In the land of HRH Rita Ora
#BalkanBants - Prishtina
20/07/2015
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After an afternoon in Albania, the following day we were on our way to Europe's newest country - Kosovo. Luckily the bus was running at 6am instead of 5, meaning we could have an extra hour in bed and therefore not get up until 5 in the morning - the luxuries of taking a holiday!
After taking a five-or-so hour coach journey through the Albanian mountains we arrived on the outskirts of Prishtina city centre, and after dropping our bags off at our hotel, we headed, via the Bill Clinton statue to the city centre.
Bill Clinton
As the country is very much grateful to the Americans for stopping the war in 1999, there are numerous statues and sites named after American leaders, which together with Skanderbeg, Mother Teresa and HRH Rita Ora, make up the majority of things that will be seen in Prishtina.
HRH Rita Ora
After walking past the National Library and stopping for a bite to eat, we headed for the Newborn monument, erected on my 17th birthday in 2008 to mark Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia. Each year this is repainted but I must say that this year's design looks rather like standard graffiti that litters the city already - not as impressive as the original solid-yellow or flag designs from previous years.
Newborn Monument
We then headed up the main street passing the Skanderbeg Monument and Parliament building before walking through the traditional bazaar area. And that is pretty much where Kosovo's attractions end.
Skanderbeg
Unfortunately as a small city in a relatively new country ethnically made up of members of a neighbouring country Kosovo itself lacks a very distinct identity. Everywhere you go, Albanian flags are visible, and I was even given an Albanian pen in the souvenir shop. Perhaps once Kosovo gains more international recognition it will merge with its big brother Albania and form a united country, but for now, it's just a bit....well...boring.
Nevertheless, an interesting visit and a nice stepping stone onwards to Skopje.
Posted by kmmk17 17:00 Archived in Kosovo Tagged city independence balkanbants
