Albania Emblem Statue in Tirana, Albania. Credit: Mlenny / Getty Images Travelers seeking affordable European getaways are discovering Albania, a frequently overlooked nation on the Balkan Peninsula.The country offers the perfect blend of nature, culture, and history, from UNESCO-recognized towns like Berat to the beaches of the Albanian Riviera.While best known for its coastline, Albania also boasts other incredible landscapes, like the mountainous Theth National Park and the Blue Eye spring. It felt like I was getting to see and feel something I shouldn't. The water felt too warm, it was too blue, too clear, and there were too few other people around. As I tiptoed over the rocks, I let myself melt into the water, which had just the right touch of salt to make it ideal for floating. I looked up into the matching blue sky, hearing only the beating of my own heart in my ears. I closed my eyes and dove under, realizing then that paradise has another name: Albania.…