Where am I?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Just got indoors after seeing a game in a country's top division and where two rival teams from the capital city played each other in a derby.

[Der Kaiser]

Albania. Tirana to be specific.

[Maurice Swan]

umm... do I care where you are?

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Taunton ?

[Tuerto]

umm... do I care where you are?

That's a bit rich Mo, coming from someone who can't wait to tell us he'sin the Dordogne sipping on a ****ing Bottle of Blue Nun.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

umm... do I care where you are?

Obviously not. I hope I haven't spoiled your evening.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Albania. Tirana to be specific.

That was quick!

[Tuerto]

Just got indoors after seeing a game in a country's top division and where two rival teams from the capital city played each other in a derby.

We need a bit more than that old fruit.

[Tuerto]

That was quick!

What's the food like?

[city1927]

Albania. Tirana to be specific.

tirana v dinamo tirana . 3 - 2 Tirana

What was the atmosphere like? Did it feel like a derby around the city?
Are they big rivals? I have no idea about Albania football.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

What's the food like?

Really good. This city is incredibly sophisticated and the modern architecture stunning. Courtesy of drug money to some degree, I have read.
It's different in other cities here and a far cry from the last time I was in the country where there were pigs around ground floor flats and when some of the very cars on the road had plywood side windows!

[Der Kaiser]

tirana v dinamo tirana . 3 - 2 Tirana

What was the atmosphere like? Did it feel like a derby around the city?
Are they big rivals? I have no idea about Albania football.

Second this, went to a Dinamo Bucharest game last year which atmosphere wise is up there with anything I've seen/heard... I'd hope similar for TBG today as it's in a similar neck of the woods.

[Tuerto]

Really good. This city is incredibly sophisticated and the modern architecture stunning. Courtesy of drug money to some degree, I have read.
It's different in other cities here and a far cry from the last time I was in the country where there were pigs around ground floor flats and when some of the very cars on the road had plywood side windows!

Sounds good. I fancy Albania. Am i correct in saying that the Government is pushing Tourism? Do you feel safe there?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

tirana v dinamo tirana . 3 - 2 Tirana

What was the atmosphere like? Did it feel like a derby around the city?
Are they big rivals? I have no idea about Albania football.

It wasn't the craic I had hoped and it wasn't obvious in the city that a game was on. The exterior of the stadium is very swish with posh designer shops and the entrances to the stadium are between them and not obvious until you come across them.
The small band of away 'ultras' were in one end of the ground but the rest of the away fans were in with the seated home fans and partaking of beer. It wasn't threatening at all and what seems to be the national stadium was only sparsely populated.
I wouldn't make a beeline for such a game in the great scheme of things.

[city1927]

Was it the Air Albania Stadium? Just had a look at the pictures of it. Google maps had the old ground when I went to have a look I think. Looks really strange, like it has a big Chimney on it.
Shame about the atmosphere, and around the city it no being obvious but then is that more on our culture and expectations of what we have experienced of a derby.
Albania is a not a country that would jump out at me of one that I would think of going to.
Would you recommend it for general tourism?

[Maurice Swan]

That's a bit rich Mo, coming from someone who can't wait to tell us he'sin the Dordogne sipping on a ****ing Bottle of Blue Nun.

huh?? I don't ask people where I am....for me ...it says in my avatar. where I am....as for Blue Nun...you are joking right?

[Tuerto]

huh?? I don't ask people where I am....for me ...it says in my avatar. where I am....as for Blue Nun...you are joking right?

Sorry Mo, i remember you posted a pic of yourself. You had the look of Blue Nun.... I'm more Echo Falls.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Sorry Mo, i remember you posted a pic of yourself. You had the look of Blue Nun.... I'm more Echo Falls.

Mateus Rose. You can stick a candle in it. Looks classy with my jam jars.

[Tuerto]

Mateus Rose. You can stick a candle in it. Looks classy with my jam jars.

QC at Christmas. We don't **** about in my house.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Was it the Air Albania Stadium? Just had a look at the pictures of it. Google maps had the old ground when I went to have a look I think. Looks really strange, like it has a big Chimney on it.
Shame about the atmosphere, and around the city it no being obvious but then is that more on our culture and expectations of what we have experienced of a derby.
Albania is a not a country that would jump out at me of one that I would think of going to.
Would you recommend it for general tourism?

Yes, it was the Air Albania stadium and is spectacular from the air (having seen aerial shots).
The question about general tourism is a difficult one to answer. It's worth a city break but it's not 'daring', as it were.
Europe is becoming very homogenous in many ways and going off the beaten track is becoming more difficult (Transnistria probably being the wackiest place).
The rest of Albania is a contrast to Tirane and rather down at heel.
For my part, I find interest in everywhere I go but it depends what you are after.

[city1927]

Yes, it was the Air Albania stadium and is spectacular from the air (having seen aerial shots).
The question about general tourism is a difficult one to answer. It's worth a city break but it's not 'daring', as it were.
Europe is becoming very homogenous in many ways and going off the beaten track is becoming more difficult (Transnistria probably being the wackiest place).
The rest of Albania is a contrast to Tirane and rather down at heel.
For my part, I find interest in everywhere I go but it depends what you are after.

Thank you for that, city break is fine. Like you have said alot of Europe is becoming homogenous in many ways which is a shame.
Thank you for you updates.

[Rock_Flock_of_Five]

Really good. This city is incredibly sophisticated and the modern architecture stunning. Courtesy of drug money to some degree, I have read.
It's different in other cities here and a far cry from the last time I was in the country where there were pigs around ground floor flats and when some of the very cars on the road had plywood side windows!

This is why international travel can be so rewarding.
I have a mental image of how I'd expect the capital city of Albania to look -
".... sophisticated and the modern architecture stunning" isn't what I envisaged.

[Wash DC Blue]

Europe is becoming very homogenous in many ways

By that, do you mean the ever increasing steel/glass type structures along with the ubiquitous brand name stores?

Or a sense of missing a local flavour being replaced by a flavour that you could find in many European Cities regardless of the country that they are in?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

By that, do you mean the ever increasing steel/glass type structures along with the ubiquitous brand name stores?

Or a sense of missing a local flavour being replaced by a flavour that you could find in many European Cities regardless of the country that they are in?

A bit of both - although many of the modern high-rise buildings here in Tirana are dating and stunning.

[North Cardiff Blue]

That was quick!

Probably looks better than Swansea, have they got a quadrant and a swimming pool