Amazing Tirana’s Vibe: A Trip Through a Chaotic City
Experience the city through my eyes! Tirana comes alive here…
Tirana comes alive here, capturing the city’s chaotic charm, colourful streets, quirky cafés, and vibrant energy.
Tirana’s Vibe: A Trip Through a Chaotic City
Tirana is a pretty ordinary city, but it offers some vivid experiences. We walk through the centre when a sudden thunderstorm surprises us, forcing us to hide at a bus stop. After the rain, you can find everything in the street drains—from slippers and furniture to a child’s toy car. What’s more, a whole army of rats was scurrying along the ditch just moments before. We also climb the famous Pyramid of Tirana.
The city has a French vibe, with cafes lining the streets where Albanians sip their morning coffee and smoke cigarettes, watching the city’s bustle before they go about their day. Yet, there’s chaos on the streets that is so unfamiliar to us. There are a few traffic lights; people mostly walk wherever and however they want.
In roundabouts, cars drive however they please, and by feeling. If you are the first to show your hand, you get the right of way. It makes you wonder, do they even need a license to drive? 🤔🤣
Traffic jams, however, are controlled by the Albanian police themselves at almost every intersection, even at those with traffic lights! 😆
But if you get a ticket from the police for parking in the wrong spot, you can pay it at any Western Union on every corner or at Posta Shqiptare after 3 days. Just remember, it has to be in cash and in Lek. The price is even cheaper (2000 Lek) than the average daily parking fee, and if you pay right after 3 days, you get a 20% discount! 😁
The buildings are not as beautiful as in Paris, but all around, new high-rises are being built. One even resembles a human head, perhaps like Skanderbeg himself—a truly interesting sight! 🇦🇱
As evening falls, we take a peaceful stroll along the promenade of the artificial Tirana Lake to enjoy the beautiful sunset. If I lived in Tirana, I think this would be my favourite place in the city, and it gives a little Paris vibe, where the city meets nature, but is located in the heart of the city!
Key Takeaways from Tirana
- Unexpected Chaos: Be ready for unpredictable traffic and sudden weather changes.
- Unique Sights: The Pyramid of Tirana and the city’s unique modern architecture are worth seeing.
- Quirky Details: Paying a parking ticket is surprisingly easy and cheap, with a discount for prompt payment.