Some time back I blogged about needing to get a GoPro camera so we could show you our most wonderful neighborhood, special places in town, and the thrill of taxi rides in this auto-congested city that rival the adrenaline surge of any state fair roller coaster. (I keep forgetting there are no brake pedals on the floor of the passenger side of the front seat.)
We still haven’t purchased the GoPro mainly because it will be one more new thing to learn how to operate. And . . . will require learning how to edit said videos, which as you may imagine is easier said than done.
Wendy and Kevin To The Rescue
I don’t actually know Wendy and Kevin. It was a lucky happenstance that their video of visiting Tirana for the holidays showed up on my YouTube feed two days ago. They live in the Albanian city of Shkodër, which is located about a two-hour drive north of Tirana. It is known for its proximity to Lake Shkodër and being the gateway to the Albanian Alps.
Their video is thirteen minutes long. The first five minutes are of Wendy and Kevin going for Chinese food. The remaining eight minutes are devoted to them touring the city. They share a bit of history of the city of Tirana, in particular, alongside some centuries-old Albanian history. The places they are showcasing in their video are locations all within walking distance of our apartment. The gorgeous mosque built in 2023 you’ll see in the video is five minutes from us. I pass by it when I go to Toptani mall and Union Bank where my Social Security is deposited each month.
When they mention the Pyramid they are referring to a metal Pyramid with stairs to the top. It is a significant hike to the top, one I’m not likely to attempt. As an aside, when I visited Mexico in my mid thirties I climbed a pyramid so I know how much effort it takes to make it to the top. The funny thing was when I reached the top of that Mexico pyramid I was greeted by half a dozen souvenir vendors! OMG. Talk about a challenging “walk to work” everyday.
Back To The Video Content
Once Wendy and Kevin have finished their Chinese dinner they do a great job of showcasing the part of Tirana where we live. They enlightened me on a lot of Albanian history I knew nothing about . . . like that the Nazis occupied Albania during WW II. I knew the communists took over in 1944 but I didn’t know it was on the heels of having rousted the Germans!
If Only I Knew How To Edit Their Video . . .
At the end of the Wendy and Kevin segment there are three YouTube videos that can be clicked on and opened. I don’t know how to get rid of them so I have to ask you to ignore them. It would be a shame to finish a lighthearted look at the city I love and be dropped back into the “realities” of today. Try not to look at the three featured YouTube videos so you can walk away from this post with only fond memories of our little bit of heaven.
Here Is The Link To The Video (finally!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Ee94HNkg4
Last year Barry and I missed the Skanderbeg Square Christmas holiday festivities. We were too busy settling into our apartment and learning how to navigate our new home. We will definitely get there this week before the new year is upon us. Maybe we will have dinner at Golosa Pizzaeria Ristorante across the street from the Arber hotel where we stayed for ten days until we found our apartment. It was where we had our first meal in our new country on November 6, 2024.
That Mosque! Impressive! Unexpected Art! Inspiring! Tirana’s Rock? Ominous.
Thoroughly enjoyed the sights and the narrative. Thankyou!