Date Night in Tirana
Barry and I don’t have “Date Night” on the calendar. It is more of a spur of the moment thing when one of us invites the other out. If it’s a middle-of-the-day invite it’s to go out for coffee (hot…
Month August 2025
Fine Dining in Tirana
Barry discovered a charming restaurant down a side street that is just a three-minute walk from our apartment. It’s called Restorant Berlin (I don’t know why) and has been in business since 1992. Check it out here: We were…
Learning Albanian Phrases
I am progressing with the Albanian language from one-word statements like hello, good, thank you, etc. to phrases: mirë pafshim (goodbye) or just pafshim (bye) and kalofshi e mirë (have a nice day). I know “thank you” is technically two words…
The Man Bag — an Albanian Essential
Men’s bags are common in Albania. It seems like almost everybody carries one. As you’ll see, a bag is a necessary accessory. What about pockets in pants, you ask? Sweatpants are the national uniform for Albanian men, and there’s no…
Jennifer’s Health Care Odyssey
If you saw my previous post: Albanian Health Care System posted on August 9, 2025 you know I injured my neck by spending a lazy Sunday reading a book. I was stretched out on the couch with my neck resting…
Barry’s 77th Birthday in Pogradec
My 77th birthday was on August 12. So we spend the 11th, 12th, and 13th in Pogradec — a lakeside beach resort on the east side of Albania. THIS IS JUST THE SETUP, FOLKS. The full story comes soon. We…
Tons of Fun Food
In other posts, you’ll find me going on about the outstanding produce in Albania. And the dairy products are outrageous, with major quantities of white cheese. AND THE EGGS! You have never seen yellower yolks, thanks to the carotenes coming…
A Theft-free Town
Tirana seems to be a theft-free town. I sat down at a cafe and found a phone at the table. I ordered my coffee and drank it. The phone’s owner didn’t return. The café owner didn’t seem concerned. When I…
Albanian Health Care System
Living in Tirana, the capital, gives us access to top quality medical care at very affordable rates. Because medical care is so inexpensive, we chose the minimum health insurance coverage required to qualify for residency. It covers catastrophic events. BUT…