Day 59: Tirana, Albania

Tirana is a very vibrant, hectic, metropolitan city and probably nothing like you might imagine. We had a lovely lay in and did our third clothes wash in two days! We wandered the streets of the old communist region that was only opened to the public in 1991 and is now full of cafes and small shops. The buildings are painted brightly to cheer it up and shake off the grey era. We found a statue of Mother Tereasa with arms wide open offering us a hug and a bell of peace which is made from old bullets collected by children in 1997. We walked the main square with its 8 lane roads which gives you the ultimate adrenaline rush whilst attempting to cross let alone cycle! We went to the Sheriton hotel to make full use of their air con and watched Indiana Jones at the cinema to treat ourselves. We spent the rest of the day relaxing at the hostel mentally preparing ourselves for the hills to come which we have been avoiding for approx 1 month but are now inevitable!