Experience Albania: Travel, Pictures, History, Culture

(Below: My family and I with Diana, my very excellent TEFL program director. They got to meet her first thing in Tirane. The perfect first person to introduce to my family.)

Just spent quite the week with my parents, sister and brother-in-law. The photos and comments won’t do justice to the good times we had, but I’ll do my best.
Just for starters, here are some images of the first few days. Check out all photos on my Flickr account by clicking on any photo you see within this post.

Our Hotel in Elbasan, with its gorgeous grounds and good food.

My host family from Belsh (where I lived during training for the first four months) took care of us all day Sunday and into Monday. My host father, Zenel, and my host brother, Petrit, drove us all the way to Pogradec so my family could enjoy a ride through the mountains, see Lake Ohrid and eat the famous ‘peshk Koran’ or ‘Koran fish’ that is unique to the region. We would notice later that this lunch marked the beginning of big meals, constant eating, gezuar’ing (cheers), and my translating career.

We eventually made it back to Belsh that evening … and what was waiting for us? We sat down around 11pm to eat this meal! A feast of resh lamb, byrek, corn bread, salads, cake, etc.




Get the picture?

These three young men were quite the crew … my dad and Mike did a great job throughout the week. It didn’t take too much proding from whatever Albanians were hosting to get them to take another bite or drink. It was like I was forgiven and redeemed for all the times I’d disappointed my host families and family friends for not eating enough. Believe me, I eat enough, just not to an Albanian’s standards! Their number one priority is that their guests are more than well fed any time you’re in their home. So, thanks dad and Mike! If only they had such good eaters like you around more often.

We all slept at their home that night and had a little photo shoot before departing.

Both sets of parents, together at last.


Newfound sisters, Ana, Lauren and Marsi. Everyone thought (and still thinks) that Lauren is so beautiful! They loved her.

Heads of the house.

Vajza te bukura! (Beautiful girls!)

Leta and her only son, Petrit.

Faleminderit Shume!

Thank you, Hysa Family! You truly showed my family how generous, hospitable and friendly Albanian people are.