10 October Tirana

In the morning I decide to try and find out about Tirana’s second year’s “Design Month”. According to the structure the Polis University should be the place to be.

At Skanderbeg Square the buses to this University seem to leave. After a coffee in bar I’ve two young economy students. One is so kind to walk me to the bus stop and tell the driver where I need to go. A single trip costs a little less than 0,20 €. Another succeeds the first bus escort. He walks me to a private business University. 

 Skanderberg Square in center Tirana

Friendly they tell me that the Polis University is some 5 kilometers away. Two students point me out another bus and even want to pay for my ticket! This kind of hospitality I have encountered all over Albania. People are proud of their country and want you to feel welcome. They are just fascinated that you come to visit them. I know this will not last forever, but this culture of making sure that you are well looked after is strong. I can give numerous examples and this makes Albania a warm bath, especially coming from the North Western European directness and business-is-business mentality.

businesses and universities have moved to the outskirts

The Polis University has about 500 private students. One of the faculties is design. The three founding fathers of the Institute, started during their architectural and urban planning studies, with an NGO that was supported by funding from the Dutch Embassy, European Union and others. After they graduated, they decided to turn the NGO into a private school, which grew out into the Polis University. Four years ago they moved away to the outskirts, because the growing number of students couldn’t be 

housed anymore in the downtown building. They bought an old abandoned factory, stripped the inside and made it into a spacious and modern equipped educational center.

A staff member greets me and the young co-coordinator of the design exhibition shows me around. It appears that there are strong ties to the Erasmus University and the International Housing School (IHS) based in Rotterdam.

The design exhibition is tiny and could probably learn a lot from ties with the Eindhoven Design Academy and their graduation exhibition during the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven in October.

wars in the Balkan and how they effected Albania

When I finally leave to take a bus back to Tirana’s Center, the guard taps me on the shoulder. He has been send after me to give me the brochure with presentations of their full program and exhibitions.

The bus takes me back and because my bicycle flies back home as well, I start gathering materials to firmly pack and wrap it. I have no idea if Tirana’s airport offers cardboard boxes or wrapping for bicycles. But I know from experience I need to dismantle by bike. The pedals off, air taken from the tires, etc.

I find cardboard, tape, but in the evening when I try to bicycle to a service station to ask if they can take the pedals of, the unavoidable happens for the first time this trip. An instant flat tire! A clear sign it’s been enough.

I’ll tackle this problem in the morning and go to dinner. I find a nice restaurant and receive some assistance to read the menu, by an Albanian speaking almost fluent German. After a short conservation about the beauty of the country and the friendliness of the people, I am again treated by a glass of red wine. It’s almost boring to mention but this is Albania at the moment. I feel a little sad, because I have come to the end of my beautiful bicycling trip, but it has been heart warming, interesting, rewarding and enlightening. Good night!