The old craftsman of Korça/ the 73-year-old and his passion for the bicycle

2024-03-06 21:31:00, Qyteti im CNA

The old craftsman of Korça/ the 73-year-old and his passion for the

The old craftsmen of Korça show the great values ??that this city has for the special tradition of early professions. Kostaq Treska is 73 years old today, and is known as one of the first cyclists to develop this profession. Although in old age, although apparently younger, he continues to this day to work in a small shop in the bazaar of Korça. Everyone knows him as usta Koço, a man with such great values ??and dedication to his craft. Usta Koço tells Cna TV about the beginnings of his profession.

"I started working very early, on January 3, 1967, I started as an apprentice for 6 months at that time, then we were given one category after another until I reached the top of the 6th category. Satisfied with the work I was doing, young age , love for bicycles. Korça has had bicycles since 1939, when the second bicycles came, because the first ones came much faster when there were also bicycle races. I liked the profession, and I still like it. I am 73 years old, and I am still going to work, as long as I have breath I will work."

While we ask him about the difficulties of the craft, Kostaq Treska says that a whole life with this craft has left these difficulties behind. And among other things, it is a profession that gives him pleasure.

"As many years as I have, there are no difficulties for me. In the beginning, I worked with ustalars who worked since the time of Zog. They taught us and with the passage of time you don't feel difficulties. But you have to do the work with pleasure, yes If you get bored with work, you should leave it. I still enjoy this job."

Nowadays, we find the bicycle in different models, from different time periods as well. Treska says that there were many bicycles in Korça before the 90s, while today there are very few. Emigration is one of the factors that has influenced the decrease of the population, in the city and in the villages, and normally since this factor the work has also decreased significantly.

"Before the 1990s, there were many bicycles, mostly in the countryside. Even the city had jobs, while after 1990, new bicycles appeared. I was also prepared for the new ones, because I used to be a mechanic with cycling, and I knew the procedure of the bicycles that are today . I didn't feel any difficulties in my work after the 90s. Work necessarily decreased, immigration affected, and now there are no people riding bicycles. It's a disaster for Korça. Most of our work was with the village, the village has all left, so whatever comes, we will work."

Young people don't like bicycles, says Treska, while only milk dispensers are left on the market. Although the ustai wanted his two sons to inherit him as a profession, the latter have chosen other directions.

"Young people now don't like bicycles, they like mobile phones, coffee, there is movement, but there is no population in Korça. There are no people to ride bicycles, only the milk distributors are left now. We only work with them. It is very rarely work, however I am satisfied so far, from now on I don't know how it will go for us."

"I have two sons, I took them first but they didn't fit in. They know the trade, but they don't enjoy it and have positioned themselves in other jobs. They are happy with the work they do, and I myself did not inherit my father's trade, which was a joiner, so the children are also busy with other jobs."

Usta Koço has a call for young people but also for the elderly. Here he does not forget to appeal to the municipality to intervene in the regulation of bicycle places.

"There is nothing like a bicycle, cycling is very necessary. When I cycle, I move every part of my body, hands, feet, head, mind. I still continue cycling, and I feel pleasure like everyone else when they move outside Korçë but also within Korçë. I will make a remark to the municipality, to delineate the places where bicycles ride. It is a good thing for every young or old person to move by bike according to the conditions they have, because it is a very good activity and is recommended ."

In Kostaq Treska's shop, we also met one of his friends and customers, Aleko Kita, who with great pleasure showed the values ??of his cycling friend.

"Usta Koço is first and foremost a good friend, and a good usta. I have been doing repairs here for about 50 years. Not only me but also many other friends, because he is a hospitable person, a person with quality technical goods that he knows how to repair and we remain very satisfied as customers. Often times he also does charity service for us, for free, this is a good thing he has and we appreciate it."

The old craftsmen of Korça are few in number today, but Kostaq Treska never left his passion to repair bicycles and stay close to their enthusiasts. Usta Koço's shop is located in the market of Korça, near the Spar supermarket. Contact number : +355692421311/ CNA