Pristina is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. 

I knew nothing about the city before arrival. My trip is exploratory.

Of the population of nearly 1.6 million, the vast majority are ethnic Albanians.

Kosovo is a developing country with significant economic growth over the last decade. It shows. They’ve applied to join the EU.

It’s NEW. The Newborn Monument was unveiled on 17 February 2008, the day that Kosovo formally declared its independence from Serbia.

“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. 

The most interesting tourist attraction for me was the National Library of Kosovo. Though some call it “the ugliest building in the World”, I like anything different. Opened 1982.

Sadly, the exterior is already turning to rubble.

The impressive Cathedral of St. Mother Teresa (opened 2007) is still under construction. One surrounding superb park is already finished, but there’s still much more to do with the surroundings.

The main tourist pedestrian walk is called Mother Teressa Boulevard. The Albanian–Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary Saint Teresa of Calcutta is a legend here.

There’s a statue, of course.

Another statue nearby celebrates the life of Albanian hero Skanderbeg.

There are a number of large mosques, the most celebrated being Imperial Mosque. Built in 1461.

They love Bill Clinton here. He was key to the liberation, leading the 1999 NATO bombing campaign that stopped Serbian forces and ended the Kosovo War.

The future looks to be brighter for Kosovo.

Yet here in the capital city, there’s still a lot of trash. Abandoned vehicles and buildings.

I saw very few western tourists.

Those who do get to Pistrina will be pleasantly surprised.