Hello, I have been told that I need to update my blog more often, so I am writing a post right now. I have some free internet time and a few minutes and I thought that this would be a productive use of such resources. We are able to go into the Peace Corps office here in Tirana when we like which is really nice and they have computers with the internet and such. It is a luxury that I do appreciate.
This was my first weekend in Tirana. The first time I was here I wasn't that impressed, but this weekend was really fun. There was a fourth of july celebration at the ambassador's residence and that was a good time. There were hamburgurs and hotdogs (which you cannot find in real Albania). The compound for the residence is kind of surreal. It is seriously like walking into an American suburb but it is in the middle of Albania. There are driveways with garages, mailboxes, and even garbage cans that roll out the the curb. To get mail here most people have to hear by word of mouth and go to the post office to pick it up. I don't think that many post offices deliver mail regularly, but it depends on the person that works there. And with garbage most people just throw it on the side of the road. Which is really disgusting and it is definately a major problem here. The embassy party was a good time though, and I will probably go back next year.
After that we hit up night life in Tirana. I haven't even caught a scent of night life yet here in Albania except for world cup games. There are actual bars and clubs in downtown Tirana. They serve a variety of beers and have drink specials and everything. When you aren't exposed to these things for some time I think that it is the little things that get to you. This being my first time in Tirana as well, it is the same way. Most of the bars are in a section of Tirana called The Block. I guess that this is where most of the party leaders lived during the communist times. Enver Hoxha's house is still there (he was a dictator in Albania until the 1980's). When one walks through this part of Tirana it feels like you could be in any city almost anywhere in the world. It is expsnsive to spend much time here however. I am not used to paying $4 for a beer, they are usually around 50 cents. I think that it is a nice place to come and unwind every month or two, but making sure to keep an eye on the prices of things.
Lastly it was nice to see some of the history and buildings that are in Tirana here. Skanderburg Square was good to see, a lot of recent Albanian history has happenned there. There was the monument they built for Enver Hoxha after he died, the block, and some other things that I can't think of right now. If you come out to visit in Albania we will go and hang out in Tirana for a bit.
Right now I am going to meet some people at a French bakery that supposedly has good coffee, and after that I will go back to Kucove and rest. I didn't get too much sleep this weekend, it is a good thing that I dont really have a job. It will take me about a week to recover.