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Balkan Discovery Trip. Day 7: Tirana, Albania & Ohrid, North Macedonia

The Luani Arte Hotel is situated in Shkoder, Albania, on Rruga Gjon Buzuku street. The hotel made a good notion on us, not only because of the late dinner served on the day we came, but also because of the fantastic under contemporary idea that the hotel displayed. It was a brief visit, but it was one of the most unforgettable.

We spent the entire day in two cities: Tirana, Albania, and Ohrid, North Macedonia. It took 2 hours to get from Shkoder to Tirana. When the bus stopped at Kolaudimi i Automjeteve, we got nice two hot chocolate.

Tirana's centre is Skanderbeg Square, named for Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeu. Many historical structures surrounded the area, including the National Historical Museum, the Palace of Culture, the National Bank, and many more. We just went into the Clock Tower since we had so little time. Nonetheless, I was the only one that ascended the tower's stairs because the site only accepts cash payment for the admission, and we only had a few pence.


Nice and cozy room



Getting hot chocolate




A tunnel built during war

A pink painted minister building

Tengok apa tuh..?

The clock tower

The Et'hem Bej Mosque was closed that day



The Skanderbeg Square

A statue commemorating Skanderbeg for resisting the Ottomans


A live music band

The National Bank

The Clock Tower



I ran up the staircases..

and reach the top



penat belari

A Friendship Monument

A Byzantine-era building, is now a shopping mall, was our next visit. It is called Kalaja e Tiranës, about 5 minutes walked from the square and passed through modern mall Toptani.

I guessed this was a water fountain during Byzantine era





Nice ambient, however we just peek inside the mall

Then, we continued to Sofra Turke for lunch.

sempat lg beli fridge magnet

Flags waves to respect the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Lunch at Sofra Turke



Nasi mentega ngan ikin bilis...

The journey continued to another country, North Macedonia. Heading toward the east, we stopped at Elbasan to pray at Naziresha Mosque and had tea-break at Kompleksi Nogu 40 minutes later. We arrived at Hotel Aqualina in Ohrid after four and half hours. The buffer dinner were served at the hotel and it started to dark. We walked to the Lake Ohrid, just in front the hotel and saw a wedding ceremony was held at the nearby restaurant. We have been relaxing by lake ohrid enjoying the view at night.












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