Glimpses of Pristina
On my recent work trip to Kosovo I was in the capital, Pristina, for two tantalizingly short overnight stays. A jumble of impressions, mostly in twilight or darkness. However I did manage to capture two important landmarks in this newest of nations. Above is the 'Newborn' monument. It was unveiled on 17 February 2008, the day Kosovo declared independence. For the 17 February anniversary this year it was painted with the flags of the nations which recognise Kosovo as an independent nation. As of 16 March they number 101.
Below, the futuristic library of the University of Pristina.
I failed to capture the statue of Bill Clinton, on Bill Clinton Boulevard. Next time.
That name sounds like a fictitious city from some sci-fi movie. Pristina? Really? How oddly clean it sounds.
ReplyDelete'Oddly clean' isn't really the European way, unless you count Scandinavia. The rest of us (Scotland included) - not so much.
DeleteIt's pronounced 'Prishtina', so it doesn't sound so sci-fi in reality.
I had a great sci-fi moment at Vancouver airport a few years ago, waiting for a flight to Castlegar in BC. The plane at the next gate was going to Kelowna - a planet in the TV series 'Stargate SG1.
Your jumble of impressions is impressive. A nice city!
ReplyDeleteMuch more to see than we managed on our visit. I can recommend the Hotel Sirius if you're ever there!
DeleteInteresting post, Linda!
ReplyDeleteI have such a jumble of impressions from such a short visit that I hesitate to write more - I don't feel qualified to say much about a complex country on a first encounter.
DeleteIt really strikes me that such an important symbolic statue of a freshly-born nation is *in English*. But perhaps there are very good cultural and political reasons for that? This and your last post have demonstrated to me how woefully ignorant about Kosovo I am!
ReplyDeleteThe Wikipedia article about the monument says "Newborn was chosen as a single English word for the power to describe the birth of a new country, its positive connotations, ease of understanding by non-native English-speakers, and potential to present Kosovo as a new, contemporary, trendy country".
DeleteYou might be interested in Anni's post on her blog 'This is Belgium', about use of English in street art. http://whatisbelgium.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/freedom-of-street-art.html While I commented there that I regret the domination of English as world language, I can see the power of using English in the case of the Newborn monument.
Kosovo is moving forward from its past association with war, and keen that people should know more about it as it is currently. As I said to Red Pat, I would hesitate to form too many opinions on the basis of a short visit, but my overwhelming impression is of a young, hopeful, forward-looking country.
"Newborn" inspires such a feeling of hope and promise. I do worry about all the pain and loss which can be suppressed by a sudden change in philosophy. It was long held resentment and bitterness which fueled the war.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, you certainly get around. Kelowna is a retirement mecca in Canada. In sc fi terms it might be a portal to the next world. I used to live near Vulcan in Alberta. They have a space tourist centre, with signs in English, Klingon and Vulcan. Mr Spock has visited but an interplanetary vehicle has not landed....yet.
I am glad you were able to visit and am pleased with the report about the new country.
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