As time was running out after the leisurely lunch, we had to make a decision between what we wanted to see and had time for in Tirana. Everyone agreed the Mosque would be interesting (some would say it was the only real sight in Tirana) as well as the art gallery. Our guide couldn't understand why we would want to see the art gallery as in his opinion, it was full of communist propaganda - well, it was precisely the reason why we wanted to see it. It turned out to be the highlight of our afternoon in Tirana.
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| Traffic jam in Tirana - apparently a constant |
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| Satellite dishes alternating with air conditioners on most buildings |
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| In 1967, over two thousand churches, mosques and other religious institutions were closed, destroyed or converted to other uses by the Communist regime; statutes guaranteeing religious freedoms were annulled. A new post-communist era saw a brand new Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection completed in 2012, built by the Albanian government for the Orthodox community. |
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| Interesting facade |
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| Talking about crossed wires! |
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| Where we had lunch |
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| Polytechnic University of Tirana - the front lawn commemorate Mother Teresa who was an Albanian |
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| Completed in 1923, Et'hem Bey Mosque in Skanderbeg Square was closed during the Communist era; it reopened in 1991 without authorization. 10,000 people attended but incredibly, the police did not intervene. This was a milestone in the rebirth of religious freedom in Albania. |
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| Frescoes in the mosque depicts trees, waterfalls and bridges - apparently very unusual in a mosque |
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| Men prayed in the main room, women only were allowed upstairs |
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| Women had to climb up these steep stairs to get to their prayer loft |
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| The women's section were at the top of the spiral staircase behind a closed door. Men were not allowed past the door. |
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| The National Museum |
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| The National Art Gallery - there happened to be a visiting Henry Moore exhibit but running short on time, we headed straight for the contemporary gallery, the reason why we came. |
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| The worker as superman in sculpture and in paintings |
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| Heroic worker poses |
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| Intriguing subject - guns and children |
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| This was one of many pictures depicting women workers in various occupations |
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| A trio of wood sculptures by the renowned Albanian sculptor Halim Beqiraj |
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| A closeup of one of the sculptures - Portrait of a highland woman - my favourite |
