Exploring Tirana

Sunday, July 26, 2009--Tirana

I walked up and down streets exploring Tirana today--street markets, churches, mosques, parks, government buildings, the university, etc. I saw the statue of Mother Teresa who was Albanian. I went through the neighborhood which had been the exclusive (and walled off) enclave of the communist leaders. I saw buildings with colorful painting patterns on their walls. I saw the Pyramid Building, a typical communist-era building that was poorly constructed (designed by the communist leader's son and daughter) and is abandoned and crumbling today. The outing was interesting. Mostly, I saw Albanians out having a good time.

Many wedding parties were driving through the streets honking their horns. There would be a front car that would have a man standing up through the sun roof with a video camera to get images of it all. Behind that car would be the one with the bride and groom. Beyond that would be a few cars with friends and family. All cars were decorated and all the drivers would be honking.

I stopped to see the National Art Museum in the heat of the afternoon. It has many nice paintings. Many are huge ones with socialist-style images from the communist period. Two of the paintings on display are ones that were banned during communist times for being too depressing or formalist or for some other reason.

Unfortunately, I missed seeing the National History Museum because its hours have changed since my guidebook was published. It closed before I got there, and it will be closed tomorrow, too.

After resting a couple of hours, I went exploring again in the late afternoon with a plan to eventually go to a park-like restaurant I had seen earlier. Tirana is designed with spoke-like streets radiating from its central square. I went out one, then another, then another in directions I had not yet gone. When I got to the restaurant, I became confused. Inside the garden area, there seemed to be 3-4 restaurants, yet I had seen one menu outside. I didn't figure that all were serving the same menu, and I didn't know which one it pertained to. So I just left to find a small local place for dinner.