I have had a very busy couple of weeks- what with Mama Balkanista visiting any my ever-increasing workload, I have to remember to take time to appreciate the good things around me. Tirana never disappoints me and these are some of the delicious, interesting, and fun things that I have discovered in the last week or so.

Streha

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiXDSpxHzbw/?taken-by=thebalkanista

Streha means “shelter” and this is a charity that provides accommodation, training, support, healthcare and more to LGBTI individuals that have experienced violence or abuse due to their sexual orientation. It is the only centre of its type in Albania and the Balkans- an area of the world where prejudice towards these individuals is drastically high when compared to Western Europe. These guys are amazing and help individuals recover from the trauma they have suffered, as well as providing them with the support they need to get back on track and to create a sustainable future for themselves. On the 17^th of May, they are organising a charity gala at the Plaza Hotel from 7 pm to raise money to help them continue the good work that they do. Get yourself a ticket, you can contact them here: +355 699839189

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. In two weeks I have amassed quite a sizeable collection of amazing, aromatic, and delicious loose-leaf teas. I particularly recommend the black tea with lemon- I have been making it in bulk, adding lemon juice and chilling it in the fridge- it is perfect for these hot summer afternoons.

Baptiste 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 really lovely. I feel more limber, healthier, and every so slightly more Zen, which can only ever be a good thing. Shout out to Anila and Irina for their great teaching and perseverance with my slightly unwilling and inflexible limbs!

The Rooms Bar & Bistro

I am a member of an informal Dine Out group. Comprising of about 40 members from a huge range of countries (Albania, England, France, Germany, Hungary, USA, Canada, Armenia, Turkey, Georgia, Italy, Modolva, and Mauritius to name but a few) it is always an interesting and animated evening. We try out a different restaurant every week and this week was the turn of The Rooms Bar and Bistro situated on Sami Frasheri. Not to be confused with the hotel of the same name, The Rooms has a great concept, nice décor, and friendly staff. Cooking a three-course meal for a demanding group of 1+ ex-pats can be a challenge for most restaurants, but The Rooms were totally un-phased. I had a delicious Caesar salad to start, followed by the best steak I have had so far in Tirana. Dessert was a deliciously creamy home-made cheesecake, all washed down with a delicious new wine I have discovered- Kantina Nurellari Montemeca 2013-  a deliciously spicy and slightly fruity red that went perfectly, even with my salad. I really like this restaurant and after being a couple of times, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a good quality meal.

Burek

Sticking with the topic of food, I tried burek for the first time ever, and I can confirm, I am a fan. Burek/byrek/lakror/pite is found all over the Balkans and Turkey and whilst it goes by slightly different names and spellings across the region, the concept is the same. It is made from think flaky pastry, otherwise known as phyllo and it is usually prepared in a large tray/pan and then cut up into portions afterwards the most common fillings include salted curd cheese called gjize, ground meat, onions, leeks, or even spinach and eggs. Depending on where you are or who is making it, it can also be stuffed with tomato, nettles, onions, pumpkin, or cabbage. It is made by rolling several layers of the dough ad sandwiching the filling within before cooking. It can be eaten hot or cold, but either way is delicious!

Next week I will be in Sarande so you can expect my full analysis of the south of Albania, starting from Monday!