All those dignitaries who were swept into the hotel under tight security left after a couple of hours.  All the stern looking men in black coats went with them.  The place is very quiet now.  One poor young man had to stand outside the elevators for 24 hours.

Lot’s of comings and goings at the hotel today. I am beginning to believe chauffeuring is the main form of employment in Tirana.

There were three explosions last night in Tirana, considered terrorist acts.  The first was at a pharmacy owned by the father of the Interior Minister.  The second was at the home of the former Chief of Police, currently Director of Serious Crimes in Korca, which is a town southeast of Tirana.  The third was a controlled detonation of dynamite placed at a bus station near a school.

There are a lot of interesting people coming and going at this hotel.  Some might be businessmen but many seem to be government types.  Often cars with flags on the front fenders pull up to drop off or pick up men and women who give the appearance of being important with serious business to attend to.  In the lobby there are usually two or more stern looking men in suits and overcoats, some with earpieces.  Opposite the elevators is a wall with large photos of dignitaries who have visited the hotel, including Tony Blair and Hillary Clinton.