Day 6 - Travel through Kosovo to Kruja
Friday, May 23
Felt slippers - We met the young man who makes them and watched him make a pair from the rough wool.
We had an early departure and drove southeast out of the alps for a couple hours until we crossed into Kosovo.
Kosovo became an independent nation in 2018 and is the youngest EU nation. While many countries do not recognize its independence, Albania and Kosovo have a good relationship.
We arrived at Kruja in the early afternoon. Kruja is important in Albanian history and is not far from the capital, Tirana, and so it is a bit touristy. We began with lunch before our sightseeing.
Lunch: Veal with gravy, chicken kebabs, potatoes, spinach pie
We visited a local qeleshe workshop that creates these traditional Albanian hats and slippers which are shaped from a single piece of felt. The young man who showed us how they’re made is the son of the couple who own the shop.
His mother in their shop
The Turkish Bazaar in the center of town
A bride and groom came through taking photos while we were there!
Kruja Fortress Castle / Skanderbeg Museum
Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg is a 15th century national hero who is lauded all over Albania as well as around the world. In 1450 he and his small hand-picked army defeated the Ottoman army of 100,000. The castle now serves as both a historical landmark and a symbol of the fierce national pride that Albanians feel.
He’s the most famous guy in history you’ve never heard of! Vivaldi wrote an opera about him (listen to it here), and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem about him! Who knew?
Views from the castle
Dinner: Roast lamb on a bed of egg and yogurt (which sounds weird but was wonderful!)
Tomorrow we leave Kruja and head south to the border with Greece.