Last day stuff

 

Never got this entirely nailed, on the one hand its nice to extend your holiday for as long as possible, on the other hand you know its almost over, and one eye always on final travel arrangements, which I feel taints the enjoyment in some way. Any tips on how others have made every second count positively?

Comfortable if more western surrounds today as woke up to Tirana; did 20 minutes in the gym before breakfast. We did have a good deal on this hotel which meant we hadn't paid for breakfast included, but we chose to go for the pay to stuff ourselves at the Hilton buffet rather than head out and get sweaty before we needed to. Another final day condundrum, nowhere to really freshen up once you've checked out.....

We were quite late getting down for breakfast and with it closing at 10.30 it did involve a supermarket sweep style effort and a couple of napkin stowaways.  A very random assortment of food, that's what happens when you hand over 15 euros per person.  Immediate need to find value.

After our 3 meals in 30 minute experience, a final pack up in the hotel, and then check out and lobbed all our kit in bag storage.  My main goal today was to not walk a lot, foot has been a little sensitive and we have been knocking out several miles most days.  Still ended up walking around 5 today which didn't quite fit the criteria I set, but you have to see the place ....

We walked back into town to the area known as Blloku, these days a vibrant bar lined district, Burger King but not McDonalds I noted, one of the few places in Europe they haven't infiltrated.  In the past Blloku was the home of Hoxha and his cronies and very much a closed off part of the city. We even managed to locate his mansion / former residence which does indicate he didn't go without too much when he was in charge.  Now back in the hands of the public, like the pyramid, they are owning the former space of evil rather than closing it off.

From there we continued on to Mother Theresa Square, which was pretty much the same place as the national stadium that we visited yesterday.  Haven't seen as many tributes to her as I expected, she was borne in Skopje North Macedonia but identified as Kosovan Albanian, her father poisoned by Serbs.  Its a complicated part of the world is this ... 

Stayed on familiar territory from our day one traipse and back past the pyramid to the castle quarter. That was pretty much where my foot decided enough was enough and a cafe in some lovely gardens a reasonable space to while away a couple of hours. And that I guess is the nature of the last day, killing time and reflecting ... on the latter point another country now ticked off, and with no real expectations it has been a real journey of discovery into modern and ancient history, less so of the few hundred years in between, my brain clearly couldn't cope with that.  Now understanding some of it its past it feels like a place that is going somewhere at the moment, but I do note there is a dark underbelly even as the skyscrapers and modernity evolves very visibly.

Clearly those looking for a beach holiday with a twist then this could well be the place for you and the Buze hotel I would see if it can be included in your budgets ... the people genuinely friendly, the scenery magnificent, perhaps only regret is we didn't build a mountain stop into our stay.  That I would suggest for the planners amongst you should be a consideration. 

Collected our bags from the hotel, more sarcasm from their host, who noted we looked a little cleaner than yesterday ... but only a little .. turned down their offer to order a cab and saved 5 euros by walking out the front door and hailing our own!  Little things.... 

At the airport around 2.5 hours before flight and surprised to see check in open, as BA often seems to wait for the 2 hour cut off, so we were straight through bag drop, check and immigration (no stamp) and into the very mellow and chilled business class lounge. It certainly has upped the game from our recent experiences in Prague and Bucharest and providing that serenity and service that I feel is what we are paying for ... not beer on this occasion as I'm driving and need to now get my head in the game for future fitness goals.

I did note the line of Wizz Air planes here, must be their new hub, with Cardiff now in their rear view mirror. Also they have flights to Abu Dabi, apparently some of the more notorious Albanian expats have a bit of property out that way!  Anyway, back in the lounge ...

Albanian pizza (finally got my chille pizza ;) ) , Albanian Spinach, Albanian Beams, Albanian Rice, Albanian Cake ... this was the place to try a little bit of everything ... (with a couple of beers smuggled into my ruck sack ... just because ... you can take the boy out of Swansea ....)

This probably the least 'running' holiday of the year, certainly no marathons or sprints, a couple of jogs and a bit of swimming, but all eyes to Chicago now and a few months training between now and then...  see you all there ;)