‘You will know each other well after this!’
The restaurant host was gesturing to me and the two Italian students sitting opposite me at Oda Garden, a popular traditional restaurant in Albania’s capital, Tirana.
The place gets booked up well in advance, but we had all managed to squeeze in – provided we didn’t mind sharing our space with strangers.
As soon as I arrived, I realised why it was such a hotspot. Amidst a courtyard crammed with tables, macramé parasols and lights strung up between lemon trees, people were up dancing to a live band pumping out Albanian classics.
It was one of those magical moments where I felt like I’d been dunked, head first, into the culture of a place.
And the best bit? My main meal only cost me £4.10. This was music to my ears given the fact I was halfway through my challenge to do a getaway for just £100 – and that included everything.