Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
Your Albanian relative are Sunni Muslim, then? During the 1970s I could pick up Radio Tirana on my shortwave when no other European stations were accessible except those with repeaters in the West Indies. The same lady announcer would read the news every time, and she sounded like the grim reaper. She was not a good cheerleader for communism. Gerry On 6/2/2014 10:13 PM, Dan Penoff wrote: Albania was probably the country who came the closest to pure socialism in its day. My grandfather would get letter from my cousins which inferred that we were all rich beyond belief and the streets were paved with gold, so to speak. The things they told the people about the West were really outrageous, at least from what we could see. One of the last letters I saw from them before the government collapsed and the Hoxhaist state was more or less dismantled had them asking for several thousand dollars so they could buy motorbikes for everyone in the family to help them to be able to get around. This was in the early 1980s, I recall. In 1966 or 67, I traveled with my Dad to NYC to visit the Albanian representatives at the UN. We had gotten word that one of the relatives was very sick, and my grandfather wanted my Dad to travel to Albania to deliver medicine to the family under the auspices of a Red Cross visit. I recall the men from the consul or whatever the diplomatic entity they were being very skeptical and not so nice. They would, however, grant my father and any other member of our family a visa to enter the country if we liked. The next day we took the train down to D.C. where we met with some people from the State Department. I remember was the State Department person telling us that we were welcome to go to Albania if they issued a visa, but once we crossed their border we would, for all intents and purposes, vanish off the face of the Earth, as the US had no diplomatic relations with the country. Needless to say, my Dad said The hell with it! and more or less told my grandfather they wouldn't let us in the country. Dan On Jun 2, 2014, at 5:37 PM, Randy Bennell wrote: Just like in Washington DC (and probably Ottawa too). On 02/06/2014 4:12 PM, Andrew Strasfogel wrote: Commie socialist capitalists? On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 3:58 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: I understand a lot of them are stolen elsewhere and taken there and sold, a fairly lawless place. The commie socialists embraced capitalism very quickly. --R On 6/2/14 3:34 PM, Dan Penoff wrote: That's pretty interesting, as before they opened the borders to the outside world they were lucky to have horse drawn carts. My Dad's family is from Albania and I supposedly still have relatives there... Dan Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 3:30 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: @ 1 grandson (grad student in Paris) is on a summer job in Tirana, Albania; 'says most of the cars there seem to be MB's; lotsa 124's and newer; I'll ask about 123's. Wilton ___ ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
Not hardly. My grandfather was Greek Orthodox. The government destroyed or re-tasked all places of worship starting in the late 1940s, so I doubt that my relatives had any religious affiliation. As for my grandfather, the area where he is from was a real melting pot of religions and cultures at the time he was growing up (early 1900s) consisting of Christians (Greeks and Macedonians) and Muslims (Turks) as well as a smattering of others, including Jews. I always recall him telling jokes about the Macedonians, as if they were the Polacks of the area When I was a young teenager and dabbling in electronics I built him a shortwave receiver from a Heathkit. Set up the antenna and everything. He would often spend his evenings listening to broadcasts from Albania and other Eastern Bloc countries, as he spoke and wrote in a number of their languages. Dan Sent from my iPad On Jun 3, 2014, at 2:52 AM, arche...@embarqmail.com arche...@embarqmail.com wrote: Your Albanian relative are Sunni Muslim, then? During the 1970s I could pick up Radio Tirana on my shortwave when no other European stations were accessible except those with repeaters in the West Indies. The same lady announcer would read the news every time, and she sounded like the grim reaper. She was not a good cheerleader for communism. Gerry On 6/2/2014 10:13 PM, Dan Penoff wrote: Albania was probably the country who came the closest to pure socialism in its day. My grandfather would get letter from my cousins which inferred that we were all rich beyond belief and the streets were paved with gold, so to speak. The things they told the people about the West were really outrageous, at least from what we could see. One of the last letters I saw from them before the government collapsed and the Hoxhaist state was more or less dismantled had them asking for several thousand dollars so they could buy motorbikes for everyone in the family to help them to be able to get around. This was in the early 1980s, I recall. In 1966 or 67, I