Blogs from Tirana, West, Albania, Europe - page 2

We left Probistip early the following morning, the boys are struggling with the cold but I am enjoying not being hot for once. The journey south was on excellent roads through pretty countryside, I had no idea that Macedonia had such beautiful snow covered peaks which we followed all the way south to the city of Bitola. Bitola is the home of the country's most important ancient archeological site Heraclea Lyncestis. This ancient Macedonian was founded in the middle of 4th century B.C. by Philip the Macedon, Heraclea existed for over a millennium as an important strategic point. We arrived around midday to find the site empty of people with a single caretaker in residence who seemed happy to take us to the gift shop and delivered a long but interesting discourse about the history of ... read more

As we approached the junction where all the buses to Tirana leave from, we get accosted by man offering to take us to Tirana in his car for just 200 leke more. 1.50€ more for a ride in a new-ish Mercedes to Tirana? Sounded good to us. Or maybe that wasn't such a good idea. There is a theory that because Albanians only had access to cars after the fall of communism 24 years ago, that they are still learning how to drive them properly. I wouldn't doubt it. Many of the drivers I have seen on Albanian roads have been crazy and unpredictable. There is no adherence to any sort of rules, it's just a dangerous free-for-all. Dawdling is a common occurrence; cars just driving really slow without pulling over and holding everyone up. Even ... read more

Woolly says – our first bus of the day was rather like playing the game of sardines! As more and more people squeezed in I started wondering if the oxygen on board would last out for the journey, as though the lid had been removed we all poured out onto the pavement and the start of our second bus ride to Tirana. The municipality was first credited to Sulejman Pasha Bargjini, a native feudal lord from Mullet, who established the city in 1614. His first constructions were a mosque, a bakery and a hamam (Turkish bath.....hehehe I can still the remember the mud monsters from Feithye!) On February 8th 1920 Tirana was made the temporary capital by the Congress of Lushnje, before being proclaimed the permanent capital on December 31st 1925. Having navigated our way round ... read more

Back in the summer of 2013, I did a small amazing train trip in part of the Balkans. It was a first, and I knew I would come back to tour the remaining capitals I hadn't visited. So first stop, I'm in Albania....I know, who goes on holidays in Albania, if you don't really have a connection to the country...not that I don't have one somehow! Instead of going direct, I flew through Istanbul in order to try the huge Turkish Airlines lounge, saving the cost of a hotel night at the same time. Lounge is huge, but not that impressive with their offerings...except for the pool table, and yes, the golf simulator. It's a first for me to play on a golf simulator....all this at midnight, drinking some nice Merlot, and ended up even playing ... read more

Geo: 41.3317, 19.8172 GÜN 69 GÜNLERDEN SALI : Kahvaltıya diyecek lafımız yok .. Hakkını verdiler doğrusu.. Öğlene doğru, hava sıcak o nedenle yakın bir yerde yiyelim dedik .. Bir köfteciye girdik Ayşecik çorba, ben de bir köfte ısmarladım … Geleni görünce kopuverdim.. Kızcağız tabağa tek bir köfte koyup getirdi.. Meğersem burada köfte adedini mutlaka bildirmek gerekiyormuş.. Neyse karşılıklı gülüştük ve takviyeyi sağladık.. Öğleden sonra, Ayşe'yi otelde bıraktım ve burada özel olarak ahşaptan yapılan sürücü koltuğu arkası arıyorum .. Özel olarak bir numara yapıyorlar ..araç sürerken kaçınılmaz olarak oluşan terlemeye mani oluyor. Geçen gelişimde alamadım şimdi telafi etmek istiyorum, ama dolaştım dolaştım bulamadım .. Arnavutlara da araç ,koltuk s... read more