Interesting. When I write about travel, I try to focus on the positive. But there is also a duty to truth; at least the truth of our own experiences.

Albania - at least, what I saw of it in a single afternoon - is certainly beautiful. But it's also a country plagued by poverty and corruption. It would be deeply dishonest to pretend otherwise.

When I read travel writing, what I want to learn about is an individual's experience. We can all jump online and hear about a country's highlights. I read travel writing to get a personal experience of a place that glossy tourist websites won't show me.