Men’s bags are common in Albania. It seems like almost everybody carries one. As you’ll see, a bag is a necessary accessory. What about pockets in pants, you ask? Sweatpants are the national uniform for Albanian men, and there’s no guarantee of pockets.
Names: man bag, man-purse, mini bag, crossbody bag, hobo bag, messenger bag. Don’t call it a purse, like George Costanza is forced to say in Seinfeld.
History: Well, OK. Call it a purse. Wikipedia says “The oldest known purse dates back more than 5000 years, and was a pouch worn by a man, Ötzi the Iceman.
STYLES
- Crossbody bag: a bag worn across the body from shoulder to hip
- Hobo bag: a soft-sided crescent-shaped bag with a shoulder- or crossbody-length strap
- Messenger bag: a type of sack worn over one shoulder with a strap that goes across the chest
Above is a typical user with a typical bag.
Above is my own bag. I used it for years in Lodi, CA. It was a gift from my wife Jennifer.
WHAT’S IN THE BAG?
Here’s what’s in the pockets of Barry’s bag:
Pocket 1 (Front)
- Wallet
- Telephone
Pocket 2
- Gum, candy, or cigarettes/lighter
- Reading glasses
- Napkins to use when drinking coffee
Pocket 3
- Bronchodilator
- Pilot Precise V7 rolling writer
- Room for small purchases
Pocket 4 (back, with a flap)
- Passport
- Extra money
- Map to next taxi destination
- Banking info, showing my account name and account number
- Provisional residency document
OTHER FEATURES
The bag is majorly durable and shows little wear. Every pocket has a zipper. There’s also a carrying handle. The strap has great swivels.
My man bag is one of those “little” things from the USA that turned out to be a vital accessory in Albania.
Ah yes, the man purse or murse as Kramer named it. Indeed very useful for carrying your necessities and non essential items. How cool that Jenn’s gift, in the days of Lodi, came in so handy! Perhaps she saw the future! 😉
Jennifer tells me that the man bag gift came from the days when she liked me and wanted to please me. But what about now? Probably not. Well, I guess that it’s supposed to be humor.
Very educational. Thank you