Experience Albania: Travel, Pictures, History, Culture

Me and the flowers

Originally uploaded by treenie.

I took this photo last week when I was in Elbasan - the moon was wazing in a clear winter sky, on its way to being full.
Last night on my way back from Tirane, I had a view of the now full moon, rising over Mount Tomori. Didn’t snap a photo, but it was bright and gorgeous.

‘How can I see an old thing in a new way today?’ my friend, Steph asked me. She sent me a handmade plaque with this quote. It hangs on my bedroom wall and serves as a reminder to get out there and avoid using the words dull, old and boring.
Here’s my most recent example - this photo shows the Berat castle, which has become so familiar over the past two years, from a completely new vantage point. We hiked up to the hill opposite the castle last weekend and were rewarded with new views of the Mangalem and Gorica neighborhoods, plus Mount Tomori.
All it takes is some conscious thought about the familiar things around you and some brainstorming on how you can change them into mini adventures.

These little figurines sit atop my volunteer friend Ryan’s stove. They’re just hanging out, looking peaceful and protecting the ‘peace ball’ next to them.

This thing was huge! Nearly as big as Ana (my host cousin in this photo).
‘Chichras’ are a kind of organic ‘lemon’ that people grown in their gardens here.
We didn’t cut it open or use it, and I’m not sure what is really done with them, but it was a sight to see!

View from Kruje, Albania

The ‘Albanian Visit’ is a kind of sport, a hobby, an activity that has given me endless opportunities to practice my Albanian and get to know friends, colleagues and landlords better and better by spending time in their homes, meeting their families, neighbors, etc.
An Albanian visit means time spent going over to someone’s home, unannounced and without limit. You can stay for as long or as little as you wish, but can expect that your host will urge you to stay longer once you say you must go.
Homemade cake, pies and wine, plus cookies and candy. Or you might get to stay for lunch or dinner. As the visitor, you best be ready to eat and drink, give the lowdown on your family and boyfriend back home and discover new things about your host and Albania at large.
Sky’s the limit - a truly unpredictable experience, the Albanian Visit.
I will miss this tradition and am hoping to bring pieces of the purpose behind it to my home, my friends, family, colleagues, etc.
So, if you know me, get ready to try my homemade cakes, pies, etc.
I’ll even teach you a little Shqip! (Albanian)
Miresevini!

Below is a message from an article that I came across while Ben and I were in a coffee shop in Hayward, Wisconsin.
“Life always has a way of bringing us what we need to learn, whether we are aware of it at the time or not.
When we decide to live in a way that is more conscious, we are presented with life situations that help us learn life’s lessons at a deeper level.
Give conscious thought to daily interactions - how you treat others and how you want to be treated.
Life your life consciously.”
-Sandy Thibault

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Enjoy the people in your life today and every day …

It’s the people in your life who make your world.

Greps is a very, very small village, nestled in the hills along the canyons of the ‘Skrapar’ region in eastern Albania. About a two and a half hour bus ride from Berat.
My Peace Corps volunteer friend, Evan, lives and works in Corovode, a medium-sized town in this region. While visiting him a few weeks ago, five of us went out for a hike along the canyon road and happened upon the ‘chief’ of Greps. Enter: Hysen.
In his mid to upper fifties, Hysen had a lot to say about politics, the effects of communism and the realities of immigration.
He and his wife bake their bread in an underground, fire-fueled oven.
They have a cow and some chickens and some neighbors next door.
Their four children are spread throughout Albania, Italy and Greece.
We’re pretty sure we were quite the surprise visitors on that Saturday afternoon. Four Americans and one Brit, out on a walk, with homemade corn bread and brownies to offer.