Tirana, the Albanian Capital is a big city and a busy place, moving fast out of the Soviet era into 21st-century capitalism. We only spent the night there but we got the vibe as we walked through the big mall that had just been built nearby and stayed in its modern hotel, the Metro. The service was terrific and the people are extremely nice. The bus ride that got us there was pleasant as we crossed from the Adriatic coast through rugged mountains and broad farmlands.