May 30: Pristina Loves Americans

Our walking tour was attended by people from all over the world to learn more about Kosovo. One lady was from Germany, and she has been traveling for 17 years!! She doesn’t have a home but goes back to Germany once a year to pay taxes. I like long term travel, but I couldn’t do that.

Pristina is the capital, largest city, and political, historical, and cultural center of Kosovo. The population is 230,000.

Pristina has been inhabited for 4,000 years. In the second century BC, the Romans arrived, but not much is left today from that time. Next came the Byzantines. There wasn’t much development until the Ottomans arrived in the 15th century.

Much of the city has been destroyed to make way for newer buildings. The Old Town is not that old and not much remains.

The first president, Ibrahim Rugova, was a pacifist and was called “Gandhi of the Balkans.” He was the architect of independence even though he died two years prior to their independence.

After the conflict in Kosovo in 1998-1999, 1,600 are still missing. Families remain in agony.

This monument serves as a reminder to not forget those that are still missing.

They are so appreciative of America’s support. Pristina feels like Little America.

The main street is Bill Clinton Boulevard where there is also a statue of him.

Nearby is a women’s clothing store called Hillary.

Bob “should have been President” Dole came to Kosovo to try to understand the situation here.

There is George Bush Boulevard and Beau Biden Highway. Biden worked in Kosovo after the 1998-1999 war helping train local prosecutors and judges. There was even a controversial effort to name a Trump Lake. It is an artificial lake that straddles the border of Kosovo and Serbia. It has been disputed for years as Kosovo called it Lake Ujmani. Serbia calls it Lake Gazivoda. And since Trump, the “peacemaker”, likes to rename bodies of water on the map, I guess this might be a diplomatic yet crazy idea.

The Battle of Kosovo was the largest battle in medieval times with both sides (Ottoman and Serbia) losing many men including both kings. How different war would be today if our leaders were required to be on the battlefield.

The Ottoman empire collapsed in 1912, and the Serbs moved into Kosovo.

Ethnological Museum

From 1956-1960 there were 800,000 people deported. This family that lived in this house was ousted in 1958. Fortunately, it was not destroyed during communism.

Central heating was a new concept. The fire was stoked in the kitchen. Smoke would go up through the chimney, and then heat would come through the holes
to heat the rooms.

These vertical shutters were unusual but allowed for adjustment for sun and wind in all seasons.

An outdoor sink was for dishwashing and drains into the garden to water the plants.

When there was a knock on the door, all visitors were received and given food and shelter. They had a saying in regards to hospitality: the biggest and best is always for guest.

Smaller rooms were the norm since they were easier to heat in the winter and cool in the summer.

There are 140 types of clothing that indicate what region one is from and what type of event the clothing is used for such as weddings.

This monument is a celebration of their new country. Each year on the anniversary of their independence in February, the decoration changes to something new!

This monument is dedicated to the 20,000 women who were raped and brutalized during the Kosovo conflict with Serbia.

Each pipe represents those women. Our guide got a little choked up talking about it. Surely, some of his female family and friends were affected.

Seventy percent of the city was destroyed. Civilians relive those moments when they hear about Ukraine and especially Gaza.

Ilir was deported as a young boy, and the rest of the family was taken hostage. He didn’t know their whereabouts. To learn more about Ilir’s experiences, go to YouTube and search for videos: Bllacë 1999.