traveled with my Dad to NYC to visit the Albanian representatives at the UN. We had gotten word that one of the relatives was very sick, and my grandfather wanted my Dad to travel to Albania to deliver medicine to the family under the auspices of a Red Cross visit. I recall the men from the consul or whatever the diplomatic entity they were being very skeptical and not so nice. They would, however, grant my father and any other member of our family a visa to enter the country if we liked. The next day we took the train down to D.C. where we met with some people from the State Department. I remember was the State Department person telling us that we were welcome to go to Albania if they issued a visa, but once we crossed their border we would, for all intents and purposes, vanish off the face of the Earth, as the US had no diplomatic relations with the country. Needless to say, my Dad said The hell with it! and more or less told my grandfather they wouldn't let us in the country. Dan On Jun 2, 2014, at 5:37 PM, Randy Bennell wrote: Just like in Washington DC (and probably Ottawa too). On 02/06/2014 4:12 PM, Andrew Strasfogel wrote: Commie socialist capitalists? On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 3:58 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
This is something that every citizen should do when traveling to a potentially sketchy foreign country. In advance of your trip check the State Department web site for the contact information of the local embassy or consulate. Upon arrival, call them, identify yourself as a U.S. citizen, and ask to speak to the RSO (Resident Security Officer) on the duty desk. When you get to the RSO, identify yourself and let them know you are In-country and would like to check in. They will ask for your location and departure date. It's a courtesy to call them and let them know when you leave, although not required. Here's the deal: If the RSO has a record of you being in-country and all hell starts breaking loose or there is a reason for U.S. citizens to be in danger, they will try to contact you. It's also handy if you don't show up at home and someone has to go looking for you. Dan BTDT Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 11:25 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: I asked Grndson to check in/register with American embassy/consulate - Just in case you might need some 'help,' at least let somebody know you're there. Wilton ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
Let me suggest that you make copies of identification documents like your passport and leave them with someone you trust back home so that, if your passport should be lost or stolen etc., you can at the very least get the copy faxed or emailed etc so that you have some evidence of who you are. Having the document copies notarized might not be a bad idea either and you might get those couriered to you as even better evidence than the faxed copies. Actually, a good idea to photocopy all of the stuff in your wallet periodically. Much easier to get replaced if you lose your wallet if you at least know what was in there etc. On 03/06/2014 11:08 AM, Dan Penoff wrote: This is something that every citizen should do when traveling to a potentially sketchy foreign country. In advance of your trip check the State Department web site for the contact information of the local embassy or consulate. Upon arrival, call them, identify yourself as a U.S. citizen, and ask to speak to the RSO (Resident Security Officer) on the duty desk. When you get to the RSO, identify yourself and let them know you are In-country and would like to check in. They will ask for your location and departure date. It's a courtesy to call them and let them know when you leave, although not required. Here's the deal: If the RSO has a record of you being in-country and all hell starts breaking loose or there is a reason for U.S. citizens to be in danger, they will try to contact you. It's also handy if you don't show up at home and someone has to go looking for you. Dan BTDT Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 11:25 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: I asked Grndson to check in/register with American embassy/consulate - Just in case you might need some 'help,' at least let somebody know you're there. Wilton ___ ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
