient place to spend the day. Those who live in the house and the hotel located inside the village, spend most of the day in the beautiful garden of “Turist-Park”. Visitors to Pear lack nothing. Pears have a very developed sense of hospitality, help and bring relief to those who come for summer. As developed as they are, they have realized that for their country tourism is an important income, the only income that Dardha can have today. So much so that private individuals as well as the “Shpresa” society of Dardharëve do their best to make Dardha to be visited as much as possible by Albanians and foreigners. This company maintains its offices and library in several separate sections of the school building. The books of this library are old and new Albanian publications. Most of them are from the library of the “Pear Youth of America” club, since after the dissolution of this club, the property went into the possession of the “Hope” Pear Society. The existence of this library with a small adjustment, can serve for studies not only Dardhar, but also visitors who come here. Not to mention the mineral water located 10 minutes away from the center and used as recommended by doctors for diseases of the stomach and kidneys. In conclusion, it should be said that Dardha is in the first place of our climatic countries as a climate and as a developed society./Memorie.al
