KRUJA
Kruja - the bastion of Albanian honour and ex-headquarters to multinational hero Skanderbeg - is one of those must-see destinations everyone tells you to visit. They’re right. Just as right as those legends saying if it weren’t for Skanderbeg the Ottoman Empire would have stretched easily to Vienna - earlier than you would have thought. For a tourist-frequented destination, Kruja certainly has a lot of spirit and its own vibe - a proud patriot sword-waving vibe coming from the fortress mixed with the peaceful bargaining vibe of the bazaar. OK, technically it is not exactly bargaining, it’s more of a gesture-based numbering and coin flashing as most locals don’t speak English and the fine haggling nuances are lost in (lack of) translation. Luckily there are plenty commonly Balkan words with dubious origin so should you happen to be from a country anywhere around Albania and you find yourself stuck to find a word for an object, try a word you already know - you may be surprised. Once you’ve conquered Skanderbeg’s past and are assured of his importance and impact on Europe, you are of course very welcome to have a meal or a coffee (ah, those Albanian macchiatos!) in one of the three panoramic fortress restaurants or any of the other bars and cafés around. It is important to enjoy the sights properly - after all we are in the Balkans - a bit of qejf is a must, if not the reason for everything and the sound foundation of cultural ties.