Absolutely. I always carried copies of my passport, WHO immunization card and driver's license in a number of different places with me when I traveled. From personal experience I can tell you it's far easier getting a passport replaced while in a foreign country if you have copies of the original. Family and our travel department all had copies as well. Dan Sent from my iPad On Jun 3, 2014, at 12:13 PM, Randy Bennell rbenn...@bennell.ca wrote: Let me suggest that you make copies of identification documents like your passport and leave them with someone you trust back home so that, if your passport should be lost or stolen etc., you can at the very least get the copy faxed or emailed etc so that you have some evidence of who you are. Having the document copies notarized might not be a bad idea either and you might get those couriered to you as even better evidence than the faxed copies. Actually, a good idea to photocopy all of the stuff in your wallet periodically. Much easier to get replaced if you lose your wallet if you at least know what was in there etc. On 03/06/2014 11:08 AM, Dan Penoff wrote: This is something that every citizen should do when traveling to a potentially sketchy foreign country. In advance of your trip check the State Department web site for the contact information of the local embassy or consulate. Upon arrival, call them, identify yourself as a U.S. citizen, and ask to speak to the RSO (Resident Security Officer) on the duty desk. When you get to the RSO, identify yourself and let them know you are In-country and would like to check in. They will ask for your location and departure date. It's a courtesy to call them and let them know when you leave, although not required. Here's the deal: If the RSO has a record of you being in-country and all hell starts breaking loose or there is a reason for U.S. citizens to be in danger, they will try to contact you. It's also handy if you don't show up at home and someone has to go looking for you. Dan BTDT Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 11:25 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: I asked Grndson to check in/register with American embassy/consulate - Just in case you might need some 'help,' at least let somebody know you're there. Wilton ___ ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
[MBZ] MB's in Albania
@ 1 grandson (grad student in Paris) is on a summer job in Tirana, Albania; 'says most of the cars there seem to be MB's; lotsa 124's and newer; I'll ask about 123's. Wilton ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
That's pretty interesting, as before they opened the borders to the outside world they were lucky to have horse drawn carts. My Dad's family is from Albania and I supposedly still have relatives there... Dan Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 3:30 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: @ 1 grandson (grad student in Paris) is on a summer job in Tirana, Albania; 'says most of the cars there seem to be MB's; lotsa 124's and newer; I'll ask about 123's. Wilton ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
That was s'posed to be # 1 grandson. He also says traffic seems to be helter-skelter; few traffic signals; every driver for himself; blow horn and go. 'Sounds dangerous. BTW, during the Commie dictatorship, they seemed to be afraid of everybody; built MANY concrete bunkers everywhere. A pity that money could not have gone to education, improving the economy, quality of life, etc. Wilton - Original Message - From: Dan Penoff d...@penoff.com To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 3:34 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania That's pretty interesting, as before they opened the borders to the outside world they were lucky to have horse drawn carts. My Dad's family is from Albania and I supposedly still have relatives there... Dan Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 3:30 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: @ 1 grandson (grad student in Paris) is on a summer job in Tirana, Albania; 'says most of the cars there seem to be MB's; lotsa 124's and newer; I'll ask about 123's. Wilton ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
I understand a lot of them are stolen elsewhere and taken there and sold, a fairly lawless place. The commie socialists embraced capitalism very quickly. --R On 6/2/14 3:34 PM, Dan Penoff wrote: That's pretty interesting, as before they opened the borders to the outside world they were lucky to have horse drawn carts. My Dad's family is from Albania and I supposedly still have relatives there... Dan Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 3:30 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: @ 1 grandson (grad student in Paris) is on a summer job in Tirana, Albania; 'says most of the cars there seem to be MB's; lotsa 124's and newer; I'll ask about 123's. Wilton ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
Yeah and lots of them were stolen from Greece. Sent from my iPhone On Jun 2, 2014, at 3:30 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: @ 1 grandson (grad student in Paris) is on a summer job in Tirana, Albania; 'says most of the cars there seem to be MB's; lotsa 124's and newer; I'll ask about 123's. Wilton ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
Rich Thomas wrote: I understand a lot of them are stolen elsewhere and taken there and sold, a fairly lawless place. The commie socialists embraced capitalism very quickly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyH-351Z_-0 ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
