By  Alice Elizabeth Taylor

As an expat living in Albania, every day is full of new experiences and discoveries. I love to walk around the streets soaking up the atmosphere, meeting new people, and venturing down random alleys taking photos as I go. There is very rarely a dull moment in my life and these are some of the most interesting things I have experienced over the last seven days.

Kabuni

Last weekend my mother visited Albania for a holiday and we took an overnight trip to Kruje. In search of something sweet to satiate my hunger after climbing up to Kruje Castle, I was given the opportunity to try a local speciality- kabuni. A traditional Albanian dish, popular in Kruje, it is maid from rice fried in butter with raisins, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and wait for it…lamb. Yes, lamb in a sweet dessert. I must admit that I was rather surprised at this combination of ingredients, and more than a little dubious, but as a lover of all things food, I decided to take the plunge. It was as to be expected- unusual and completely alien to the British palette, but it was tasty nonetheless. Did I like it? Yes. Would I eat it again? Maybe not. But I definitely recommend trying it if you have the chance.

The best of Albanian wine

My love affair with wine is my longest and most meaningful relationship and as such, I was keen to find out more about what Albanian grapes have to offer. I have drunk my fair share in the six months I have been here but I know very little about it other than the colour. I got in touch with founder of the Albanian Sommelier Association, Dashamir Elezi who I was told knows everything that there is to know about Albanian wine. I was lucky enough to try out some of his all-time favourites and I now feel that I can order a nice wine with confidence and ease, next time the situation arises. My favourites were: Kallmeti Kallmet 2016, Syrah Balaj, and the Kantina Bardha- Sheshi I Bardhe- a truly delicious white wine.

Oda Restaurant

After a long day of sightseeing with my mother, we descended upon Oda restaurant not far from the New Bazaar. Laid out like a typical and traditional Albanian home/restaurant, it even has Turkish toilets which was a bit of a shock for my 74-year-old parent. Run by a team of all-women, they are incredibly friendly and helpful, and the food was to die for. Whilst it appears to be aimed predominantly at tourists, the food is so well priced and authentic that I would recommend everyone goes for a visit. We had a leg of lamb which melted off the bone, accompanied with stuffed peppers and eggplants, and a vat of delicious homemade red wine. I will be returning!

Tea Spot

Being British, I was brought up on a diet of tea and with the ethos that a good ol’ cuppa is the cure for pretty much everything. Substitute “tea” for “raki” and an Albanian would begin to be able to grasp how deep our love affair with this drink goes. Whilst I am not a huge fan of the typical tea with milk (blasphemous I know), I do love herbal and flavoured teas. I had been looking unsuccessfully in Tirana for lapsang souchong for a while, as not only do I love its smoky flavour, but it is nice in certain cocktails and as a seasoning for chicken as well. Then, during my adventures I stumbled across the Tea Spot- a small tea emporium with jars of tea stacked from the floor to the ceiling. This is my new favourite place and I intend on trying as much of the delicious teas as possible. If you love tea and are in Tirana, be sure to check it out.

Free Flow Yoga

Being a freelance writer and working from home means that I often have to force myself to get up, go outside, and most importantly do some exercise. Unfortunately typing doesn’t burn off many calories and never-ending deadlines sometimes leave me in a less than favourable mood. It was then that I decided to peel myself away from my laptop and make an effort to do some physical exercise, so I joined Free Flow Yoga located just near the new stadium. The teachers are super friendly, the classes are focussed on dynamic, leg shaking, stomach muscle aching moves, and the ladies that attend are from all over the world, as well as being super friendly. I feel more limber, healthier, and every so slightly more Zen, which can only be a good thing.