Albania
Air Albania offers transportation through some countries in Europe but none to the United States, therefore I connected through Germany on Lufthansa. I arrived at the airport about an hour late due to airplane operations but I will take a delay over a cancellation any day. The delay caused me to miss my first tour and I had to aclimate myself with the city on my own. I stayed at the Hotel Elisa. It was central and close the starting point for most of my tours.
The first stop was Skanderberg Square, the main square of Tirana that houses the Opera House, Nation History Museum, the Clock Tower of Tirana, Et Hem Bey Mosque and the Palace of Culture. You can't miss it, just look for the Equestrian Statue of Skanderberg. The museum was the only item I didn't get to visit but the area has a lot to do if your compact on time in the country. I then went to an Albania night show where I got to dress up as an Albania and learn more about there people, traditional customs and food and then sample the food and beverages.
The next few days were earmarked for trips to Kosovo and North Macedonia but we will spend time on that in other blogs. Day four began with a pick-up and a two hour drive to the Belshi Lake. We spent roughly an hour at the lake, visiting the town and having local ice-cream while admiring the town. We then drove pass an old World War II flight strip before stopping at the town of Berat. Once the home of the Ottoman Empire, Berat is known for the Berat Castle, home to the Red Mosque as well as Bizantine churches. The castle is a sprawling compound above the city of Berat and the Osum River.
After the castle, we made our way down to the town of Berat where we had a chance to talk the neighborhoods and get lunch. I swear this might have been some of the softest lamb i had in ever. I stumbled upon the restaurant so of course I have no name fo your but I can offer a picture of the Lamb. I walked over a few bridges to walk off the meal before finally returning to Tirana. The goal was to get to the Bunker Museum before it closed. Bunkers were a big thing in Tiranas past, the country literally has 700 of them. The final stop of the trip was the restaurant Oda. If you do nothing else in Tirana, make this stop! You will not regret it. I walked the main strip for ice cream before heading back to the hotel.
This would be the end of my time in Albania but I look forward to returning, I here they have beaches in the south that rivals those of the greek islands and if you know anything about me, I rather see it than hear about it!
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any parties mentioned. None of the entities mentioned has reviewed, approved, or endorsed the content listed in this post.
Comments