Commie socialist capitalists? On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 3:58 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: I understand a lot of them are stolen elsewhere and taken there and sold, a fairly lawless place. The commie socialists embraced capitalism very quickly. --R On 6/2/14 3:34 PM, Dan Penoff wrote: That's pretty interesting, as before they opened the borders to the outside world they were lucky to have horse drawn carts. My Dad's family is from Albania and I supposedly still have relatives there... Dan Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 3:30 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: @ 1 grandson (grad student in Paris) is on a summer job in Tirana, Albania; 'says most of the cars there seem to be MB's; lotsa 124's and newer; I'll ask about 123's. Wilton ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
Just like in Washington DC (and probably Ottawa too). On 02/06/2014 4:12 PM, Andrew Strasfogel wrote: Commie socialist capitalists? On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 3:58 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: I understand a lot of them are stolen elsewhere and taken there and sold, a fairly lawless place. The commie socialists embraced capitalism very quickly. --R On 6/2/14 3:34 PM, Dan Penoff wrote: That's pretty interesting, as before they opened the borders to the outside world they were lucky to have horse drawn carts. My Dad's family is from Albania and I supposedly still have relatives there... Dan Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 3:30 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: @ 1 grandson (grad student in Paris) is on a summer job in Tirana, Albania; 'says most of the cars there seem to be MB's; lotsa 124's and newer; I'll ask about 123's. Wilton ___ ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
Yeah, just like in Russia and China and parts of Charleston pretty much, but they have bypassed the problems with capital and working for it and raising it and all that, they just cut right to the end state without all that bother in-between. Probably a fairly efficient process as long as the takees don't have weapons, which is probably the case in the enlightened places where most of the taking occurs. At least that is how it works around here. --R On 6/2/14 5:12 PM, Andrew Strasfogel wrote: Commie socialist capitalists? On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 3:58 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: I understand a lot of them are stolen elsewhere and taken there and sold, a fairly lawless place. The commie socialists embraced capitalism very quickly. --R On 6/2/14 3:34 PM, Dan Penoff wrote: That's pretty interesting, as before they opened the borders to the outside world they were lucky to have horse drawn carts. My Dad's family is from Albania and I supposedly still have relatives there... Dan Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 3:30 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: @ 1 grandson (grad student in Paris) is on a summer job in Tirana, Albania; 'says most of the cars there seem to be MB's; lotsa 124's and newer; I'll ask about 123's. Wilton ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
Albania was probably the country who came the closest to pure socialism in its day. My grandfather would get letter from my cousins which inferred that we were all rich beyond belief and the streets were paved with gold, so to speak. The things they told the people about the West were really outrageous, at least from what we could see. One of the last letters I saw from them before the government collapsed and the Hoxhaist state was more or less dismantled had them asking for several thousand dollars so they could buy motorbikes for everyone in the family to help them to be able to get around. This was in the early 1980s, I recall. In 1966 or 67, I traveled with my Dad to NYC to visit the Albanian representatives at the UN. We had gotten word that one of the relatives was very sick, and my grandfather wanted my Dad to travel to Albania to deliver medicine to the family under the auspices of a Red Cross visit. I recall the men from the consul or whatever the diplomatic entity they were being very skeptical and not so nice. They would, however, grant my father and any other member of our family a visa to enter the country if we liked. The next day we took the train down to D.C. where we met with some people from the State Department. I remember was the State Department person telling us that we were welcome to go to Albania if they issued a visa, but once we crossed their border we would, for all intents and purposes, vanish off the face of the Earth, as the US had no diplomatic relations with the country. Needless to say, my Dad said The hell with it! and more or less told my grandfather they wouldn't let us in the country. Dan On Jun 2, 2014, at 5:37 PM, Randy Bennell wrote: Just like in Washington DC (and probably Ottawa too). On 02/06/2014 4:12 PM, Andrew Strasfogel wrote: Commie socialist capitalists? On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 3:58 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: I understand a lot of them are stolen elsewhere and taken there and sold, a fairly lawless place. The commie socialists embraced capitalism very quickly. --R On 6/2/14 3:34 PM, Dan Penoff wrote: That's pretty interesting, as before they opened the borders to the outside world they were lucky to have horse drawn carts. My Dad's family is from Albania and I supposedly still have relatives there... Dan Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 3:30 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: @ 1 grandson (grad student in Paris) is on a summer job in Tirana, Albania; 'says most of the cars there seem to be MB's; lotsa 124's and newer; I'll ask about 123's. Wilton ___ ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania
