We have been blessed with sunny and warm Saturdays almost every weekend. Last Saturday was no exception. We did not have language class in the morning and that fortunately gave us a little more free time. Some of our group decided to take a walk to a place called Joni (J's are pronounced like "y"s) Ranch. I had heard about Joni Ranch from Geena in my language group. Geena and her host parents had walked there the weekend before. We met at Sip Cafe for about an hour. While we were having tea and coffee, a member of KOS 08 saw us and joined us. He was in the group with Paul who we had already met, because his post is here in Kamenice. Joe has been at his post (on the western side of the country) for about three months now. He is in TEFL and is teaching in both a middle school and high school. He finds it easier to work with the high school students than the middle school.
At around noon, we left for Joni Ranch. It is a bit of a walk, as it is perched on top of a hill in an area we had not been to before. Geena suggested that we walk along the river on our way there and take the shorter route through town on the way back. Those of us whose families are fasting, find it easier to eat elsewhere on the weekends. During the week, Thom and I don't see our host family until we get home from school as they are still sleeping when we leave in the morning.
As we walked toward Joni Ranch, we passed by the Sugarfree Wedding Hall. Despite the name, it looked like a really beautiful venue. The facade had Greek Revival look with columns and archways and the grounds looked really nice, especially since the flowering trees were in bloom. We passed the Pishina & Restaurant Shkodra (and yes, it is a mixture of Albanian and English), which is the public pool. Pishina is the Albanian word for pool, but restaurant is English. I am not sure what Shkodra means, except there is a city in Albania with that name.
The Sugarfree Wedding Hall
Restaurant by the pool
Pool in the background
We were pleasantly surprised by Joni Ranch. The view of Kamenice was quite nice. Joni Ranch has western (U.S.) look and there were some beautiful horses and their stalls were open to the path. We could pet them as we walked by. We had lunch at the restaurant and it was a nice venue with actual table clothes on the table and flowers centerpieces. It seemed less than ranch like inside. Even though it was more formal, the prices were still not that expensive. I had vegetables with rice and an order of mushrooms. The fried mushrooms are really good. We have had them in several places and they do not disappoint. Vincent met us here to have lunch as he decided to run rather than walk. Restaurants and cafes are pretty empty as it is still Ramadan until April 9th.
The view as we walked up the steep hill
We arrive at the entrance to Joni Ranch
On of the horse at the ranch
Cloe and Winston pet the horse
The view from Joni Ranch
The restaurant at Joni Ranch
Signs for the restaurant, animals, playground etc.
Along with the horses, there were pens behind the restaurant. There were chickens, geese, turkey, rabbits, wolves, goats, sheep and a deer in the pens. We walked around a little longer and then started heading back. Most of us have projects and language homework, so we headed back after a walk around the animal pens. It was a nice walk through a different part of Kamenice.
The entrance to the restaurant
The goose
Bunnies
The wolf
There were three in this small pen
The goats
The sheep
The playground
Trees in bloom at Joni Ranch
This is a rustic barn in town on our way home
The puppy on our way home
This dog followed us on our way home
A burn pile; many people burn trash
A cow standing in an empty lot in town
A rustic house and wood pile
The white modern looking buildings is a development called hilltop
On our way from the monument
Another large wood pile; wood is used to heat homes
View from the monument
KLA member; not sure if a monument or a tomb
Middle of the monument; Albanian flag is flown all over Kosovo
View of from the monument
The outside of the monument; we have arrived at the back
The views around us are beautiful
A picnic area
After our walk, we went back to the house to finish our projects. Then we headed to Buffi Lounge for more fried mushrooms. As we were walking, we bumped into a guy Thom knows from his COD (Community Development) assignment and he joined us at Buffi's. He is fasting, so he just sat and talked with us. The restaurant was setting up for Iftar Celebrations (that's pretty much every night at sundown during Ramadan. The evening meal is Iftar. We didn't stay that long as they were setting up tables all around us while we sat and talked.
Iftar meals are interesting with our family. Ganimete gets the food prepared and puts everything on the table. There are apps that track the official end of the fast for the day and they all have them on their phones. About 3 - 5 minutes before sundown, we all sit down at the table and they all watch their phones. As soon as it is time, Ganimete, Selver, and Andina break the fast with a date. Mohammad broke his fast by eating a date and because the replenish vital minerals and electrolytes many break the fast with dates. Next, every drinks a glass of water. Ganimete goes on the porch to have her cigarette and about 10 minutes everyone is done eating. They eat really fast and the kids leave the table as soon as they are done.
Flija is the main course
Iftar on Saturday; Ganimete, Selver, Thom, and Amar
Iftar earlier in the week with Selver's family
After dinner tea is a different story. Ganimete almost always makes tea right away and the head to the basement and the garage room for more cigarettes, snacks, and tea. Teatime can go on for hours. We have chosen to have our tea in the living room as the cigarette smoke is hard to sit in. We have sat with them on several occasions, but not to often.
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