Busy weekends

As per tradition the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend in NY sees the start of the holidays' sales. I just watched on TV the madness caused yesterday during this, so called, 'black Friday', and can report that something similar has happened today (Saturday) in Tirana.

Another 'super' megastore, named TEG (for Tirana East Gate) was inaugurated in this capital. From what I hear, it contains products and stores that represent more than 20 different foreign countries.

The police had to intervene to redirect the vehicular traffic that jammed one of the longest throuroughfares of this city leading to this mammoth complex, which registered more than 138,000 visitors in this first day of operation.

Just like in NY advertising brochures are slipped under apartments' doors every day by all sorts of businesses, including restaurants and food establishments that, however, in Tirana do deliveries by motor scooters and not by bicycles. TEG was no exception. Actually, since a week ago, it also anchored 2 large balloons with their logo on it, shaped as ducks, into the Lana canal that crosses the city. Today I noticed that some passing children had fun jumping onto them from the surrounding green areas bordering this waterway. Needless to say one of them eventually slipped and got himself soaked, but they were all having a great time!!

Health market in Tirana

When in Tirana it is impossible not to notice the large number of medical facilities everywhere in town. Although it may seem an exaggeration, every couple of blocks one may find at least a dental clinic, and a pharmacy. This fact does not surprise me since it's no secret that for years some Europeans travel to Tirana for all their dental care, handled skillfully and inexpensively here.

Now there is also a fair number of foreign hospitals (Italian, Greek, Turkish, American) that have proliferated in the past few years in addition to the state medical institutions. Some of the latest methods of operations and health treatments are available here, for a fee of course, but they are performed by well known, foreign doctors, who offer their services in their own specialties by traveling to this capital on a regular basis.

I am making these statements from pure observation, but also from talks with the many friends I have here that, in the past, could afford to get treatments they felt comfortable with abroad, but now are happy to have choices in loco.

Personally, I have been fortunate enough in my travel and visits to Albania in the past 2 decades not to be in need of any of these medical services, and have done some shopping only a couple of times at local pharmacies, where I always found multilingual, competent, and extremely courteous personnel.

One such occasion happened the other day and wish to mention it since it involved the purchase of a prescription drug, needed due to an extended stay in town. This medication is quite expensive in the U.S., but I discovered that is part of the free market here.

Not only I did not need any medical prescription from a doctor to get it, but I calculated its cost to be 1/5th of what is charged in NY for same. BTW, this was not a substitute or a generic version, but the actual product, by the actual drug company, in its original package, sealed by its manufacturer. It was a real surprise for me, and this reality makes me wonder……

Albanian development

For almost two decades now that I travel to Albania regularly, I have witnessed sweepingly great changes in all sorts of Albania life, most of which are still, though, concentrated in its capital, Tirana, where a large number of Albanians from the hinterland has been flowing into for better opportunities.

But, another flow of people has been slowly, but increasingly occurring in the country from abroad. They are foreign visitors, curious to get to know a nation mysteriously isolated for more than half a century, which is now a fully fledged member of NATO, and aspiring to become a European state in the near future.

Some of Albania’s natural beauty consists of inland (splendid, mountainous) areas that are slowly getting better discovered thanks to new access roads, while its very attractive coastline, spanning over two seas (Adriatic & Ionian), offers Mediterranean climate throughout the year.

Tourism, touted by local and foreign tourist agencies, continues to grow and is an important element of business development, as indicated in this article of Balkans.com.

Another area of development is publishing, proven by an annual book fair that, each year, now attracts more and more participants with a growth of interesting printed materials, as confirmed also by this article in The Economist.

Blessed climate

Late last month, as I was leaving northern Italy, I left behind bad weather, only to hear and see that wintry conditions were also creating disasters in the U.S., but, here in Tirana, we are still blessed with a milder climate and wonderful sunny days.

The temperature has now dipped a bit at night, but during the day a light jacket is quite sufficient in walking around. On Friday, actually, someone came to meet me at my office, in short sleeves.

Last Sunday it was wonderful to still be able to eat lunch outdoors. It took place at a restaurant that has the shape of an airplane because is located just a few km away from Tirana’s International airport. The structure also houses a hotel and a bar.

It’s in the middle of the countryside, and offers interesting views of air traffic. The dining tables were scattered around the gardens, but the waiters moved around quickly, serving everyone in a quiet and efficient manner.

I could not but marvel about the beautiful display of violets in the surrounding garden and pool areas.

[the very old olive tree still thriving in the midst of flower beds]
The food was good as usual, and on the way back to town, a gorgeous sunset accompanied us home.

Italian visit – part 4 – ‘the old resting place’

One of the first places I visited while in Ghemme was the village’s cemetery, which is a jewel of a place, for its architecture and layout.

Here I have the family plots that I wanted to spruce up for All Saints and Dead days on November 1st, and 2nd, since I would not be in town to share the annual commemorative ceremonies and traditional annual visits done at this time of the year.

It’s also a place where I usually like to spend an hour or so walking all along its peripheral arcades to view the tombs that carry names and pictures of people I used to know during my youth. It’s a peaceful and relaxing visit that brings back many memories.

The newest addition to this cemetery, is quite modern in style. Contrary to the old area where the internments are done in cemented chambers underground, here the single graves are situated above ground, stacked in drawer-like style.

The entire complex is kept spotless and full of flowers by daily visits of the town’s residents.

My family plots are kindly taken care of all year around by the same old school friend that organized the big annual luncheon I described in my previous post.

Here rest in peace my Italian ancestors, grandparents whom I lived with during WWII, aunts, uncles, and cousins. My mother is buried in NY, while my Father and his beloved brother, are interred in Tirana, after I was able to reunite their remains in 1995. My paternal ancestors and grandparents, instead, are buried in the mountain areas near Podgorica (Montenegro), where they lived and where, to date, I still have 4 generations of living cousins.

My Italian visit lasted only a few days, but, overall, I was able to cover a lot of ground while in the familiar areas of my youth and see all I could. Now am back in Tirana, for more work and other types of meetings.