I love Spring in Albania. It is so solar, like everything is smiling and radiating joy. Today was like that. Roads and cafes are full of people. Wondering about lock down? Well, I am so grateful that while many countries in Europe are experiencing a strict lock down, in Albania we are enjoying more freedom. Albania was one of the countries with the harshest lock down last Spring, but I am glad that our prime minister followed a more balanced path later. EU closed the doors for us since last year, which has reminded me Communism, when we could not go anywhere. I am glad that our prime minister opened the doors for tourists, which made our country a great gate away for tourists tired from lock down; and helped the small bussiness in Albanian coast side to survive. Don't worry, we did not have casualties rise because of the tourism. That was a concern we had, but due to careful policies, both locals and tourists enjoyed the sunny beaches and benefited from the opportunity. 

Anyway back to Saturday. We left home early to drive toward the Park of Tirana. That is one of the places where many families like to go during weekends. For us it is a great place to take our dog for a walk. She is a hunting dog and loves to sniff the trees, grass, chase birds. It is one of her favorite places. We sat for a coffee at Juvenilja Castelo (Juvenilyia Castle) one of the oldest popular restaurant chains in Tirana. The restaurant  was built on the first years after Communism fell, at the small Parku Rinia (The Youth Park) at the center of Tirana. This park was occupied at that time by many coffee shops and restaurants, which were built illegally. Thus several years later the mayor of Tirana, now our Prime Minister, decided to destroy all those buildings in order to let the park breath.  Juvenilja Castelo moved at the left entrance of Tirana Park, a very strategic location. Having a unique architecture, an immitation of Albanian castles, the restaurant offers a great place where you can taste a great pizza baked on what we call a wood oven. The restaurant serves a rich menu of Albanian traditional dishes and Italian dishes as well, besides pizzas. Or you can enjoy a great expresso or machiato on the coffee area outside. 

The coffee area was crowded today. We enjoyed 2 hours of fresh air and Vit D dozes under the warm sun. I could have stayed there until sunset. Than I took Lola for a walk in the forest. She could have stayed there forever too, but it was time to go back home. It is a sunny day, a perfect day to do laundry. Albanians prefer to air dry laundry instead of using a dryer machine. Maybe it reflects the laid back culture, where people are not in a hurry or obssesed with work, but tasks as hanging clothes or picking them up are considered a friendship activity as you talk with your neighbor whom maybe you have not seen during the week. Many times the best converstions I have had with my neighbor is when we both are hanging or picking up our landry outside in the terrace. It sounds funny, but that's true. Few months ago, I relocated my landry rack, and since then I don't see my neighbor as before. 

I have told you that Albania is all about relationships and friendships. Coffee, laundry, food, even when you go for shopping at the neighborhood grocery shop is a time to chat and talk with neighbors :)

Often times I joke that one thing why counseling and going to a psycholog does not develop in Albania, because people love to interact and share with each others their joys and daily burdens. It is so unique that I cant describe it really.

Anyway, do you feel tired or want a gate away, why don't you consider spending some days in Albania :) I am sure that after your first trip, you would like to return again.