I took a short trip to Kosovo on the weekend; it’s only about two hours away on the autostrad through Kukes. Arriving in Prishtine, I was immediately greeted by a giant typographic monument ‘NEWBORN’ unveiled on the day of Kosovo’s Independence on February 17, 2008, signifying its status as one of the newest countries in the world. Unsurprisingly, there’s development all over the place. Similar to Albania, construction is everywhere but Kosovo remains far more organized (at least in the main cities). Wandering up and down the promenade and along Bill Clinton Blvd to eat more eclectic foods than we have in Albania was definitely a highlight.
On the way back to Albania, I stopped in Prizren, a much more elegant and visually pleasing town. It’s also only a half hour away from Kukes. It was remarkable to see how much Kosovo bounced back from having a war only a little over a decade ago in 1999. The graffiti still speaks volumes of what the Kosovar people have been through along with the memorials of people still missing or recently found, but the cities are on the rise with organized recycling campaigns, remodeling and a clear understanding of tourism and aesthetic, and above all some variety in the food and people and places.
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