204. My Farewell to Tirana

So after two weeks visiting Tirana and exploring its many attractions, it is time to say good-bye and move on ...
But before that happens, here are a few images of my impressions of this capital city ...

As the sun sets on 2016 - 

I wonder what the New Year and the future will bring Albania

and the rest of the world ...

Tirana is a city in recovery - slowly emerging from decades of cruel repressive communist rule as well as isolation from the culture of the rest of free Europe ...  and since the fall of communism in 1992, the city has taken on a regrowth of freedom that can be seen in many forms including the colour of much of its architecture ...
 

Christmas flowers ...

New building projects 

of exciting architectural concepts ...

sit in sharp contrast beside the drab soviet style blocks ...

The Lane' stream that flows through the centre of the city 

from its source in the mountains to the East ...

The Clock Tower in the city centre

built by the Ottoman Turks in 1822

sits beside the Et'hem Bey Mosque ...

... and a climb up the 90 spiral steps to the top

gives me a good view of the surrounding city ...

 

The huge Skanderbeg Square is the focal point of the city ...

now undergoing a major facelift ...

National History Museum in the centre ...

looking east to the mountains ...

and west over the Square ...

Christmas comes to Tirana

but New Years eve and day are greater celebrations ...

.........................................................

So waking up early on the second day into 2017
 I am greeted with a promise beaming over the city
and maybe even a pot of gold for her ...

I pack my kit and head out into the street where I hail a passing coach ...

... and hopefully the driver will transport me safely to another exciting destination ...