One Day in an Albanian City that was getting the Guinness Book of World Records Status

Below is one long fun day in the city of Fier, in Albania. Yes, many have joked how it would be to say "I live in Fier"!
This city of 87,000 people is not a scenic hot spot, although it is 15 miles from the sea. It is one of the 15 cities that Peter's project supports in his local governance project. The mayor is Mr. Hospitality, though he can't speak a word of English. Sigh.

There was a group of 6 of us driving south from Tirana. We began the adventure with a stop to the ancient site of Byllis, near Fier. Amazing antiquity as always here.

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Byllis was the capital of the Illyrian Kingdom. Some say it was founded in 11th century BC but the composition of the foundations suggest 3rd century BC. Albanians feel they are Illyrian descendents

The Byllines controlled an area of 20 kilometers until 300 BC. The nearby site of Appolonia was invaded by the Romans and thus this site became a battle ground between the Rome and Macedonia. It was deserted in 5th century AD.

Detail on a grave. This is 2,300 years old!

This is the Vjosa River. Byllis had a panoramic view to invaders and a waterway for goods from afar.

Above the Mayor of Fier and his deputy in pink who speaks English having studied at a university in Alabama for 4 years.

Our group in the city council chambers before the Guinness Record Event!

Cameras are previewing this mosaic of 170,000 straws (they call plastic pipes)

How's this for a job...You are the one who travels the region and bestows the awards. This woman is from Italy. 

And here is the mosaic artist, born and raised in this town, he took 23 days to construct the mural.

Leading up to the measuring for verification are dancers rocking it out to a Michael Jackson tune!

Measuring the dimensions but the tape isn't quite long enough. Measuring from top to bottom without a ladder was a challenge!

And he wins the Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest mural from straws. Below this adds to his collection. He has already won 7 other Guinness World Records!!!!!

We were raced to the next ancient site of Appolonia. This was a Roman site where in 44BC Emperor Augustus raced from here to Rome to claim power after the Ides of March when Julian Caesar was assassinated.

With darkness, two wonderful jazz groups from Switzerland and Greece performed in the courtyard of a sweet church, built in the 13th century but rebuilt in the 17th century. Nice in the moonlight.

It is now 10:30 and the evening is not nearly over. The friendly mayor insists that about 30 of us, musicians, the mural artist, the sleek rep from Guinness and our group drive to the sea and have a long fish dinner with dancers and traditional music until 2 am. Great long day to be in Fier!