Informal gathering

After a delightful weather that, here in Tirana, spanned from mid May to mid June, an intense heat wave has sprung from Africa northward into the Mediterranean countries, opening the summer season with vengeance. This has been going on for about a week now, and no relief is in sight, even during the nights. 

Like many, I avoid going out unless necessary and, thank goodness, I can also work from home, where I have a comfy air conditioned studio.

During the brief outings heat/sun exposure can be cut down by walking wherever is possible in the shade of the trees that, fortunately, line many boulevards in this city. Some of these trees are just 3 years old, as the following pictures can prove. 

On Thursday I planned a small, informal party to take place at the office in the evening hours, and most invitees did attend notwithstanding the weather condition. The air conditioning in our place, although not the greatest, adequately kept us from sweating while we were having a good time drinking, eating, and chatting. 

Everyone that attended played a part in my life since I returned to Albania 20 years ago, and I wanted to celebrate with them my latest birthday and the accomplishments reached so far during these past two decades. 

Thanks to modern technology, during our gathering we also had one of my dearest and loyal friend that is currently in NY, join us via Skype.   

 

 All in all everyone seemed to have enjoyed the evening and the food expertly prepared by a local, young planner and caterer (the specially ordered byreks were exceptional!).

Birthday enjoyment

At my age one should no longer count years, and I, for one, never gave much importance to celebrating my birthdays. However, my friends always remember me on such occasions, wherever I am, either in Europe or in the US, and modern technology greatly facilitates sending wishes globally with a touch of a finger. One of them, via email, this year reminded me that the older one gets, the more valuable one turns out to be....and, as I think of it, I must admit I become aware of this when my experience and know how is sought by the people I deal with. 

A few years back some of my friends also realized that the best gift for me was no longer a personal item, but a thoughtful donation to the cause that I support on both sides of the Atlantic in the name of my family toward education and culture of Albanian youth.

This year was no exception, but, notwithstanding my attempts not to make a big deal of the occasion, my Albanian friends sent flowers to my apartment and insisted in treating me to a delicious lunch and some leisure time in the country.

 A small, beautifully wrapped package was also waiting for me when we arrived at the restaurant.  Intrigued at first, I was completely surprised when I discovered its content: a Samsung Galaxy smart phone! 

It is quite ironic that instead of me being well equipped, as an American, with the latest gadget, I was still using an old generation cell phone until a few hours ago, and now I am receiving training in the latest technology by young and mature Albanians who are real experts at it!  

So much said for a country that was totally isolated from the rest of the world until 2 decades ago! Cheers!!

Sunday outing

After weeks of rain and sunshine yo-yoing back and forth every few hours, this Sunday we experienced a real summer day in Tirana. There was not a cloud in the sky and the sun was hot. Perfect day to be out of the city, where friends drove me for a relaxing midday dinner. 

 

  The restaurant, like many others that have sprung up in the rolling hills that make us the suburban areas around the capital, is situated in the commune of Ndroq, in the middle of a very agricultural zone, well laid out along a mature river.

 

From a country road one enters a very large complex that has a hotel-restaurant, a separate huge hall for large receptions, manicured green lawns interspersed with rose bushes and a variety of trees that include very old olive ones, with their crooked trunks distorted by age.

 

 

Attractive foot and vehicle paths allow for pleasant walks at different land level with beautiful views of the valley below, and above an entire aqua complex consisting of two large pools, one of them for children. 

 

There was no sparing of details in this entire place on the part of the owner, who gave us a tour when we took a walk around.   

Two gardeners were quietly attending to their chores, some clients were lulling around the pool, and the outside patios of the restaurant were filled to capacity by diners.  This country setting offers all sorts of comforts and is well equipped with modern facilities, and it pleases the eye everywhere you turn due to an excellent taste of furnishings, gardens layouts, and flower arrangements artistically positioned everywhere. 

Here I had the chance to taste different dishes, typical of the local cuisine. After an assortments of antipastos that included a mixture of grilled vegetables (which I love!), the waiters presented us with 2 varieties of poultry dishes. 

Actually, my friends explained, the meat came from small, not yet grown chickens (chicks!), raised on the premises, like all other foods used by the restaurant, all fresh  and delicious. One was roasted chicken over rice pilaf, while the other was baked  in a very thick sauce that can be soaked by hot, home made, soft bread.

Three hours went by quickly and we returned to Tirana by 5:30pm, a typical time for some rest in Albanian daily living. It was a very relaxing afternoon and now I am ready to tackle another busy week ahead!

An unusual Friday

An unexpected, and sad call on Thursday informed me of the demise of a friend’s mother, and the invitation to attend the traditional lunch offered by the family of the departed to relatives and friends.  It was taking place at a restaurant nearby my apartment, which specializes in these kind of events.  In fact, very often when I look out of my balcony I see a bus unloading a bunch of people mostly dressed in black, evidently representing the closing of a funeral. 

In Tirana funeral parlors are open 24 hour a day, and funerals and burials are arranged and take place within 24 hours of the demise. The meal follows the return from the cemetery and it is quite traditional and observed by most religions. This was the 2^nd time I attended a similar event here in Tirana, the first one being a few years ago. That one was for a departed Muslim, while this one was for a Catholic. In both cases, I was treated as a special guest, and, as such, seated to the right of the hosts, somewhat to my embarrassment. What I found out and interesting is that the mourning periods vary not only according to religious customs, but even from area to area of the country, and from city to city.

The sadness of the morning changed toward evening, with an unusual distraction for me.

At the end of a busy and hectic work month of May, I had planned to attend a musical event organized by the Italian Institute of Culture, which was being presented on the stage of Tirana’s House of Opera and Ballet. The program sounded intriguing and I extended my invitation to a young couple of friends of mine, who happily joined me in attending.  

The theater was packed and the performance was quite fascinating due to its particularly unusual style.  Named ‘Musica Nuda’ (naked music) it was a presentation of Italian popular songs and even classical pieces by only two performers: a bass player and a young lady singer “Voice’n’bass”, who have been performing together for 10 years and tour all over. 

They kind of ‘strip’ the original pieces and produce an eclectic effect  type of sound and singing by a mixture of jazz, rock, and punk that easily grows on you as you listen to it for a while.  Their web site gives a gist of their production. Although I was skeptical about the outcome of this event, I ended up really enjoying the performance, as much as my younger friends.

By 10:30pm we all felt like having something to eat, and  went to a new local pizzeria that apparently has become quite known in town for its good food.  Their pizzas are all the same size (about 2/3 of the large NY pizzas), with very thin and crusty bottom, but an extensive variety of toppings. 

The place was very crowded, but we managed to get a good table. Each of us ordered a different type of pizza and they were all exceptional.  Mine, named ‘Saida’, had a combination of mozzarella, gorgonzola, artichokes and pepperoni (couldn’t finish it, but took home a care package of it).  Real, real yummy!!  

Adding the pleasant company, it was a nice way to wind down the day and the month.