Returning home from Kruje I went walking looking for the Parliament which I didnt see yesterday to space things out. Perpendicular to Skanderbeg Square is a pedestrian zone not mentioned on wikitravel.Here they had beer and food vendors more reminiscent of Oktoberfest which I'd just left behind in Munich. They were grilling fresh meats and this district seemed more alive then the 'hip' street mentioned in wikitravel.This was part of a revitalization zone paid for...

Today I was taking a day trip to Kruje about an hour north of Tirana. Kruje is famous as the seat of Skanderbeg who led a revolt against the Ottomans and gave Albanians the first sense of a national identity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skanderbe gAsking for directions in the hotel the girl said she has never been, she would have to take a day off work, she will have to stay overnight, she doesnt have the money. I wondered, why such a big deal, its only an hour...

This Sunday afternoon having arrived in Tirana I was going to do a walking tour of the sights in the centre. Where the street with my hotel meets Skanderbeg Square is the city Mosque. I thought it would just be another Mosque but I was amazed by the detailed artwork.This incorporates the Balkan tradition of intricate hand painted artwork. This is not common to Mosques except a few in the Balkans.The outer walls had city illustrations. At first I thought Istanbul ...