Pristina, Kosovo

After a very short bus trip and a comically fast border crossing, we arrived in Pristina, Kosovo. Two things excited us the most: the weather forecast and our accommodation. After weeks of relentless heat, a break in the heatwave was finally forecast, with temperatures predicted to dip into the high teens and low twenties. As for the accommodation—a couch and a kitchen awaited us, promising some much-needed downtime in a place that actually felt like home.

Pristina itself turned out to be much smaller than we expected. In fact, all the main sights could easily be covered in half a day! But that suited us perfectly. It gave us plenty of time to relax, sample the local coffee scene, and enjoy some good old-fashioned R&R.

The first “sight” we stumbled upon was on the walk from the bus station to our apartment: a statue of Bill Clinton, built by the locals in gratitude for his efforts in supporting Kosovo’s (disputed) independence.

We stayed near Mother Teresa Boulevard, a long pedestrian street lined with cafés. At one end stood the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa. Though it looked relatively new, it was still impressive. After chatting with someone out front, we handed over €3 and climbed to the top of the bell tower for some spectacular views over the city.

We also checked out the city library, known for its unique architecture: multiple domes wrapped in an iron lattice shell. Other sights included the exterior of a mosque, a few statues, and… well, that was about it. Pristina really is a small city. But perhaps what we enjoyed most was simply wandering through its side streets, getting a little lost, and embracing the slower pace.

We also made good use of the apartment—catching up on some TV shows, enjoying actual couch time, and cooking our own meals. Sometimes, you just don’t have the energy to navigate restaurant menus or hunt for new places to eat.

The final memorable moment came when we were leaving. Our taxi dropped us off just as our bus was pulling in. The driver, recognizing us from a previous leg of the journey, waved us aboard and drove us straight to the platform. Well—he didn’t exactly stop, so we had to hop onto a moving bus with our luggage, which felt very Southeast Asia-esque. Still, we were grateful. Not only did we avoid paying the platform fee, but we also dodged the long walk into the station.

Next stop: Ohrid—back in Macedonia.