Cobo Wine Fest

The time for Grape Festivals is now.  Kantina Cobo, Berat's winery, just recently hosted their annual grape festival.  A small group of volunteers is invited to attend and join in the celebration.  This year only my friend Courtney got to wear to traditional costume, but we all got to watch the grape harvesting and stomping.  Cobo made food and there was plenty of wine to go around.  

This wine fest is no casual event, since there are often times Ambassadors or other "Officials" invited.  It was nice to get ready to go out to a party for once.  I welcome the occasion to actually do my hair, as it doesn't happen often anymore!

Fall is here

And just like that, summer is over.  For the last few days it has been rainy, and now that the rain is gone, the weather has gotten really cool.  Fall has arrived!  Although my house is not that cold...yet...I am learning ways to keep warm.  I have like 3 blankets on my bed already, and I bought a hot water bottle to keep in my bed with me.  It's kinda like I am sleeping with a little puppy, as it's about that size, and "she" keeps me warm all night.  

This weekend I will look for a wood stove.  I have a gas/electric unit that works great, but for heat, the wood stoves are the best.  My house is set up to accommodate one, so if I can buy one for a good price, I'll be set.  Soon, I will be moving my bed into the main room and sealing the windows.  I'll be like a little Eskimo, warm inside my igloo.

On another note, I am eagerly awaiting my mom's arrival to Albania.  She will get her on the 29th of this month, so just a little over a week to go.  And, today is a big day, as it is the 6 month anniversary of my arrival to Albania!  I have to say that although there are days that I long to be at home, I am still really glad to be here, working and experiencing such a different life.

Macedonia

This guy was the captain of his own "ship".  He just sat all day in his little dingy, waiting to pick up passengers for a lake tour.  I would ride with him...his hat definitely says CAPTAIN!

The lake on the Macedonia side was a home for Swans.  The lake on the Albanian side is home to a lot of garbage.  On the Macedonia side I even saw recreational boats, and maybe even a skier and a wakeboarder.

They have a castle, too, just like Berat.  Unfortunately, it was closed to the inside because I went to visit on their Independence Day.

Saw this stool at a street side cafe.  I love TEXAS!!!!

The group that I went with.  The girl next to me is Eva.  She is my counterpart and works as the mayors secretary.  The man to my right is Ladi.  He works in the tourism office.  We do most of my work here at the bashkia together.  The other man is the artist that was doing a show in a village outside lake Ohrid.  

View from the "boardwalk" were I spent most of my time relaxing.  It was just beautiful!

This past weekend I got a "Free Pass" out of the country to Macedonia, which is a bordering country to the east of Albania.  It was sooo great to be out of country, if only for just one night.  I got to sit by Lake Ohrid and just relax.  He have created a little photo journal of my time there.  One side note, you know that you miss America when the first thing that you do on vacations is head straight for the McDonalds (which I never really ate in America) and after that, go straight for the grocery store!