Fancy You Fancying Me

I returned to Albania yesterday from a lovely vacation.

Now that it's over, the trip feels like an intermission between chapters in my Peace Corps service. After ten days of wonderful reunions, warm central heating, and many miles in a rental car, it's surprisingly unshocking to come back to frozen windows, sidewalks more slippery than skating rinks, and a drafty apartment. Though I would have enjoyed spending more time with my friends and family, it's comforting to sink back into the rhythm that I've grown accustomed to. This morning, I chopped kindling, bought groceries, refilled my stove's gas tank, and will hopefully visit the gym later on.

Today's title is lifted from an under-appreciated gem: "Fancy You Fancying Me." The song comes from something of a novelty record by a Scottish actor and comedian, Ronnie Corbett, whom I know nothing about. Despite being released as a, "novelty record," it's a fantastic tune that describes a warm emotion.

Copenhagen, "the Venice of the North."

Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen

Me at the well-decorated home where we stayed in Copenhagen. 

The royal bakery in Graz

My Vienna highlight was visiting this Egon Schiele exhibit at the Leopold Museum.

A unique monument in Vienna--an empty trench coat on a single railroad track

Peshkopi behind my frozen-shut window

Peshkopi after my window thawed

The kindling that I cut on my first day back in Peshkopi. As I chopped, I learned the Albanian word for kindling is, "ashkla," from a few bored children who spectated my work.