Sunday, 16th of June 2019

 By Libe Baum

As today is Sunday and most organizations are closed for the weekend, this opportunity was used to venture into the cultural sights and places that Kosovo has to offer. This morning we took the bus to Prizren, the second largest city of Kosovo and the historical and cultural capital of the country. As we drove into the city that lies between beautiful mountains covered in greenery, it did not take long to notice the remarkable differences with Pristina. Where Pristina feels modern and fairly new, with its Communist-style buildings and influences, Prizren reminded me of an idyllic Mediterranean town. 

          We started our visit with a city tour, during which a guide took us along the river and up to the castle on the top of a hill overseeing the city, hereby presenting us with a beautiful view of our surroundings. After the city tour we had some time to wander around the town and work on our projects. 

          The project I am currently working on with two other students is about understanding the perception of Kosovars regarding the UN presence in the country, which has been active since 1999. Although at first the atmosphere in the town almost made us forget that we were still in a post-conflict area, the presence of army troops going around the town brought us back to reality. It was a strange image, seeing a group of soldiers walking around, shopping bags in hand, going for lunch and enjoying the sights just like we were, as if there was nothing strange about this situation. And the reality of the situation in Kosovo is, that it wasn’t one. For me, coming from a peaceful country this situation would be unthinkable and would catch a lot of attention. Seeing the contrast of the normality of this in Prizren was a confronting reminder that behind the charming houses and nice restaurants still lies a country in transition, battling challenges every day.

            For dinner we drove to a beautiful restaurant near a lake close to the border with Albania. As we went outside to enjoy the view, you could tell how slowly but surely all the impressions from the last couple of days were starting to leave their mark. Many of us found ourselves lying down in the grass, staring at the sky and just letting everything sink in. After dinner, as everyone was getting up to leave, I went outside to watch the mountains one more time. With only faded voices in the background, I enjoyed my own little moment of peace. In the midst of a busy schedule, you can tell how these moments outside of the city are cherished by everyone. After dinner, we drove back to Pristina for an early night, ready for a new busy week ahead of us.