Tirana, Albania; Adventure Part 1
March 24, 2024
Tirana, Albania; Adventure Part 3
March 26, 2024Tirana, in Albania, is one of the wettest and sunniest cities in Europe with an average of 2,544 hours of sun per year.
The Architecture
Several days were spent meandering random streets in Tirana with no rhyme or reason, but I enjoyed myself, marvelling at architectural feats, graffiti, and everything in-between. Bold, modern towers stand proud while sprawling mountains line the backdrop. My next visit will be to hike and explore away from the city.
One such stroll led me to a selection of brightly coloured buildings, adjacent to The Pyramid. Understandably a feature due to its unique nature, I couldn’t help but feel a little underwhelmed by it. Taking the stairs, I was greeted with far-reaching views, but I do feel TikTok made this out to be more than it is. Another piece I was equally neutral about was The Cloud. Do you agree that these 2 pieces have been over-hyped?
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Up the mountain
Talking of TikTok, it did lead me into the path of 2 British travellers. They were on the hunt for the mountain-top restaurant they’d seen online and invited me along. Why not?! Not sure if they were just being polite, I tagged along regardless, grateful to have a sense of direction again.
Taking the gondola, inadvertently triggering someone’s fear of heights, the views on the way up paled in comparison to those at the top (not that he saw that – he was trying not to hyperventilate. Phobias are serious people; be supportive). The gondola station, with its space-age vibe, juxtaposed against the raw nature of the mountainous terrain surrounding it.
Acting as photographer for the guys, I snapped a few shots of them before we headed in for dinner at Ballkoni Dajtit. Opting for a trio of traditional dishes, we swapped morsels and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
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Back Down the Mountain
My new-found friends made for a great night as we explored the nightlife in the Blloku area. Radio Bar was one of my favourite stops, boasting a great selection of cocktails. Not sure who parties better, Brits or Albanians? I’ll have to revisit for a decider as our pub crawl didn’t really take off!
Deciding to go for a self-made walking tour, we saw Tanners Bridge which may not look like much but is now considered an important cultural monument. There was also a diversion to the House of Leaves, a nod to Albania’s Cold War history and a strange insight into the level of surveillance its people were once under.
Rounding a few corners, we came to Tirana Castle, an old fortress which is now an interesting hub blending culture and art. If you’re looking for a restaurant, I recommend Kalaja for a large selection of dishes, though you will be spoilt for choice by the restaurants on offer here.
Leaving my friends to their business, I spent another day exploring and getting shots of street art. Part 3 COMING SOON!
