Today I was leaving Tirana for a day trip to the coastal city of Durres. Initially this was to be my next overnight stay. A travel buddy was going to join me for the next few days and had logistics problems of getting to Tirana and then to Durres to catch up with me so I agreed to stay one extra night in Tirana to meet him.

Leaving the Muzeu Historik I made my way back to the Sheshi Karl Topia roundabout to get a furgon (minibus) to Durres. Being 30-45mins away depending on traffic finding a bus for this route was much easier than my trip to Kruje yesterday.

The bus fare was 150 Lek ($1.50) and we went along a very modern highway which provided easy access. Durres has its own bus station unlike Tirana which has buses standing on various corners.

As I got off locals came up and started yelling taxi, targetting me a foreigner. I ignored them and started walking so one felt the need to come right to my face and yell at me T-A-X-I as though his life depended on it !!!!

Durres is not big and I had my google map with me all marked out. By the station were lots of Burek (pastry) shops and I was meaning to get something to eat but opted to keep walking.

The main street was also quite modernized with palm trees and tiled pavements. At the end was the Great Mosque.

This was also situated in a nice fountain plaza with palm trees. Right behind was the old Amphitheatre. It wasnt as large as I thought and crowded in with apartments right to its edges.

Entrance was 400 Lek ($4) but didnt seem worth it as you can see it all from the railings. Nearby some of the homes had painted themselves with art as some towns had done in Korea.

There were also signs to a Hammam (Turkish bath) but I couldnt find anything. Following the old wall it leads to the seafront and the round tower. This is a mini version of the White Tower in Thessaloniki but is used as a restaurant not a museum.

The seafront was also quite modernized and busy with locals and some fairground type stalls. There were a couple of beggar children, the first overt poverty I'd seen in Albania, so I had to dart away in case they made for my pockets. There is also an interesting pier stretching into the ocean.

Unlike British piers there were no amusement arcades and just expensive restaurants. The hotel I had originally booked was also right at the start of the pier so in peak tourist zone.

Behind my hotel was an archaeological museum a few streets back but I didnt want to navigate in the heat and didnt think I would see anything better than I already had this morning in the Muzeu Historik Tirana.

Heading back I came across the city Orthodox Church. It was nice but didnt have any of the wall art and frescoes of other Orthodox Churches.

I now really needed to eat so found a bakery. I got a spinach burek for 50 Lek ($0.50). Then I got an ice cream for 200 Lek ($2). Not sure why it cost more than the meal or did he rip me off?

Back at the bus terminal it was easy to get a van back to Tirana for 150 Lek again ($1.50). Although we were on a brand new modern highway locals still like to try their luck and run across. There were also lots of modern car dealerships.

Back when the van let off there was a modern shopping mall. Clothes were a bit pricey by local or tourist standards so this was quite high end. The street storefronts were cheap but **** quality.

Back by my hotel I found another bakery so got some baklava for 100 Lek ($1). Everyone in stores was speaking reasonable English even though I wasnt in the most touristic places. I also had to change rooms for my friends arrival tonight. From the window was a strange building like an Embassy with a uniformed person on guard but the hotel didnt know what this building was.

As my friend would only be in Tirana for one night I took him back in the culture zone with the beer tents to give him a quick evening tour of the main sights and we got some dinner.

T