New lodgings - Part 1

Even before reaching my old apartment that needed some cleaning after being closed for quite a while, on the way from the airport to Tirana, my friends convinced me to go directly to the new quarters, which, I knew, they prepared with care for me during the past months. How could I refuse such an offer, knowing that I’d be sleeping in a brand new, clean bed, and have at my disposal a fully furnished, modern apartment, equipped with all new appliances and necessities?

My immediate needs of sleep ware were picked up from my old place, and then, even before unpacking, we all went to lunch at a new ‘Pasta e Basta’ restaurant a block away from my new lodging. Here they make fresh pasta dishes on the premises, and serve it with a wide selection of sauces. I was not hungry, but enjoyed as appetizer one of my favorite dishes here: a plate of thinly cut, grilled to perfection vegetables of all sorts, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and a bit of balsamic vinegar. The 3 varieties of pasta we chose were all excellent. As usual also in Italy, they are served family style, so that one can pick and choose among them, or have a taste of each one. This way variety is provided, and one can control his or her own portions.

A short walk back to the new place, gave me a first glimpse of my new neighborhood, which is well furnished with all sorts of offices, stores, public transport, and even a Casino. The building is on a long boulevard that runs along the Lana Canal that crosses Tirana in its center.

I have bus stops within a block, and at the corner of my building there is also a taxi stand. Part of our complex, at the street level, a wonderfully spacious snack bar and café, offers excellent food. Here I already have a favorite, efficient waiter that speaks fluent English. He is a young student that attends school in the mornings and works the afternoon shift at the restaurant.

I occupy an apartment on the 12th floor of this 7 year old high-rise, while the original construction owner lives above me. Most of these new buildings are 13 stories high, which brings to mind that Albanians may not be superstitious?

The view from both of my balconies dominates most of Tirana that is surrounded by the Dajiti mountain chain to the East, and lower hills to the South. Still noticeable on top of Dajti is lingering snow from the long winter, but since my arrival we have had very good weather, and just a couple, brief rain storms at night, which clear the air and make Tirana sparkle.


The apartment exposure is East-South, thus the sun inundates my apartment from sunrise to almost sunset, which makes it very cozy at this time of the year when the evenings are cooler, but the midday sun burns you up.

Tirana's misty dawn....
The average temperature has been between 17 to 20 degrees Celsius. Ideal! No need now to use either the heating or air conditioning systems, which are available all around the apartment.

...and the rising of the full moon...
Like most European lodgings the size of these apartments are around 120 square meters, which are almost twice the size of my NY residence! I have to learn to navigate it from one end to the other …. and not forget to take along the cell phone as I move along!! Most communication here is done this way, and no one uses landline phones, even when available.

Everything in the apartment is brand new and I love the huge, ceiling high, built in, wall to wall closets, that even have space for luggage storage!

A small kitchen has a full size window that looks out onto the city, spacious, deep drawers where I can store all my pots and pans, an Italian electric stove, and most welcome, an upright refrigerator (out of sight, on the right), with the huge freezer at the bottom so I don’t have to bend down to get to the other daily used stuff, as I do at home in NY.

The living room area is mammoth with glass, double doors leading to the balcony.


It includes a 42 inch TV, a set of long sofas, kitty corner, covered with specially ordered Italian leather, 2 open book cases, and a big, square, glass coffee table, on which my hostess had placed a big basket full of fresh fruit, a box of cookies, and even a set of candles the color of which matches the rest of the decor.

A supply of bottled water was stashed away in one of the closets, near the entrance, and in the fridge I also found 2 containers of rice milk, which my hostess knew I now use instead of milk. A huge real plant and a couple small others completed the setup of these two areas, which are totally color coordinated, including the carpeting.

I couldn’t be more welcome and I’m really overwhelmed by all I found waiting for me here!

Part 2 describing the rest of this apartment shall follow soon.