Days Five, Six, Seven, and Eight: Gjirokastra

During our free time we ate at different restaurants in Gjirokastra , shopped, and got to know the residents who are not used to having tourists stay for more than a day.  Some of our memorable experiences are the friendliness, hospitality, warmth, and kindness of the Albanians.  They are very interested in Americans and want to talk about relatives who live there

Elena with restaurant owner

Nancy R. with shop owner who crocheted the dresses.

Gayle, Mary, and Cailin with restaurant owner's family who spoiled us
with extra food and then didn't want to charge us for our lunch!

.A unique marketing tactic in front of Mapo restaurant.

We celebrated special days.

Sam's birthday celebration

We continued work on our projects and visited other 23rd Regional Resoration Camp sites.

Washing the 400-year-old door

Sanding the Xhaxhiu door

The Mayor of Gjirokastra visited our work site.

The mayor and our entire work crew

We also visited two other work sites.

The restored stone arch

The Cene House, crew completed analysis, the first step of restoration

The Sinani House

The homeowner invited us in for a tour.

Aldo , our fabulous tour guide for all tours in and around Gjirokastra on the left with
 Fulbrighters and home owner

View outside her bedroom window.

Gjirokastra castle

The home owner saying goodbye

We toured the Cold War bunker and  Ethnographic Museum in Gjirokastra.   The Communists feared an enemy bombing, so this underground facility provided rooms for working and sleeping, toilets, and air ventilation.

Map of tunnels in bunker

Main door to air-raid shelter

Meeting Hall in bunker

Fulbright Alumni next to bunker

Ethnoographic Museum room for men, women peered
through the windows

  We, the UNESCO Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site of Butrint, and the seaside town of Saranda.

Ethnographic Museum room

A one-day excursion to the Albanian Riviera  included a visit to the UNESCO Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site of Butrint,  the seaside town of Saranda, and a castle above Saranda.

Sanctuary to the god of medicine in Butrint

Mosiac in Butrint

Writings to free slaves in Butrint

Saranda, Albanian coast

Enkeleda Roze, Financial Assistant CHwB Gjirokastra, Cailin
and Elizabeth, Fulbright Alumni, having a swim after lunch