13. Tirana

13th. Tag: In the early morning we take the regular bus to the city center of Tirana. After about 40 minutes we arrive at Skanderbej Square, the center of the metropolis, and meet there in front of the opera for a guided tour. The guide speaks very good English, but like a machine gun, not always easy to follow. We pass by the most interesting places and learn a lot about the country's history. For us, almost everything is new and interesting. The most impressive were the descriptions of the years after the decline of the communist dictatorship (1991) and the dealing with the unknown, such as bananas and Coca Cola.

Afterwards, we need to get some strength and enjoy a colorful mixture of Albanian street food.

For the rest of the afternoon, we immerse ourselves in the lively atmosphere on the streets of Tirana. Sometimes on the way to a sight, sometimes just following our instincts.

We liked the city. It is not beautiful, in many places run down and littered. But it presents many different historical periods, cultures, and religions in an unusually relaxed atmosphere for a big city. And it is full of life!