albania – Hello from Kosovo

Market in Tirana, Albania

I took these photos a while ago but never got around to posting them. I visited a farmer’s market the last time I was in Albania. Fruits and vegetables abounded, but I was also surprised to see other goods for sale. I really wanted to buy an antique clock (isn’t the one with the owl cute?), but the 30 Euro price tag was too steep.

vintage clocks Tirana market — Antique clocks

goods for sale tirana market

Though sheep’s head soup is a delicacy, I have never seen it or had it served to me (though my host family eats mutton). I was surprised to see sheep’s heads roasting on a spit (bottom row).

roasting sheep heads Tirana Albania

I’ve had chicken cooked in a clay pot (see below) in Kosovo, and it is really good!

earthenware Tirana Albania — Clay pots for sale

orange tree Tirana market — Orange (?) tree

I am not someone who visits farmer’s markets with any regularity, but Tirana’s is small, clean, not at all crowded, and had a variety of foods and goods for sale. I will definitely be back!

National History Museum, Tirana, Albania

This past weekend, I visited the National History Museum in Tirana, Albania.

National History Museum Tirana Albania 2 — Rendition of an Albanian home

National History Museum Tirana Albania 3 — Front hallway

National History Museum Tirana Albania 4 — Statues depicting gods

National History Museum Tirana Albania 5 — Fortress

National History Museum Tirana Albania 6 — Weapons

National History Museum Tirana Albania 7 — Fresque mural by Fatmir Haxhiu

National History Museum Tirana Albania 8 — “The stamp and the flag of the Albanian association”

National History Museum Tirana Albania 9 — Onufri room

My friend was telling my about the artist Onufri, who is thought to be from what is now Berat, Albania. He is famous for the color pink. According to Wikipedia, “He was the first to introduce the colour pink into icon painting. The secret of this color was not passed on and died with him.”