Day 8 (July 26, 2015): Good bye, Albania. Hello, Serbia!

We had planned to get up early and go to Mount Dajti National Park, 25km outside Tirana. But on sober second thought, we determined Mount Dajti would push the limits time-wise and would risk us missing our flight to Serbia. Instead, we spent the morning wandering around Blloku, an area filled -- and I mean FILLED -- with cafes, bars/coffee shops and stores. The bizarre thing, however, is that, despite the many people in these cafes on a Sunday morning, we didn't see a single person eating. Everyone was drinking coffee. But there was nothing on the menus to eat. 

After wandering for an hour, and starting to think breakfast would be a lost cause, we finally located a French patisserie/restaurant mentioned in our Lonely Planet guide.  They offered omelettes and the best chocolate croissants I have ever tasted in my life. And right in the heart of Tirana, Albania! Who would have ever guessed!

Uh, hello??  La Patisserie Francaise in Albania?!

Truth be told, I think one of the reasons Pam "gives in" to some of the crazy places I propose to take her is that she knows, in some of these places, the women tend to be petite and she can actually find clothes that fit. And that's exactly what happened after the chocolate croissants!  She found two perfectly-fitting dresses within 10 minutes of shopping.  After 23 years of marriage I know how pleased she is to successfully complete a bit of retail therapy, and how the unpleasantness of brutal heat and horrible trains is quickly forgotten as a result.  Everyone wins!

We returned to the Sheraton at noon to get organized and checked out. It was really a beautiful hotel, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. 

The Sheraton Tirana Hotel - excellent!

A final walk by the gardens out back of the hotel revealed that many of the trees are turning yellow already. Wow... It's only late July! Surely Mother Nature can wait a bit more before bringing about autumn colours?

Trees changing colour already

By 1pm we were in a cab to Mother Teresa International Airport for our 3pm flight to Belgrade.

The logo of Albania in cast iron enroute to the airport

Our driver was quite the dynamic fellow. His English was scant, but he wanted to know if we had found Albanians friendly. "Very friendly," I assured him. He wanted us to know that Albanians accept everyone, no matter what their country or religion. That was THE message he adamantly wanted us to leave with. When we neared the airport, I asked him what his thoughts of Mother Teresa were.  "Poco poco," he responded.  Which means he didn't care for her one way or the other. I was shocked! I mean, Mother Teresa is one of the best things that ever came out of Albania. How can one NOT think the world of Mother Teresa?!  Oh well. 

Our Air Serbia ATR-72 flight to Belgrade left 30 minutes late. But upon arrival, everything from baggage retrieval to customs to getting Serbian dinars out of an ATM to getting a taxi arranged was fast and easy. We arrived at our ultra contemporary, snappy Zira Hotel in central Belgrade by 5:30, and enjoyed the hotel's buffet dinner. 

Boarding our Air Serbia ATR-72

Belgrade is by far the largest city we have visited on this tour, with 1.6 million people. As we flew in, we were impressed at the size of the city, the magnificence of the Danube River flowing  through it, and the masses upon masses of Communist-era apartment blocks. Oh, and the red roofs that are typical of the Balkans!

The Danube flows thorough Belgrade

The typical red roofs of the Balkans

Tomorrow is the last full day of vacation, and we have a lot of ground to cover. An early-to-bed beckons. Good night from country #4 on this trip!