experience Kosovo

I came here for my fathers business. Kind of hard to describe. A courier could have done what I am doing, but not in the time we needed. So three flights, and 16 hours later, I found myself in a UN controlled new country called Kosovo. In its capital, Pristina. I'm pretty sure thats the English spelling, but I've also seen it spelt Pristhina as well. Regardless, I went to the Canadian Consolate website for travel, and needless to say, it scared the shit out of me. I wasn't sure what to expect, and the last minute notice I was given that I was actually coming here didn't help the mind either. I read some other websites, from some other travellers, and that helped a lot. I arrived here a bit scared. There was a taxi driver that had my name on a sheet, so that was very helpful. I'm gonna bring you through my trip thus far, starting from the beginning....

I had to wait at Toronto International airport for my father to hand me a document, for which if I didn't have the original copy of, there was no point on getting on the plane. After I checked in, they said that I couldn't check my baggage, cause it was too late, and that I had to run to my plane. Well... I didn't have the document yet... the plane was scheduled to leave at 6:15pm Toronto time, and it was now 6:00. Waiting outside with one of my co-workers, to which I instructed, when my father gets here, he has to carry one of my bags, and run w/ me to security. At about 6:08, he came, and we raced..... I had never run to catch a plane, but this blog would make no sense if I didn't make it... I did! what a rush... I was on my way to Kosovo... so even though I was told I was going, it was still uncertain, cause I needed that document. It was a long flight... 7-1/2 hours.... I tried to sleep, but just couldn't get comfortable enough to allow my body to go to sleep. I got off the plane in London, England and tried to contact some of my friends there.... no avail, both were probably sleeping (sorry guys). I think it was 6:00am on the nose... we were one of the first planes to land at Heathrow. From there I had a 3-1/2 hour lay over, from which my plane was delayed another 20 minutes... no biggie. I got on the next plane headed to Vienna, Austria. Landed there, and then again, had to run to my next flight, from Vienna to Pristina, Kosovo. It was about a 2-1/2 hour flight from London to Vienna, and another 2 hrs to Pristina. When I found my gate in Vienna, there were about 12 UN guys, in full fatigue, on there way to Pristina with me. I started to worry right there, then I thought, don't let it bother you, its cool.... Being as tired as I was, didn't help my thoughts either... so I tried to sleep again, which I think I did... maybe 45 minutes or something.

SO, I was finally here, Pristina, Kosovo.... a tiny little airport, with UN everywhere. I never could have imagined ever visiting a place like this, anytime in my life. Thats when I started to think how lucky I was to experience this kind of travel. I got off my plane, and walked into the terminal.... rather than those walkways they have at all the other airports I've ever been to. I cleared customs relatively fast, and walked out of the building, looking for my sign. Now for a little airport, and maybe about 100 people total on my flight, and another plane leaving Kosovo, there must have been about 250 to 300 people outside the airport. SO many people waiting for loved ones, and so many people leaving.... just a buzz. It was something I had never seen, and kind of hard to explain. I was exhausted, and nervous. I found my driver, who was just a cabbie from the hotel, and he was very nice, and new a little english. On the drive to the hotel, and gave brief descriptions about the city. He showed me where the UN headquarters were, a huge bill board of Bill Clinton, on Bill Clinton Blvd. I found that a little amusing, cause I had this impression that Americans would not be liked here, for which I was completely wrong. Shows you how ignorant I am to what goes on in the world. No more than 6 years ago, there was a full blown war here, and driving from the airport to the Hotel, the fact that there was a war here was easily seen.

Thats where this gets really interesting. Again, not having a clue what to expect, my exhaustion disappeared, and wide eyes overcame me. I had never seen some of these things before. Beside very modern buildings, there were buildings that were in tatters. New buildings going up everywhere, pot-hole filled roads, and people everywhere. After reading all this stuff on the internet, I didn't expect to see so many people walking around. It seemed as though this was just another city, much like ones I have seen before. Keep in mind though, this is not an independent country.... yet, and still has much to do, to achieve independence. I went to sleep pretty early after getting to my hotel - the ONLY hotel in Pristina... very nice though. I found out early, that everyone that I have talked to have been very nice and accomidating. Again, everything seemed pretty normal, even after dark, I looked out my window, and the city was still bustling w/ people. There was a news reporter on a shorter deck of the hotel, that I could clearly see from my window. He was probably there, b/c in the morning of the day that I arrived, the Prime Minister of Kosovo had just passed away. A sad day I was told by my cab driver, for he was a big part of Kosovo's road to independence. There were meetings that were scheduled to start in Vienna this week, but no have been post-poned till february to morn the PM's death.

Needless to say, I finally got up and out of my room today (sunday) and walked around a bit. I got some pizza, for 1 Euro, which was delicious, and did not feel in danger at all walking around. This is a very beautiful place to visit, and I am thankful for my opportunity to come here.

The biggest thing I would say, is just the difference between the Western World, and then coming here and experiencing this sort of culture. Completely different. They value things differently, and thats what makes coming here so interesting and enlightening. At home, I have so much, and I don't think I even apreciate it 1/2 as much as these people apreciate what they have. It has only been 6 years after a war here, and it is already very modern here. And most people that I have met are very happy living here.

I guess, this is where I leave this blog... no real point, just a story of what I've seen so far, which I know isn't even 1/2 of it... I'm looking forward to going out and seeing more. So if you've ever wondered about coming here, do so, its worth it, and isn't as bad as what people may think.

cheers