Albania, a country with a population of 2.8 million, was the last destination on the tour. A country of 11,100 square miles, it is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea. It fell under communist rule after World War II, and had a tumultuous decade in the 1990’s before democratic processes were more fully implemented.
Albania is now a parliamentary constitutional republic. Albania is a NATO member, joining in 2009. It has applied to join the European Union (EU).
The town of Elbasan was an interesting stop for the tour on May 14, 2023, as we made our way to Albania’s capital. Forgoing lunch, this photographer walked the city streets and back alleys comprising the city center. It just so happened that a newly-married bride and groom showed up in a horse drawn carriage – I had to get a photo of that!
We arrived in Tirana, the capital and largest city of Albania, later that day. It was founded in 1614 by a sect of the Ottomans. It was declared the capital in 1912 after the Albanian Declaration of Independence from the Ottoman Empire.
We visited the Krujë Castle, which was the center of Skanderbeg’s rebellion in 1443 against the Ottoman Empire. It was built possibly as far back as the 5th century AD. It is one of the most visited sites in Albania.
