ALBANIA: Tirana

Tirana is the capital and largest city of Albania, 

It is in the centre of the country and is in a really pretty location, surrounded by mountains, hills, and overlooking the Adriatic Sea in the distance.

After WWII it was a communist country and ruled by a dictator, Enver Hoxha, from 1946 to 1985. 

It can easily be said that under his rule the country went backwards instead of forwards. 

The country is now a Republic and it would appear that there is a building boom of new high rises with interesting architecture contrasted with the old communist buildings. 

This would be an example of old style patriotism.

The Pyramid of Tirana was originally a museum in tribute to Enver Hoxha. It was designed by his daughter and son-in-law and opened in 1988. 

It has had numerous iterations since then, including hosting a convention centre and will "soon" open as a youth IT center for Creative Technologies. 

 

 I thought this was an interesting building. The boxes sticking out on the building are a topographical map of the Albanian mountains. 

Some photos of other modern buildings contrasted with some older buildings.

Mother Teresa was born in Macedonia but of Albanian decent. Both countries like to claim her as theirs.  

Enver Hoxha is known for his love of bunkers. He built an average of 5.7 bunkers for every square kilometer (14.7 per square mile). 

Over 20 years, nearly 175,000 reinforced concrete bunkers were built across Albania, lining seashores and lakes, and dotting mountain passes, borders, farmland, and towns— at great expense and effort. 

Bunker Art (Bunkart) is now a museum about the Hoxha regime. 

The museum is housed in a bunker that was built for government officials in the mountains on the edge of the city. 

This was the Presidential Suite for Hoxha and his wife. 

Some other scenes inside the bunker - that was never used.

To be honest, after a while we were anxious to get out. I can not imagine what it was like for the people actually having to live under his cruel and bizarre regime.

Needing a break from Hoxha's madness we then took the gondola up the mountain to get a birds-eye view of the city and beautiful surrounding area.

Human nature is resilient and hopeful. 

There is a golf course at the top of the gondola with a "bunker hole".

Having a sense of humour helps us to get through the day....