If you don’t have money but really want to go somewhere on vacation, don’t be upset. Sometimes trip destinations don’t matter, you just want to see something new and different from your own country.
If you want a cheap vacation, then I recommend you to consider Tirana, the capital of Albania.
Tirana is not one of the new urban cities and you can go from one place to another on foot. Most of the buildings in Tirana are painted with different colors and that makes the city look like a doll-town from the airplane window.
If you are a Christian, you might find it interesting to visit a mosque and see how the Muslims pray, as the majority of Albania’s population is Muslim.
There is a mosque right in the center of the city. Xhamia e Haxhi Ethem Beut mosque is one of the most popular sites in Tirana. It is located on Skenderbeg Square. The construction of the mosque was finished in 1821. It was closed under communist rule, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union it was re-opened again (in 1991). You can enter it and even take pictures.
However, you have to cover your head and take off your shoes before entering. If you don’t have anything you can cover your head with, the imam (the leader of the mosque) who is very friendly and eager to tell a little bit of history, will lend you one.
The mosque is not a big one, and I advise you to visit it at times when there are not a lot of people inside. Otherwise you might receive very uncomfortable looks from the locals. Inside the building you can enjoy the whole beauty of the colorful wall paintings and the Muslim architecture.
If you are interested in visiting Tirana, read some more information in my next post.
Photo: © Predrag_Bubalo
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