[Apr. 2024] In Gjirokaster, an old town in Albania, we stayed at a hotel near the bustling city centre, where shops were lined up like a bazaar.
The hotel was called Hotel Argjiro.
It seems to have been renovated from a traditional house, and the wooden ceiling of the hall when you enter was beautiful.
The ceiling of our room was the same, and it had a great atmosphere.
However, the dinner here was also a bit disappointing.
We had free time until dinner.
We had an aperitif at a cafe with a great view that our guide told us about.
I tried the Black Russian, which I don’t see in my neighbourhood, and it was so delicious that I thought I’d add it to my mental list, but my husband’s mojito was not so good.
But the view was certainly good, and we had a good time.
It was also cheap.
After that, we went around the souvenir shops in the downtown area.
On this trip, I didn’t find much I wanted to buy, including at the airport, so I didn’t have much fun shopping, but I did do a little shopping here.
We walked around and confirmed that the souvenir designs here were basically Turkish.
There were also eye talismans.
First, we bought two bowls at a not-so-friendly pottery shop.
Then I saw a sign saying that they made and sold short boots, so I went closer.
The design of the boots was exactly what I wanted.
But unfortunately, they were all large in size.
The man who was making them came out and said, “I’ll make them for you by tomorrow,” but unfortunately our tour was leaving the next morning.
Previously, in Vietnam, I had short boots made to order, but this time I didn’t have time.
The man urged me inside the store, saying, “There are bags inside, so take a look,” and we went inside.
My eye was caught by a small, rustic leather bag with a carpet motif.
Of course, they were made by this man.
They would make good souvenirs.
They were €10 each, so I bought four.
I was happy to see that the man looked so happy.
Speaking of carpets, they are one of the most popular souvenirs from Albania, and there were several shops selling them in Gjirokaster.
When we went into one of them to take a look, the woman there rejected us saying apologetically, “We’re closing up.”
My husband was annoyed and said, “This would never happen in Italy.”
A lack of customer service is a bad habit common to ex-communist countries, isn’t it.
