Other touring (2 of 2)

One full day was spent going to both the town of Kruja, up in the mountains, and ex capital of Albania during Skanderbeg times, and then down the coast along the shores of Durres and Golem.



Although it was a week day, I was surprised by the large crowds visiting the Skanderbeg Museum in Kruja, which was designed by the ex dictator’s daughter.



When I came to this place in 1993 I was the only visitor, and the museum director was happy to let me roam around by myself within its huge halls. Now, the narrow and steep streets of this town can hardly cope with the many buses and cars that are vying for parking space, and the tour groups inside the museum must be managed by several guides, and paced appropriately for specific presentations.





During our visit we observed entire classrooms that came from as far away as Kosova and Macedonia. The street that leads to the museum is now also lined with many vendors with a great variety of souvenirs, that were no where to be found anywhere, not even in Tirana, when I returned for the first time in 1993.

Thanks again to the gorgeous weather (~75F) we were able to have another great lunch (this time of wonderful fresh fish) at “Benilva” along the coast (on the road that goes from Durres south toward Golem).



We even took in a snooze on the beach lounges of this hotel/restaurant and soaked in some sun, refreshed by the gentle sea breeze of the Adriatic.





Before returning to Tirana we went to the top of the hill in Durres, where the residence of ex King Zog is located, to have a look at the city and its port from above, and we also stopped briefly for a look at the renovated hotel/restaurant ”Adriatik”.





It was a state run resort during the communist time, but now it’s privately owned and it has its share of ‘stars’ in the list of the most modern tourist places in Albania.