On our second day in Albania, we further explored this land of contrasts, beginning with our arrival in the port city of Durres. The elegance of Sea Cloud nestled amidst the cranes, tugboats, and shipping containers in this industrial port ensured a memorable sight. We proceeded by bus to Kruje, the former capital perched high in the mountains, where we spent time in two small museums: the Ethnographic Museum and the Skanderbeg Museum, both of which were equally intriguing. The Ethnographic Museum, housed in an Ottoman-style residence, provided visitors with a feel for everyday life within Albanian culture; in contrast, the Skanderbeg Museum, initially a product of the communist era, introduced guests to some of Albania’s complex political history and its national hero, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. We completed our visit to Kruje by strolling the medieval market, itself a study in contrasts, in which cheap imported souvenirs may be found next to antique ethnographic items and colorful hand-knitted socks.
From Kruje we traveled by bus to the current capital, Tirane, at which we indulged in a lunch of Albanian delicacies paired with local wines. Over coffee, we enjoyed a private performance of traditional songs and dances by The Eagles, an award-winning folklore group. Before our return to the ship, our local guides led us on a walking tour of downtown Tirane, in which Ottoman mosques and Orthodox churches stand next to communist-era civic structures, a stark reminder of this country’s varied history.
