Crazy March

After days, and days of continuous rain, which hampered the long holiday weekend in Albania, the sun finally decided to show itself for an entire day today. However, this was after a snow shower yesterday morning, that put a new layer of white on Mount Dajti. There were warnings about the difficulty and danger of using the tortuous road to the city of Elbasan. I remember traveling on it a few years ago: it goes through the mountains, with ups and downs, and many curves without any outside railing. I can imagine what it would be also with snow.


Tirana is a bit of a mess when it rains. While the city repaves the streets, the sidewalks are left to be fixed. Many are very uneven, and some even dangerous. Some businesses choose a variety of tiles in front of their stores, but, when wet, they can be very slippery. A taxi driver, the other day, was pointing out to me that even the materials chosen last year to repave the main boulevard is not of the type for safe walking, especially by the elderly, who in Tirana are forever taking strolls every day, in all sort of weather.


Today some were sitting, as usual, on the park benches, enjoying the warmth of the sun, which is also helping the spring flowers to bud out.......


while the "twin towers" of Tirana were proudly displaying their modern shapes against the clear blue sky!