If you Google something along the lines of “best places for Americans to live abroad,” a surprising country crops up: Albania. Albania! Can you even find Albania on a map? Me either. I knew it was somewhere in Eastern Europe, but that was about extent of it. It turns out that Albania is just north of Greece and straight east, across the Adriatic Sea, from Italy.

Albania is the little country in magenta.

We were curious to say the least. A cursory look indicates that it is a safe country and the cost of living is significantly less than in the U.S. Even more interesting, they love America and Americans. Curiouser and curiouser!

Apparently, Albania’s love for Americans is the result of action taken Woodrow Wilson. After the First World War, the international community was debating breaking up Albania, but Woodrow Wilson vetoed that course of action, declaring that Albania ought to remain independent. Now, they often fly the United States flag alongside their own.

Consequently, Americans are granted a tourist visa that lasts a year, whereas for everyone else, it’s 90 days.

Our interest is definitely piqued!