September 8 – 23, 2025
Good Albania Tour Company. Traveled with Tom
Tour Guide, Flori, a middle-aged Albanian adrenalin addict who drove too fast, squealed the tires up the mountains, did hang-gliding, flew a tiny airplane and used to race cars. I DID NOT trust his driving and was petrified to ride in his van/car the entire trip. The back window of our van got smashed to smithereens (when we were not in it.) (!!) He then exchanged it for a car during our last four days, and within a day or two, the front passenger panel was crumpled — again when we were not in the vehicle whe it happened. (!!)
DAB to ATL to Rome to Tirana. Then Tirana to Rome to ATL to DAB.
When I flew into Rome, my FLYDELTA APP said my next flight was cancelled. (!!!) It turned out to be incorrect, but the stress still occurred!!!
Coming home after getting up at 2:10 AM, the ITA ticketing agent told me I was not on the list. I had to go across the airport. STRESS!! Luckily, that person ‘fixed it’ for me, and I was able to cut the first line. In the meantime, the mother/daughter duo fromTenneessee whom I had met coming to Albania was (surprise!) behind me a few people back, when the 80-year old mom, passed out and hit the floor. I did see her on the plane though — the Tirana airport wanted to send that medical problem to Rome.
The rooms in these Balkan countries are fine but sparse. No Q-tips, emery boards, no waste can in the room (just the bathroom), no robes, n spa, no pool, no workout area, no hair conditioner, Kleenex and sometimes no soap — just a bottle of shampoo.
While Tom was sleeping I ventured out to buy cookies, water and my Albania coffee mug. I also got leke (Albanian money) to spend. You divide by 80, so the 500 Leke is about four bucks. In the first picture note that there was a library painted on that building.
Because we arrived a day early and our travel mates, Robert and Robin from Australia, arrived two days early, our tour guide Flori offered to take us to the gondola ride up the mountain and the underground bunker. It was one of the highlights of the trip, actually.
We saw horses and the view of the city below. Little did I know that the view of the city below was going to be a recurring theme on this trip. These four countries don’t offer much more then stone ruins and views of the city below. 🙄
The communist leader in the 70s decided he was going to build a bunker to house thousands of people against a nuclear attack. Once it was built the town forgot it was there until it was recently discovered again. (Is it possible since he was a communist that he eliminated all the people that built it so it would remain secret? Nobody knows.) There was a tunnel from this place all the way to the center of the city. It contained 8 long corridors and note the thickness of the cement doors. The doors were three in a row and meant to keep out the nuclear attack.
They were quite prepared with metal canisters in every room that would provide oxygen along with gas masks for people and horses and a filtration system.
I am not sure about this room and whether Gandhi actually was housed here.
The bunker was never used for a nuclear attack but bats have discovered it and use it for migration and hibernation.
Traffic in Tirana was ridiculous and going through tunnels one car width was typical in the whole area. If you met a car coming at you, the person with the least distance behind him would back up.
Flag or Albania They are a very proud people of their heritage. Note the building with the different sized balconies project a picture of a man’s head. The yellow building is the tallest building and can be seen from anywhere in Tirana.
We would hear the call to prayer at different times of the day. This mosque was empty and we were able to visit it. The worshipper is aiming toward mecca which is in saudi arabia.
This area has been around for hundreds of years and has become hugely for tourists. The restaurants were fancy and expensive and pricey souvenirs were available. I don’t know what John Wayne had to do with being a spokesman for a candy. This building supposedly has the map of Albania on the outside of it. However I just can’t see it..
The evening call to prayer was made and this mosque was filled with worshippers so I failed to wanna have to go to 2nd floor (because I was a woman) and just took pictures from the outside. The seated area with all the faucets were for the Muslims to clean themselves before going into the mosque. (ablution).
Typical traffic in Tirana and people actually would pass between the cars you see. Many cars had dings and dents in them.
I saw this on Facebook. Fond memories of my time at the Osaka world’s fair last April with Joy.