Tirana- Have you decided to take a break from the routine in your city? Going to work – going home – having a coffee and thinking of your daily issues? If you are considering the north, I know that you will immediately think about Theth, Valbona or Vermosh. Sure these places are an "ancient fairy tale" in modern days. Allow me to give you a suggestion. There is a station in the north that is close by and has a mild climate.

Tamara, only an hour away from the city of Shkodra. You can go there quickly through the Shkodra-Vermosh road, which was reconstructed in the framework of the program "Improvement of Secondary and Local Roads" implemented by the Albanian Development Fund and funded by a number of foreign partners. On the way do not forget to stop at the panoramic balcony and enjoy the view of the "famous turns", Leqet e Hotit. Believe me, the panorama is so impressive that even after 1000 shots you will not be satisfied with the result.

Once down the road you have arrived in Tamara. Tamara is a village in the commune of Kelmend, in the district of Malesia e Madhe in Albania. A modest village, but a village that has a lot of taste and tradition nonetheless. If you have been there before and the ugly sight of a chaotic road running through the middle of the houses has stuck your mind you will be surprised now. As the residents themselves recall:

“Before there was only dust, even us could not stand to look at it. People stopping here was out of the question, what would they even stop here for?! Now look at all this space. They paved it, fixed our roofs for the winter. This building on the right?! - It was about to collapse. Now, there is nothing that can happen to it” . Resident of the area

With a past not to be repeated, today you find visitors walking on the pedestrian street parallel to the river. And if the fresh makes you hungry, you can enjoy a traditional cuisine in the nearby restaurants accompanied with a picturesque panorama. In the afternoon, you can meet tourists from different countries, who say:

“This has become a very necessary daily stop. Tomorrow we will go to Lepusha. To be honest, we did not know of this town before. We kept going up by car because there was nothing there. The climate is mountainous, but mild and the food is delicious.”  -Tourist

The works of the second phase for "Rehabilitation of Tamara center" with funding from CEB, WBIF and the Albanian Government have been completed.

  • 1300 m2 stone facade, the uniformity of each is noticed from afar and seems to announce the arrival in the area,
  • 1.100 m2 construction of roofs and 1000 m2 paving of the square with stones (pedestrian road),
  • As well as the complete reconstruction of the "Shkolla e Bashkuar Nike Mercanaj", Tamara.

Part of this project was also the "Reconstruction of the road Vermosh-Dogana" and "Reconstruction of the bridge over the stream of Budaci"

As in the case of Tamara, the investments are expected to have an impact in tourism, and consequently on the growth of family and local businesses. In Tamara a restaurant in the center of the promenade was opened only 6 months ago.

The owners confirm that recent changes have prompted them to invest in an environment that offers traditional cuisine, overlooking the river.

“We are very pleased since we opened our business. With the new pedestrian area, movement has increased. Even though people are going to stay in Vermosh we are trying to get them to come back here. There are mostly foreigners, but you from ‘big cities’ have also started coming.” – Local business

As we go outside the strong rays of the sun reflect on the white stones paved on the pedestrian and the beautiful Tamara gets a wonderful view. So next weekend, do not worry about the heat. "With cool temperatures" and fresh air spend a weekend outdoors with family. Thank us later!