At Newborn

By Júlia Celma Werthwein

During our time in Pristina, our meetups at the Newborn Monument have become a charming tradition. This landmark, symbolizing Kosovo's independence and resilience, is where we gather before heading off on our various adventures. 

Thursday 13 June was no different. We met at Newborn before walking to Kosovo 2.0, a journalistic platform which has made a name for itself by addressing controversial issues across all ethnic groups in Kosovo and beyond. Founded in 2010 as a print magazine, it has transitioned to a fully online presence, continuing its mission to "amplify voices" and their commitment to social justice. Kosovo 2.0's passion for covering stories that often go ignored in mainstream media was inspiring, reminding many of us of the power of journalism to effect change. By the end of the meeting, many of us picked up some of their printed magazines as keepsakes.

In the afternoon, after grabing lunch at Baba Ghanoush, one of the few spots in town with good veggie and vegan options, we strolled around the city, walked along Clinton Boulevard

and returned to the hostel for a well-deserved nap. Later, we met back at Newborn and took a bus to Gërmia Park for a wonderful dinner surrounded by nature. 

After dinner, the bus ride back turned into an unexpected party, with Amy Winehouse, Britney Spears, and Rihanna blasting from the speakers. 

Arriving back at Newborn, we decided to check out the Beer and Wine Festival. The festival was buzzing with energy, as we enjoyed the famous Dafina Zeqiri live as well as other Albanian DJ mixed songs while creating moshpits with the locals. As the night wore on, we eventually made our way back home. 

And where will we meet tomorrow? At Newborn, duh.