Coffee and Chewing Gum: What a Combo!
I went to a coffee shop today and ordered a cappuccino. The girl who served me placed a small silver packet on the saucer, next to the spoon. It contaRead More…
Category: Dear Travel Diary
Moving from Albania to Macedonia: It Was a Long Day
Yesterday was a long day. It began in Tirana and ended in Skopje, with a brief interlude in Kosovo along the way. I left the apartment in Tirana atRead More…
Another Power Outage in Tirana
Today while I was working I saw my computer screen dim. Then I looked across the room towards the internet router and saw all the lights had gone one.Read More…
What It’s like to Live near the Great Mosque of Tirana
The apartment I’m renting at the moment is only a matter of meters from the Great Mosque of Tirana. Every day, when I leave the apartment and walk to Read More…
No Electricity in My Street in Tirana Today
I had a late start today. There was a power cut on the street where I live in Tirana. That lack of electricity made it impossible or me to work. I couRead More…
A Walk Beside the River Lana in Tirana
Today I decided to take a walk beside the river Lana (Lanë). Actually “river” is too grand a word. It’s really nothing more than a stream. Small as iRead More…
Working Outside for a Change
Today I decided to take my computer onto the balcony and work outside. I’ve often tried working outside in the past, but it’s a task that’s often easiRead More…
An Unpleasant Experiment with Albanian Sheep Milk Cheese (YAK!)
Although I remember seeing goat’s cheese on the shelves of British supermarkets, other than feta, I don’t remember ever seeing any cheese made with shRead More…
Drinking a Big Beer for the First Time at an Albanian Beer House
When I go in bars and ask for a beer, I’m often greeted with the response, “A big beer?” This of usually accompanied by hand gestures meant to signifyRead More…
Butrint: The Most Visited Cultural Tourist Destination in Albania
Today I went to Butrint. It’s a national park located a few kilometres south of Ksamil. Butrint is the Albanian name. In English, it’s called ButhrotuRead More…