Tirana Off The Beaten Path

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These slogans built into the brickwork may explain why some buildings have been painted over in such lurid colours, but if you keep your eyes peeled, you may come across a couple of slogans that have yet to be covered up. This example is on Bulevard Bajram Curri, a fair distance from the centre heading west, close to a slum area. PPSH are the communist party initials.

There were several pea-cocks wandering in the park but they were rather shy and it took me some time to get close enough of one of them to get a decent photo of a male pea-cock. I suppose that in 1996, the pea-cocks have all been roasted and have helped a few families to survive.

About an hour from Tirana by bus or train is the ancient city of Durres. It's worth the trip to sea the Adriatic coast, the Roman amphitheater, and King Zog's palace. It's only about 50 cents for a return ticket on the train, and the train journey is an experience in itself.

This place is not really off the beaten path, but can be seen from the same corner as the Statues of the Unknown Partisan and Pasha Sullejman. A tyrbe is a burial monument built to commemorate the death of a bektashi holy person. Though my research into this suggests that Kapllan Pasha is no longer buried here. It is an interesting structure, consisting of some pillared archways and can be easy to miss since it is fairly unobtrusive. Unfortunately my picture of this did not come out. Just head east on Luigj Gurakuqi from Skanderbeg Square towards the Unknown Partisan.

This is one of my last sights from Tirana.. i guess that i wont come back .. nothing special live there and not much attractions push me to come there one more time... maybe the ionian coast at the southern end of the country would be worth to visit

yeah i was attonished looking from the train station doors ...the sight was like a city collapsed after bombing. A spot in cahos.. piles of rubble on the street pot holes everywhere no tarmac, no kerbs.. a scary train station ....lol... Albania needs to improve so so much !!

Sheshi Avni Rustemi is the tiny and beautiful square where its located the market place, i walked from Sheshi Skenderbeg square by a wide avenue full of shops where you can find a lot of local souvenirs ...once you arrive to the market square its absolutelly nice stop for a while and behold how life pass by and locals do.. this aint the typical market like western europe lol its more improvised !! jajaja

that was the same street that runs where the local buses leave to othe cities into Albania... at the same time i was passing by i saw that it was the most typical gipsy quarter with its typical stuff and their typical live...and i fancied to make that pic, just like a curiosity