Day 4 - Sunday, January 7

On January 7th, after a buffet style breakfast at the hotel we got a chance to walk through Kruja Antic Bazaar, with more than 200 crafted shops. We continued to the castle, and visited the Ethnographical Museum and Skanderbeg Museum. We then continued for a meeting and a visit at the Kruja Municipality. Later we drove to the Town of Fushe Kruja which was visited by President George Bush in 2007. 

In Fushe Kruja we visited an Albanian family home and met with locals where we tried their traditional spirit Raki, tasted oranges produced from their citrus trees and learned about their local history. From there we drove to Fishta Village and visited the Mrrizi Zanave and the ex-prison that was converted for producing food, and boasts an on-site restaurant and lodging.

LEAD 41 followed up lunch at Mrizi i Zanave with a tour of their facilities. In the repurposed military prison, they produce and make wine, cheeses, & meats for their restaurant. We then traveled to Shkodër & toured the Venetian Mask Factory - the biggest factory of handmade authentic masks in the world, with more than 2000 models of Venetian masks. The day was capped off with dinner at Tradita Geg & Tosk, where they were served a multi-course Albanian meal highlighted with locally caught Trout. Lead 41 is greatly enjoying their experience in Albania!

*Today’s blog contributors are Steve Vaughn and Tyler Wellman in addition to your blog team of Kari Christenson, Jakob Burke and MiK Fox.

Photos

Good morning coffee from Hotel Panorma with a very nice view of the city!
Good morning coffee from Hotel Panorma with a very nice view of the city!
Shops at the bazaar not quite open yet.
Shops at the bazaar not quite open yet.
Fellows hiked all the way up the museum pictured at the top of the cliff.
Fellows hiked all the way up the museum pictured at the top of the cliff.
Group photo at the top of the cliff.
Group photo at the top of the cliff.
Fellows posing for a group photo outside the Skanderberg museum.
Fellows posing for a group photo outside the Skanderberg museum.
Oranges freshly picked from the host family farm orange trees along the drive!
Oranges freshly picked from the host family farm orange trees along the drive!
Fellows pictured with the host family and the oranges they picked.
Fellows pictured with the host family and the oranges they picked.
Grape cluster made of rocks from the stream that runs through the Mrizi i Zanave property. The buildings in the background are where cheeses, jams, wine and other foods are made.
Grape cluster made of rocks from the stream that runs through the Mrizi i Zanave property. The buildings in the background are where cheeses, jams, wine and other foods are made.
Albania tacos and pomegranate juice were the starters for lunch at Mrizi i Zanave!
Albania tacos and pomegranate juice were the starters for lunch at Mrizi i Zanave!
Various assortment of cheeses resting in one of the storage rooms in the ex-prison.
Various assortment of cheeses resting in one of the storage rooms in the ex-prison.
Fellows pose with the creator and owner of the Venetian mask factory. These masks can also be found in Las Vegas, USA!
Fellows pose with the creator and owner of the Venetian mask factory. These masks can also be found in Las Vegas, USA!
The evening entertainment consisted of local singers and a musician playing traditional Albanian songs.
The evening entertainment consisted of local singers and a musician playing traditional Albanian songs.
Trout made in a traditional Albanian way was for dinner!
Trout made in a traditional Albanian way was for dinner!