After three months: some thoughts about Albania

Can't believe that almost three months has passed since my arrival to Albania. My big project here has come to an end meaning it is now time to move onward and pursue for more radical changes in my life. Now that I have spent three months here, I feel like sharing some of my thoughts about Albania and Tirana.

Only in Albania...

...one can get their daily excercise when taking the rubbish out. Actually, this is the first place where people use public rubbish bins as a landmark: "Do you know that coffee shop near the rubbish bins..."

...one can (and sometimes must) reserve a table in a COFFEE SHOP.

...I find myself buying L and XL size clothes.

...I am not the only one who likes to wear hair on a ballet bun.

...each coffee shop, restaurant and bar has their own strict rules about expressing love. While in some places mere kissing is strictly forbidden, in other, otherwise similar places one can see public foreplaying.

...waiter will run from the other end of a coffee shop/restaurant/bar to open you the door. How kind! In general, Albanian customer service personnel are extremely polite and ready to help you at all situations.

...unlike in the other Balkan countries, people of different religions are not simly coexisting but actually cohabitating with each other. I have actually met quite a few multi-religious families. Go Albania, show example to the neighbors!

...This is also the first Balkan capital where I haven't been ripped of by the taxi drivers.

As you can see, quite a few of my reflections are related to the coffee shops. I have spent hours and hours using the internet in coffee shops. I'm now quite used to drinking at least three cups of coffee every day. How on earth can I continue this lifestyle if I ever decide to return to London or some other dead expensive European city?

"Caricature of an Albanian": big, messy bun, dark purple lipstick and cat eyes.
Do you agree with my caricature? ;)

Actually, I've also got a lot to say about my job and project here. However, in order not to ruin my last day in Albania, I will write more about these experiences a bit later. Probably everyone knows that things never go exactly as planned. All I can say that rather often, nothing goes as planned. Better to remember this simple fact of life especially when pursuing for a radical change abroad.



Preparing for the harsh Balkan winter

When I arrived to Tirana about one month ago, it was warm and sunny. I even had to wear 50+ sunscreen on my face to avoid those nasty sunburns. On several days I would regret I was not wearing sandals but boots. 

Now, just one month later, everything has changed. Looks like that harsh Balkan winter is approaching us. I guess many of my readers are familiar with the  horrendous winters during the siege of Sarajevo or with the case of elderly Romanians dying of cold in their homes a few years ago. Actually, no need to worry, according to the locals, those stereotypical Balkan winters will never arrive to Tirana. I should head to the mountains if I was looking forward to such an experience. Yet, after the warm autumn, I feel I'm freezing with temperatures now dropping close to zero. The humid climate of Albania does not help the situation. Alas, I don't have central heating at my apartment. On a couple of sunny mornings, I've gone to the balcony to get warm. It is really freezing inside, reminds me a lot of my time in Scotland and London.

I am preparing for the harsh winter by browsing the numerous small boutiques across Tirana. I don't think many people come to Tirana for shopping, but I have found this city to be full of nice, little treasures. Not only they provide me with warmth but they are also aesthetically appealing, especially for my style!

Wool dress in grey and a pink jumbo belt

Wool hat and scarf in grey with pink embroidery,
beads and pom-poms

Tresure! Pink wool coat with amazing embroidery.
Made in Italy but this could be traditional Balkan style too.

Balkan must-haves: handmade woolen sock-slippers,bought
from an old knitting lady. These come in a range of colours and
styles, can't wait to get some more!

Don't worry, I don't plan to turn this into a fashion blog. With this posting, I would just like to inform you about my ways to adapt into my new life in Albania. By the way, this is the first time I have taken selfies by using a mirror, so I hope you are not bothered by the not-so-impressive quality of the photos.

I have also come across with another problem: Albanian food is too good. My typical Balkan diet consists of seeds, souflaki, cheese, bread, byrek, different seeds, different byrek, different bread, seasonal fruits (right now apples and mandarins), kebab, some more byrek, some more souflaki, some more cheese, coffee, coffee, coffee... I think I have even found my favourite bakery, as usual for the residents of the Balkan cities. But now I'm facing the problem of gaining extra weight. Looks like I should head to enjoy the amazing running paths around the Lake (pictured below).