TWO to THREE DAYS in TIRANA

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Tirana, the capital of Albania is a necessary stopover to get to different towns and attractions across the city.  While the intercity buses were not centralized, this was not too much of a problem as most city buses will have to pass by the city centre where the Skanderbeg square is. 

The city does not yet have a bucket list of items to see, so I did not plan a full day to stay in Tirana.  I had half a day after arriving from Berat.  I had another half day after spending time in Kruja and another half day in the morning before making my way to Shkodra.  So with 3 half days, I had managed to visit most of the free attractions within the city in the vicinity of the Skanderbeg square which has gone through an urban renewal. 

The newly designed square, is truly unusual with water being pumped out of the ground so that it becomes a giant fountain of sorts.  At first, I had thought that the water mains had broken, before I realized it was everywhere.  Portions of the square is covered with water, and is be too slippery to walk on, and it organizes the space by directing the flow of people in a certain manner.  Skanderbeg’s statue is at the southern end and leads to a few historic buildings, which forms part of the old town fabric towards Tanner’s bridge.

Around the square, are the landmarks of the city, with Toptani Centre, being a mall. Walking south towards Mother Teresa Square from Skanderbeg Square, one will pass by the Cloud, which was part of the Serpentine Gallery in London 2013.  On the park opposite is part of the Berlin wall and a bunker, and the park ends with the Taiwan Centre, which has now become a casino.  Continue heading south and the Pyramid of Tirana, a defunct building will come into view, before the stately Tirana University buildings around Mother Teresa Square.
time.

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Tirana on a shoestring, how much did I spend?

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- 1050leke – Two nights accommodation at a hostel
-    900eke – Groceries
-   420leke – Grilled Chicken Plate
-   350leke – Kebab
-   120leke – Pizza
-   I didn’t buy any souvenirs and it would be too much to carry on my travel-light trip.

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What should I have done?

 

Nothing too different, but I may pay to visit the bunkers or museum on the next trip.