BUTOHI ODYSSEY

One day, I decided to visit Albania with my friend. It was easy to fly from London since UK residents don’t need a visa, and there are many flights to Tirana. The flight takes only 3 hours. I took a Ryanair flight from London Gatwick and arrived in the evening. I booked my hotel through booking.com, and the process was smooth from immigration to getting a cab to my hotel in Durres.

Durres is a 30 to 45 minute drive from Tirana airport and is located on Albania’s coast. In November, it is not very crowded, and the weather is pleasant, ranging from 15 to 20 degrees during the day. It is sunny, but it gets dark early in the season. My hotel, Cosmo Beach, had decent rooms with beach views and offered breakfast with some options.

My friend rented a car, and we began our journey from Durres to Tirana, a city with less transport options. We visited Dajti Mountain, about a 15-20 minute drive away, where the cable car offers one of the longest rides I’ve experienced, taking around 15 minutes to reach the summit. They only accepted cash, and while the local currency is lek, euros are also accepted. Although there is a popular forest trail, it was closed in November. We enjoyed an hour watching the stunning sunset before returning to the city, which dazzles at night like any other european city. We dined at Oda, a well-known Albanian restaurant specializing in roasted lamb dishes, including Tave dheu and Tave kosi. We ended our meal with mish qingji, a simple roasted lamb, which was well-cooked though may not suit everyone. Albanian sweets are quite tempting and one should try it from their regular confectionary shops. We then decided to return to Durres.

The following day, we chose to visit the city of Berat, a small mountainous town approximately two hours’ journey from Durres. The journey was comfortable, and we arrived in the city around midday. This city, often referred to as the City of 1,000 Windows, has numerous houses with windows oriented in the same direction, overlooking the town. A small river Osum flows through the city, making it a picturesque location. Berat is a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, where one can find the remnants of Berat Castle, which historically had several churches and was predominantly a Christian population. The castle has now become the residence of the local people of Berat, with many families establishing homes within its walls. The castle’s origins date back to the 4th century. We spent time exploring the city before returning in the evening.

On our final day in Albania, we tried visiting the Blue Eye, a stunning location renowned for its crystal blue water. However, considering the lengthy journey, we decided to forgo that trip and instead proceeded to Gamti Mountain. Initially we thought to be a straightforward ride, the terrain proved to be quite challenging and we opt against continuing further along the treacherous mountain path. This experience brought memories of my upbringing in the Himalayan region of India. Upon returning to Tirana, we visited several sites that we had missed on our first day. The country possesses a turbulent history, as seen by our own eyes during the tour of dungeons that were used for warfare. It gave insight into the sacrifices made by individuals to liberate the nation. Additionally, Tirana features a mini pyramid, essentially a museum dedicated to the communist leader Enver Hoxha. This country is the birthplace of Nobel laureate Mother Teresa, with the airport and a prominent square honoured in her name. Skanderbeg Square, located in the center of the city with a monument named after Skanderbeg, sparkles at night, making it a must-visit attraction.

The next morning, we checked out and went to the airport for my flight to London and my friend’s to Berlin, making it a memorable reunion after a long time, filled with nostalgic college moments.