Description
I’m sitting in a dusty coffee shop, hiding from the hot Albanian sun, watching Sunday shoppers procure the plumpest fruits. Wafts of ripe peaches and swollen melons drift over from nearby stalls, swirled together with the sound of bartering shoppers and hovering bees.
Albania has a strong ‘grow your own’ culture, and so you were never far from delicious, seasonal, homegrown produce. The marketplaces had become some of my favourite spots to slow down and people-watch.
Ahead, a greengrocer shares laughs and conversation with his customer, as her dress flows dreamily in the wind. Now and again, a creaky bicycle rides by. Another local wanders through, saying hello, briefly joining the conversation. There’s seemingly no rush or urgency. I sit, admiring the pace and simplicity.
On a bicycle, you have a whole day ahead of you. It is possible to fill it with grand feats, covering hundreds of miles, passing from mountain to mountain, country to country. I sometimes get the urge to carve swift lines across regions, hoping to cram more into each day, regardless of the result or the joy which comes from it.
This is why I enjoy watching markets. There’s a lot to do, but rarely do you see people rushing to pick the best watermelon or juiciest tomatoes. The pace runs as it should. Days seem to be fittingly occupied, embracing the simple pleasures that life offers.
Print details
• Printed on premium Fuji Matt photographic paper
• Available in multiple sizes
• Made to order
• Carefully packaged for delivery
• Photograph taken during our cycle journey from England to India
Thank you for supporting our work and helping us continue to tell stories from the road.
— Josh & Sarah
