About five hours’ drive from Belgrade lies Pristina, the capital city of Kosovo. After my experiences with other small capitals in the Balkans, I had absolutely no expectations. Before arriving I assumed I would find one ugly, dead-silent main street. I couldn’t be more wrong and I’m pleasantly surprised.
Yes, in a nutshell there’s indeed one long promenade, but it has a very pleasant vibe. I can see how lively it gets in the evening. It’s like the whole town is out in the streets. Music, ferris wheel, restaurants and mainly a relaxed atmosphere where everybody is having a good time. One would think I just arrived at some holiday destination. My hotel is right in the center so I have breakfast practically on the street while the cafes slowly open and people start to gather. It’s nice and relaxed here, with relatively cheap food and good service.
Beyond what I just mentioned, the city doesn’t offer much more, which is a shame. Of course there’s another one in a series of brutalist structures: the building of the National Library with its 99 domes.
Also worth mentioning is the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa with its high tower and a nice view of the surroundings.
From the top I can see that not only the city center but the whole city is being modernized, with massive new construction everywhere. Pristina looks like it has prospects for a bright future.
