Yes even in traditional and rather oldschool mentality driven countries such as Albania, there are pockets full of hippies, freaks, outcasts and freedom loving people. One example is this hidden beach restaurant at the border between Albania and Montenegro. Hidden in a bush, away from civilization, with privacy and beautiful views, there is a place called Zogai.
It is kinda hard to find and that very fact helps to filter out the average tourist from a dedicated adventure seeker. Not that "normies" are not welcome there, it is just nice not to be surrounded by mainstream every now and then.
The owner, which name I have sadly long forgotten, welcomes us with typical grin and shows us his very limited skills in three popular languages. German, russian and some Italian... What a mix really. He just caught fish and is portioning it for later grill session I assume. The cats are happy when he is busy serving us beer as they jump on the fresh catch.
When he sees them he ran out from his hut with a knife of a size of machete and they quickly disappear into every direction. Our beer is nice and cold and we go down the stairs to enjoy the beach for ourselves and have a swim. Naked of course, as nobody is looking and the nearest people we can see are pretty far away. Really lovely spot it is.
Our pioneering spirit pushes us further to the border with a neighbor country Montenegro. Total wilderness and no need for a border patrol. Snakes spiders and lot of bush do their job just fine. Some military basements are to be seen on those remote islands a bit further. We wish there would be a way to get there with dry feet.
There are also some old barracks, these days full of cow shit, but one can almost see what it must have been like to serve there. Amazing views and jet kind of depressing cloud hanging on top of the whole area. Like in any other military facility I assume. Better stay out of that and enjoy just the views...
All the best,
Global Local