Bunkers in Albania

 We had no idea of this snippet of history when we went to see a bunker in Tirana during our visit to the missionary conference with Elder Bednar.  Here is a little background:

Concrete military bunkers are a ubiquitous sight in Albania, with an average of 5.7 bunkers for every square kilometre (14.7 per square mile). The bunkers (Albanian: bunkerët) were built during the Stalinist and anti-revisionist government of Enver Hoxha from the 1960s to the 1980s; by 1983, a total of 173,371 bunkers had been constructed around the country.^[1][2]

Hoxha's program of "bunkerization" (bunkerizimi) resulted in the construction of bunkers in every corner of the then People's Socialist Republic of Albania, ranging from mountain passes to city streets. They were never used for their intended purpose during the years that Hoxha governed. The cost of constructing them was a drain on Albania's resources, diverting them away from more pressing needs, such as dealing with the country's housing shortage and poor roads.

The bunkers were abandoned following the dissolution of the communist government in 1992. A few were used in the Albanian insurrection of 1997 and the Kosovo War of 1999. Most are now derelict, though some have been reused for a variety of purposes, including residential accommodation, cafés, storehouses, and shelters for animals or the homeless.

This bunker was on the outskirts of Tirana Square. It was quite depressing because not only was it underground but the air was thin and in each of the rooms, it would tell about the wars that Albania has fought.  It told very sad stories of torture and human struggles.  After a while, I just couldn't read anymore and sat down while the others toured.  

 There was such a mixture of buildings at the edge of this big empty square where we stood on marble and other stone tiles that were sent from all the regions of Albania to represent their area in the Square. 

The Mosques are another interesting feature of Albania.  They are everywhere and you can hear the calls to prayer 5 times a day.  There was a group in the airport as we left, kneeling as a group in prayer.  

I am learning that there is a lot I don't know.  I knew that but now I really know that.  That is why it is good to travel and be reminded how blessed we are to have all that we do.