Road Trip

Yesterday we went with Fredi down to a town near Tirana. HFTW has bought a property that they intend to use as a place for the orphan teens to go to when they are too old to stay in the government run institutions. Currently when you turn sixteen you go to what are called the dorms, these places are awful and most of the kids drop out of school within a year and end up on the streets. HFTW is going to offer a place that will keep the kids in school and help them go to university or learn a trade, make sure they are feed and continue to help them make good choices for their lives. They have bought the building but it needs work, they hope to have it ready by the end of summer so that the kids moving in can start school in September. On our way back we stopped in a little mountain town called Kruja where Skanderbeg’s castle is, they have a museum to him there that was really very nice, thank goodness Fredi was with us so he could translate for us and basically be our tour guide. We were so high up that we could see the ocean which was a beautiful site!

We also went to a traditional Albanian restaurant the other day that was really good, they cook the food in a big fireplace which also kept the place nice a warm. We had goat cheese that tasted great but sort of smelled of our bathroom! Along with a sheep cheese that was served warm ( mmm good) the wonderful olives, veal, wild boar and tons more. Mariada, didn’t eat the wild boar and she will not eat veal, she really doesn’t like meat but she tried everything with a touch of pressure, at least she tried it.

Today she had English lessons and a two and half hour soccer practice, so now she’s a bit worn out. I think we are in for the evening.

Hope everyone in Michigan weathered the storm and is staying nice a warm!

Mountain town Kruja where Skanderbeg lived.

Skanderbeg museum.

In the distance the Adriatic Sea.

Skanderbeg castle.

HFTW new building.

Future sports area and Chapel.

Boys dorm rooms needs a little TLC.

Yummy! The food here is awesome!