Typically I try to find my own way around places. This time, I stopped into a tourism office. I am happy that I did.

I originally went into the office to ask about the Ethnological Museum of Prizren. My sister’s friend who gave me a lot of recommendations for Kosova and Albania, mentioned that the Ethnological Museum of Prizren used to be the house of her great, great grand father. The hours and location were confusing to me, so I needed local help to figure it out.

At the tourism office, there was a lady who didn’t speak english. Together, we called her son in law, and I scheduled to meet with him at 12:30. He specializes more on the eco-tourism in the area, hiking and such, and his wife specializes more in the cultural city tourism. I went with his wife, Flaka, to the Ethnological Museum. A tourist from South Africa, who I had met in Prishtina on a previous walking tour, also joined us. (I ran into him at the entrance of the Prizren fortress, and recommended that he come to the museum too.)

The Ethnological Museum

Flaka made sure the museum was open and explained everything within the museum. The man working at the museum was happy to explain and answer any questions we had but he didn’t say many English words. Her being there and translating made the experience richer because I could understand more.

FOOD

Afterwards, Flaka took us to a restaurant that she really recommended with made from scratch food. After discussing with us, she ordered on our behalf in Albanian and told them to give us smaller portions. Then she left.

Flaka told us about the green market happening the next day and we scheduled to meet with her for that. It was a very local market that I wouldn’t have been able to find without her – a bit away from the crowds with just a few people from the villages selling sheep cheese, strawberries, butter, tomatoes, garlic, potatoes, etc.

I decided to buy a few things since it will be easier for me to cook my dinner in the hostel during my working hours instead of hurrying for takeaway food.

Flaka guided us to the woman selling sheep cheese, to try it. The woman said that she could understand what I was saying but was not able to respond in english.

Exploring the town

Flaka took us on a walking tour around the town. Prizren is an old town with a lot of history. It was the old capital, and now it is the cultural capital. There are about 40 mosques, and the population is like 95% Muslim, but there is religious freedom, exhibited by the presence of mosques, orthodox churches, and catholic churches.

I entered a mosque for the first time in my life, the Sinan Pasha Mosque. I have always been nervous to accidentally do something offensive or break a rule, so I previously admires from a far. This time, with Flaka, my guide, I could trust that everything was okay. At the entrance, the lady wrapped me up in a long wrap skirt on my bottom half and a large scarf on my top half. I was wearing shorts and a spaghetti strap crop top underneath, so I was grateful for their help.

I have since returned to the tourism office multiple times and had coffee with them. The mother does not speak English but her and I would do a lot of charades to try to communicate.

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A few days ago, I was at a burger joint. The boy working there was well spoken and had great hospitality. He mentioned that he was collecting foreign currency, so I told him I would return the next day with a US dollar. Sadly, I was not able to find that restaurant again because less places are on google maps. I wandered around for a while, unsuccessfully. I hope he meets another kind American with a better sense of direction soon.