Before traveling to a new country, preconceptions, certainty, and ideologies seem so uncertain and scary. The fear of the unknown dominates our frame of mind, but luckily, none of those thoughts are reality.

Thanks to the Erasmus Plus project, I had the precious opportunity to visit a new country and learn about different cultures, traditions, and attitudes. 

Before I start recounting my personal experience in Tirana, I’d like to introduce myself. My name’s Eleonora Nicolini. I just turned eighteen, and I’m in my fourth year of high school, which is mainly about accountability and law subjects. I applied for the Erasmus Plus this year’s April, to discover weeks later that, thanks to the project, I would have had the opportunity to stay in Tirana for a month.

I was part of a group of ten Italian teens, including me, accompanied by a tutor. Indeed, the biggest challenge for me has been living in a hostel with not just my groupmates but also other hosts: privacy was not a thing there; in fact, sharing was the keyword.

Besides common fears, the curiosity that Tirana was creating in me was more vital than ever.

I am amazed by the hospitality of the Albanians, who were genuinely kind and helpful. When I first touched Albania’s land, I was pervaded by curiosity mixed with enthusiasm, a feeling that never abandoned me during the whole trip.

So, I definitely started my experience with the right expectations, and to start breaking the ice, I would say I wasn’t disappointed.

Tirana’s never-ending schedule

Living in Tirana for a month has been both thought and pleasant, a perfectly balanced experience. As I grew up in a small Italian city in the countryside, I’m not used to such big cities. Getting used to Tirana’s schedule has been a big challenge for me; the city is always awake somehow, even during the night.

You can easily get a late-night snack, sweet or savory, especially in the Blloku area. That’s certainly an advantage for night tourists, but starting early in the morning, visitors can find every kind of service at any time of day.

The vastity of Tirana

When it comes to services, Tirana offers various options for every traveler’s needs. The traditional city walk tour is the most common choice, but it is suggestive. As I previously explained, I visited the Blloku area, especially at night. But you can also do more exciting activities inside or near Tirana.

For example, my group and I took a trip to Mount Dajti, which offers tons of services and activities designed for people of every age. And how can I forget the breathtaking view of Tirana’s landscape from the cable cars? It was a priceless experience.

The seaside city of Durazzo is also easily accessible by bus from Tirana. This city isn’t surely famous for its activities, but walking by the sea, admiring its fascinating monuments and port, and tasting unique Mediterranean food flavors is an experience of pure relaxation.

Typical Food

Something I will always remember and appreciate about Albania’s capital is the food. I honestly have never seen such variety, from the most typical East European restaurant to the most famous food classics.

My food experience has been positive in every aspect, but one above all is the low prices. Paying so little is a significant advantage for tourists like me, who want to try typical food without emptying their wallets.

So, what’s wrong? 

To be honest, my perception is that in Tirana, there are no rules—or maybe there are, but no one follows them. A clear example could be traffic: busy roads at every hour of the day, speedy cars. Crossing the road or taking a taxi feels dangerous.

Sadly, this hasn’t been my only struggle. Before the travel, nobody told us to bring with us many cash, also it’s not safe travelling with a wallet full of money. Of course, we followed our tutor’s instructions, and we got screwed right away. Paying with any electronic card is nearly impossible in Tirana, and, as if that wasn’t enough, withdrawing money is expensive and inconvenient.

Overall, this experience has been highly formative. I would definitely apply to this project again, as Tirana now feels like home. I would surely recommend the city for a vacation because, as I said previously, Tirana offers any experience that is accessible to everyone: kids or seniors, mountain or city lovers…

I can’t wait to have many more adventures like this and maybe return to Tirana. Why not?

 

Eleonora Nicolini (Italian student)