Omg. No. More. Photos. of me!
The resident kitten always comes running when we appear. She begs for food but we are told not to give her any. She's affectionate all the same.
(Cold) spinach-cheese pie. The cook says "take a bite of the pie then drink the yoghurt. That's how Albanians do it". The wife makes the yoghurt the evening before. Nothing like commercial yoghurt which uses milk powder. They buy meat and milk from a farm to make cheese and other dairy things at home. You can taste the difference. Rich and creamy.
Breakfast on the sunny rooftop terrace every day. It's cold so we put on jackets. We are the only guests round here this week.
The fog goes away slowly as the sun becomes stronger.
One car at a time. If a car has already entered the narrow road another one backs out and wait.
Slippery smooth stones
Looks like there are 2 lanes but the whole street is only a little bigger than a normal car. At least there's some room to move aside for the other car to pass.
Traditional house on a gentle slope
Many traditional houses were sold and turned into tacky souvenir shops and touristy restaurants.
Peaceful idyll
Traditional Gjirokastrian houses on a slope. The grander the house the richer the family.
There are many damaged and abandoned houses and buildings in the old town (where I am staying). UNESCO pays to keep them around. The old town is not very well maintained any more so UNESCO should stop funding and revokes the town's status.
An elderly man smiled and waved at me. He lives in this shack like home in a weird spot. It's not fair.
Lunch yesterday with the guest house family. We went to a spit roast lamb specialist in a village a short drive away. The guest house family are regulars here. Even Albanians no longer eat seasonally. Out of season fresh fruits and vegetables are now imported like in much of the west. Winter is time for pickles, root- and winter vegetables.
The jug is chilled. Wine is pretty good.
Creamy yoghurt for the lamb. Albanians say they always eat yoghurt with meat to cleanse the palate.
Really fantastic spit roast lamb. Moist and tasty. Locals know where to go for this kind of food which is usually in the countryside somewhere. The tourists all go to places in town where they see a certain green sticker ("TA") and eat with other tourists.
The restaurant has collected many old items shepherds used to wear and used now hung on the walls. Shepherds used to wear this wool vest. Warm and water-proof so I was told. I have seen this kind of clothing item at the weekly market at home. We have no shepherds so who's wearing it?
