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Today was my last day in Tirana for a couple of weeks. I decided to visit Mount Dajti National Park, which is 25km east of the city. As I was leaving the hotel I grabbed a business card from the reception desk so that I would be able to get a taxi back to the hotel.
I took the Dajti Express cable car to the top of the mountain. The journey takes 15 minutes and it's a very scenic journey. The cable car rises and falls over bunkers, forest farms and hilltops. Once at the top I enjoyed a walk through the beautiful beech and pine forests before settling down to look at the amazing view. It was a really clear day so I was able to see the city of Tirana, the mountains and the seaside resort of Durres.
I enjoyed a second ride on the cable car before heading to Bunk'Art.
In June 1978 the anti nuclear bunker for the Communist government was completed. It was built over 5 floors all of which, were underground. The bunker was created as an area for the government to hold political meetings if Albania was attacked.
As well as meeting rooms there were also living quarters for the former communist dictator Enver Hova and the former Prime Minister Mehmet Shehu. The bunker was reopened as a Museum in November 2014 for the 70th Anniversary of Albania's liberation from the nazi-fascists.
The museum is a fascinating insight into the Communist regime and the history of Albania from the Second World War.
More importantly it was only 16 degrees inside the bunker so it offered a welcome respite from the searing heat outside.
I was due to depart Tirana at 1pm and it had just turned 12pm so I decided to get a taxi back to the city. The museum called a local taxi company. When the driver arrived I handed him the card that I picked up from the hotel reception. I soon realised that something was wrong when we continued up the mountain and not down towards the city. I tried to explain this to the driver but with my lack of Albanian and his lack of English it was very hard. Eventually he phoned the number on the card for the hotel. It turns out there are two Hotel Select in Tirana. One in the city and one in the Hills. I had picked up the card for the one in the hills! Once the hotel receptionist realised what had happened she explained (I presumed) that I wanted to go to the city hotel. Unfortunately the taxi driver misunderstood and thought he was meant to take me to the City Hotel! I thought everything was fine until we pulled up outside the wrong hotel. By now I'd been travelling through the hills and city for 40 minutes and was no nearer my destination. I phoned the hotel who in turn spoke to the driver. Finally we headed in the right direction and fifteen minutes later I arrived at the correct Hotel Select just as my tour bus pulled up outside. Slightly flustered I rushed into the hotel, paid my bill, grabbed my bags and rushed outside. Relieved to have made it back to the hotel and to be on my way.
- comments
Doug There is clearly a message here. You need to stay away from taxis
Sarah I know Doug! I couldn't believe it - someone is definitely trying to tell me something.
John You definitely are an accident waiting to happen