Grndson is working for National Democratic Institute For International Affairs; HQ in DC; board chair is Madelyn Albright. I've been concerned about grandson going to Albania since he first mentioned it coupla months ago. 'He called me last Saturday evening to say that he had arrived. 'Recounted a scare he had immediately after clearing customs. A man dressed in dark grey suit met him immediately outside the airport exit and asked if he wanted a taxi. He at first refused until the man asked if he were going to Hotel Europa. He then thought, well, he already knows where I'm going. Grnson enlisted aid of young English-speaking woman shopkeeper to translate and help him negotate fare. (Grnson is fluent in French, Arabic, English, of course, passable in Russian, some Mandarin, but not Albanian/Italian) They got into a silver Mercedes taxi; another man dressed like the first one got into front passenger seat. Soon after starting the trip to the hotel, driver opened glove compartment, pulled out police badge and showed it to grndson while pointing to himself and the other man, each displaying big smiles. Grndson understood that they were policemen, but one of 'em also drives taxi on side. I asked Grndson to check in/register with American embassy/consulate - Just in case you might need some 'help,' at least let somebody know you're there. Grandson called again early this afternoon. He'd been to his workplace, met his boss (a Bosnian lady) and some of the other people there. They took 'imp to lunch and helped him find an apartment with which he was very pleased regarding location, size, furnishings, amenities, etc. 'Seems to be near a university; he was pleased to see others his age nearby. Wilton - Original Message - From: Dan Penoff d...@penoff.com To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 10:13 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] MB's in Albania Albania was probably the country who came the closest to pure socialism in its day. My grandfather would get letter from my cousins which inferred that we were all rich beyond belief and the streets were paved with gold, so to speak. The things they told the people about the West were really outrageous, at least from what we could see. One of the last letters I saw from them before the government collapsed and the Hoxhaist state was more or less dismantled had them asking for several thousand dollars so they could buy motorbikes for everyone in the family to help them to be able to get around. This was in the early 1980s, I recall. In 1966 or 67, I traveled with my Dad to NYC to visit the Albanian representatives at the UN. We had gotten word that one of the relatives was very sick, and my grandfather wanted my Dad to travel to Albania to deliver medicine to the family under the auspices of a Red Cross visit. I recall the men from the consul or whatever the diplomatic entity they were being very skeptical and not so nice. They would, however, grant my father and any other member of our family a visa to enter the country if we liked. The next day we took the train down to D.C. where we met with some people from the State Department. I remember was the State Department person telling us that we were welcome to go to Albania if they issued a visa, but once we crossed their border we would, for all intents and purposes, vanish off the face of the Earth, as the US had no diplomatic relations with the country. Needless to say, my Dad said The hell with it! and more or less told my grandfather they wouldn't let us in the country. Dan On Jun 2, 2014, at 5:37 PM, Randy Bennell wrote: Just like in Washington DC (and probably Ottawa too). On 02/06/2014 4:12 PM, Andrew Strasfogel wrote: Commie socialist capitalists? On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 3:58 PM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: I understand a lot of them are stolen elsewhere and taken there and sold, a fairly lawless place. The commie socialists embraced capitalism very quickly. --R On 6/2/14 3:34 PM, Dan Penoff wrote: That's pretty interesting, as before they opened the borders to the outside world they were lucky to have horse drawn carts. My Dad's family is from Albania and I supposedly still have relatives there... Dan Sent from my iPad On Jun 2, 2014, at 3:30 PM, WILTON wilt...@nc.rr.com wrote: @ 1 grandson (grad student in Paris) is on a summer job in Tirana, Albania; 'says most of the cars there seem to be MB's; lotsa 124's and newer; I'll ask about 123's. Wilton ___ ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible
