Fifth Journey Day 150: Thread of Water, Thread of Breath

"Thread of Water, Thread of Breath" — A slender line carries Tirana’s restlessness along the Lana, a breath drawn between traffic and water.

Date: October 5, 2025
Location: Tirana, Albania

I arrived in Tirana, Albania, a city known for its vivid painted façades, riverside promenades along the Lana, and a lively street rhythm that blends Ottoman, Italian, and socialist-era layers. Autumn here smells of roasting chestnuts; color and concrete meet in a restless, creative pulse.

Arrival in Color and Noise

Tirana greeted me with noise and color. The bus let me off, and I started to run, but I felt like I was going too fast. The buildings were painted in bright colors like green, orange, and yellow. They stood against older gray apartments. The city seemed to insist on being noticed, as if it did not allow a quiet arrival. My body was tired, but I was alert. It was as though the air itself was full of interruptions.

Following the Lana River

I walked along the Lana River for a few hours. The water moved steadily but without force. A thin current carried leaves and plastic. It made the traffic around it seem less heavy. There were bridges overhead, and each one was different. Some of the bridges were painted, some were rusting, and some were busy with bicycles. I could barely hear the sound of water, almost like it was hidden by the noise of the engines and horns, but I could still follow it.

A Pause on the Low Wall

At one point, I stopped on a low wall and simply sat down. The wind changed, carrying the smell of petrol and the sweetness of chestnuts roasting nearby. I watched the light fall flat across the surface of the river. It didn't reflect light, more like a dull metal sheet. Still, it gave me a way to pause — a small piece of continuity in a chaotic place.

A City Showing Its Seams

What I remember most is how the city was built, with all its layers. The concrete was painted with color. Water moving beneath noise. People kept going, even though the river quietly moved on. Tirana is not shy about its seams. Instead, it shows them all at once. Tonight, I feel a little uneasy, but it's not too bad. It is the kind of unsettled that keeps me awake, noticing the way pieces overlap without blending into one another.

Travel Notes

• Weather: Mild 18°C; pale, hazy sky; faint breeze along the Lana carrying exhaust and the sweetness of roasted chestnuts; flat, metallic afternoon light on the river.
• Scents: Petrol and warm chestnut smoke with a thread of river dampness.
• Sounds: Engines, horns, bicycle bells on the bridges; the water almost hidden, a soft undertone.
• Reflection: Layers of painted concrete and quiet current; movement pressing forward while a thin line of water keeps time — the same line I followed in the artwork.

Continue the Journey

If this river-thread speaks to you, wander next to the water-led mood of Whispers of Water, or step into another Albanian day with Day 154: Vibrant Footprints.