Currency Confusion...

Albanian Currency...???

The "official" currency in Albania is the Lek, (ALL), and this is where the confusion starts...not just for me, but every "foreigner". 

One ALL is roughly equal to one US penny. (pretty simple)

So...100ALL = 100 pennies, or one dollar.
       1,000ALL = 1000 pennies or ten dollars.
       10,000ALL = 10,000 pennies or one hundred dollars. 
       100,000ALL = 100,000 pennies or one thousand dollars. 

Shop owners will say the price one thousand, two hundred ALL for an item that is about $12, or 450 ALL for an item $4.50. 

BUT....
       There is also "old Lek" which adds to the confusion.  
       100ALL = ten pennies  (old ALL)
       1,000ALL = one dollar (old ALL)
      10,000ALL = ten dollars (old ALL)
      100,000ALL = one hundred dollars (old ALL)

The re-valuation of the Albanian Lek took place in 1965, before 40% of the current population was born. So...why is it still used?  In the big supermarkets and the malls where items are rung up in the register, the current new lek is used...but in the smaller "mom and pop shops", old lek rule.

I go to the market, and buy 4 apples, and the shop keeper tells me 1,200 Lek.  Now either apples got really expensive, $12 for 4 apples, or it really is $1.20.  Hmmmm.....? Most vendors do not distinguish between old lek and new lek...the customer has to figure that out. Sometimes I am not certain; like a wonderful bread/pizza/calzone thing I buy at the local bakery is 300lek or 30 lek.  Well, my American brain thinks $3 for this is ok...but it is really only 30 cents.  I do have my regular places for produce, bread etc, so those shopkeepers know I get confused and tell me new lek prices.

Ok...one more step of confusion that has been happening recently as I look for a place to rent for the Training Center. One landlord told me the price in US dollars, he would not accept ALL, but I had to pay in US dollars. Another landlord tole me the rental price in Euros...and I must pay in Euros. My comment was, but we live in Albania, I will pay in ALL, the landlords walked away.

So...what is the "REAL" currency in Albania...???
Yes, often while walking home I smile at the currencies in use in this little country in eastern Europe.

Traffic in Tirana

Traffic in Tirana  https://youtu.be/Tp2ZcWBcNIk



I am always surprised at the traffic here in Tirana...or even in Eastern Europe. It in not uncommon to see strange horse drawn contraptions, or things that look like "roto-tillars" with a driver and cart behind. Or even to see a human pushing or pulling a strange cart loaded with something.

 Today...it was a first to see a power wheelchair...in traffic...as if a "car".

First of all....there are very few standard wheelchairs in good enough shape to be "pushed" on a sidewalk...so seeing a power chair, complete with rear view mirrors moving along in traffic was a new thing for me.

Another reason why this person in the power wheelchair was in "traffic" and not on the sidewalk...?

There is no such thing as "ramps" on the curbs at intersections...there are very few places that are "handicapped accessible"...period. Persons with disabilities are not out in the community, like in the US.  (I am nervous being in a car in this traffic...I would think twice before getting in this traffic in a power wheelchair!)

A little bit of "Old El Paso" in Greece

While shopping at a grocery store in Thessaloniki, Greece, I discovered the "international" food section. And there was all these "Old El Paso" products...there was not even any "greek" wording on the box...there were some stickers in greek...probably explaining what was in the package. On the top shelf...salsa, mild and hot, in between the chinese hot sauces. I did buy some jars of salsa for a fun meal of "taco salads" that I will make for my friends at ABC.

A little bit of "home" so far away...! ;-)

Greek Road signs....

Caution...Bear and bear cub crossing !
Along the major highways in Greece were these signs...this one was warning for the next 3 km. The interesting thing was...on each side of the highway...were these massive fences with barbed wire along the tops.  Ok...so maybe a fully grown bear could get over...but a "cub"...? 

note: I could understand the "picture" signs in Greece much easier than the written ones.  ;-)

It's all Greek to me...!

It is all "Greek" to me...!

I was recently traveling in Greece, taking some time to just explore some of the neighboring country, as well as visiting some special friends.  The first part of my trip I had reservations for a few days at a B&B named, Hotel Filoxenia in the town of Kastoria.

I had been using my "google maps" for directions, but the road was steep, winding, cobblestone, google maps was telling me to continue "north"?...I was certain I was lost.  So...I stopped and asked a local vendor along the street if "he spoke English?"  He told me "yes, of course".  I explained that I thought I was lost, and did he know of Hotel Filoxenia.  He replied, "The sign for your hotel is right there, only 300 meters away". I politely explained, that I don't read "Greek".  

Yes, I did find my hotel...and I was laughing...nothing else to do! 

President Trump and Melania Trump, Albanian Health food magazine

At my favorite "health food" store where I buy brown rice and dried fruit, Neranxi, this magazine was on the check out counter. I briefly looked at it thinking..."Wow, they are on the cover of a health food magazine?"  The clerk gave it to me free of charge.  I brought it home, read through the article as best my Albanian would allow.

The article is not about "politics or world views", but..."How do you stay so beautiful, with a perfect figure?" 

There was even a recipe for her favorite breakfast, which by the way...Neranxi has all of the ingredients for sale.

In Albania...it is all about being beautiful with an amazing perfect figure...!

Yes, I am still smiling! 😊

You are my favorite...???

This is a billboard that was just put up along a very busy road in Tirana....for Valentine's Day...I think...?

It so made me laugh as we had just gone through a teaching at church on God's love...and then here is this sign.

Thankfully, God doesn't say that to any of us...

"I will love them freely..."
 Hosea 14:4