When I arrived in Tamara, it hit me immediately even if it wasn’t my first time there, the place still makes a strong impression. It’s surrounded on all sides by high mountain peaks, and the center feels special. The main square is beautifully built, with stone everywhere, and it gives the village a clean, proud look. You don’t just pass through it you stop, even without thinking.
Lunch at Restaurant Cemi: Trofta e Cemit and True Hospitality
In the middle of the square, I sat down at Restaurant Cemi. They had traditional food, but also plenty of options different types of meat, and fish as well. I ended up ordering fish because the owner, Elton, suggested something I honestly wouldn’t have chosen on my own.
He told me it wasn’t a fish you can find everywhere, and he was right. It was Trofta e Cemit (Cem trout), and the way they prepared it made it even better. Elton wasn’t just friendly he was the kind of host who actually explains things, recommends honestly, and makes you feel welcome without forcing it.
My coffee was 50 lek (about €0.50), and the full meal came to 1,850 lek (around €18.50). When it was time to pay, Elton told me something I won’t forget: he said the meal was “from the house” and refused to take my money. It wasn’t for show it felt genuine, the kind of mountain hospitality that makes you respect the place even more.
A Ride to the Local Water and Juice Factory and Tamara’s Real Story
After lunch, Elton took me in his own car to see something I wasn’t expecting at all: the local water and juice factory in Tamara. He showed me around and explained that the factory has about 50 workers.
On the way, he also told me a part of Tamara’s story that stayed with me. He said the area used to have around 2,000 residents, but now it’s under 300. Most families have migrated, and many ended up in the United States.
That was the moment Tamara felt deeper than just a beautiful mountain stop. The landscape is unforgettable, yes but so is the reality behind it. You see a perfect stone square and peaceful streets, but you also realize how much has changed, and how many people had to leave to build a life elsewhere.