During 2009, based in Prishtina, Republic of Kosova, I set out to discover a part of Europe cut off from the rest. My travels throughout the Balkans, focusing on Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia but also Bulgaria, unveiled a region within our precious continent that seems to be forgotten by many. The Balkans is a true gem with beautiful, beautiful nature and so much interesting history that it would keep one busy for a lifetime if trying to explore all of it. Everything in former Yugoslavia is developing. Buildings, infrastructure, minds, dreams… developing to one day become a fully integrated part of Europe.
Photos: Anna Wiman.
Good morning. Mountains in southwestern Kosovo early in the morning.
Hello countryside. Typical Kosovo countryside between Prishtina and Peja.
Kosovo all-included. This is probably one of my favourite shots of Kosovo. Shot just outside the second largest city Pejë, in the west, it includes all things typical for Kosovo. The old Volkwagen van, Kosovo and Albanian flags placed here and there (here also the Italian flag since the west is controlled by the Italian contingent from the international peacekeeping force Kosovo Force), the red-brick houses, the gravel road, beautiful mountains, the signs pointing towards family-owned businesses…
Air. Aereal picture of Prishtina, capital of Kosovo, shot from an air plane.
Ministria e forcës së sigurisë së Kosovës. The Ministry building of KSF.
Agim Ramadani. One of the boulevards in the city of Prishtina, always busy with traffic. I remember crossing this busy road during rush hour after work.
Machiato map. The silouette of Kosovo in my coffee cup.
Newborn. The statue put up in the city centre of Prishtina as the Republic of Kosovo declared independence on February 17th 2008.
Nënë Tereza. Photo of Mother Teresa Boulevard, a pedestrian zone in central Prishtina, shot from the Government Building.
Straw. Visited Brezovica ski resort in southern Kosovo during summer time.
Contrasts. Old meets new in southeastern Kosovo. The old man is wearing a plis, a woven hat part of the traditional Albanian clothing worn by men.
Ruined. Constant reminders of the war in Kosovo 1999.
Balkan map. Probably the most detailed map I have ever seen. Thumbs up!
Prizren. Based on beauty alone, I would pick Prizren as Kosovo’s most beautiful city. It has a pittoresque feeling to it that can’t be found anywhere else in Kosovo.
Sinan Pasha Mosque. The Turks are a minority in Kosovo as a whole but in Prizren, the Turkish community is a vital part of the city and socially influential. The Turkish language is widely spoken here even by non-ethnic Turks.
Bistrica. The river Bistrica flows through Prizren.
Macedonia map. On route from Prishtina to Ohrid, southwestern Macedonia.
The tiny Macedonian pier. A tiny pier reaching out into Ohrid Lake, Macedonia, with beautiful mountains in the background.
Ohrid Lake. View of the lake and parts of Ohrid from above.
Ohrid. View of the city from above.
Skopsko. Macedonia Square in Skopje, Macedonia. Note the cross on top of the mountain. The big billboard is an ad for Skopsko beer, Macedonia’s own beer.
Another part of town. Strolling in the Albanian neighbourhood of Skopje, Macedonia. Lots of really nice jewellery shops and good restaurants serving Albanian food are located in these streets.
The bench. A huge tree located on top of Castle Hill in Skopje, Macedonia. The bench offers a nice view of the city.
Castle conversation. Two youngsters talking on top of Castle Hill.
The Stone Bridge. The bridge crossing the river Vardar in Skopje, dating back to the 15th century, connects the Old Town and the newer parts of town.
Kyrillic. Learning basic kyrillic just by looking at the road signs, driving from Skopje, Macedonia to Prishtina, Kosovo.
Fierzës region. Travelling by boat between the mountains in northern Albania early in the morning is something I would do again, and again, and…
Orange. Driving 30km/through the mountains in northern Albania. Sometimes the landscape opened up. Beautiful view from the car seat.
To Tirana we go. After a couple of days in Durrës, the harbor city at the Adriatic Sea, the highway took us to the capital.
Pulse. The city cenre of Tirana, capital of Albania.
Sofia by night. Strolling in the city centre of Sofia, capital of Bulgaria. Beautiful city – bigger than I thought – grand buildings, nice food and good shopping.
the Balkans
During 2009, based in Prishtina, Republic of Kosova, I set out to discover a part of Europe cut off from the rest. My travels throughout the Balkans, focusing on Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia but also Bulgaria, unveiled a region within our precious continent that seems to be forgotten by many. The Balkans is a true gem with beautiful, beautiful nature and so much interesting history that it would keep one busy for a lifetime if trying to explore all of it. Everything in former Yugoslavia is developing. Buildings, infrastructure, minds, dreams… developing to one day become a fully integrated part of Europe.
Photos: Anna Wiman.
Good morning. Mountains in southwestern Kosovo early in the morning.
Hello countryside. Typical Kosovo countryside between Prishtina and Peja.
Kosovo all-included. This is probably one of my favourite shots of Kosovo. Shot just outside the second largest city Pejë, in the west, it includes all things typical for Kosovo. The old Volkwagen van, Kosovo and Albanian flags placed here and there (here also the Italian flag since the west is controlled by the Italian contingent from the international peacekeeping force Kosovo Force), the red-brick houses, the gravel road, beautiful mountains, the signs pointing towards family-owned businesses…
Air. Aereal picture of Prishtina, capital of Kosovo, shot from an air plane.
Ministria e forcës së sigurisë së Kosovës. The Ministry building of KSF.
Agim Ramadani. One of the boulevards in the city of Prishtina, always busy with traffic. I remember crossing this busy road during rush hour after work.
Machiato map. The silouette of Kosovo in my coffee cup.
Newborn. The statue put up in the city centre of Prishtina as the Republic of Kosovo declared independence on February 17th 2008.
Nënë Tereza. Photo of Mother Teresa Boulevard, a pedestrian zone in central Prishtina, shot from the Government Building.
Straw. Visited Brezovica ski resort in southern Kosovo during summer time.
Contrasts. Old meets new in southeastern Kosovo. The old man is wearing a plis, a woven hat part of the traditional Albanian clothing worn by men.
Ruined. Constant reminders of the war in Kosovo 1999.
Balkan map. Probably the most detailed map I have ever seen. Thumbs up!
Prizren. Based on beauty alone, I would pick Prizren as Kosovo’s most beautiful city. It has a pittoresque feeling to it that can’t be found anywhere else in Kosovo.
Sinan Pasha Mosque. The Turks are a minority in Kosovo as a whole but in Prizren, the Turkish community is a vital part of the city and socially influential. The Turkish language is widely spoken here even by non-ethnic Turks.
Bistrica. The river Bistrica flows through Prizren.
Macedonia map. On route from Prishtina to Ohrid, southwestern Macedonia.
The tiny Macedonian pier. A tiny pier reaching out into Ohrid Lake, Macedonia, with beautiful mountains in the background.
Ohrid Lake. View of the lake and parts of Ohrid from above.
Ohrid. View of the city from above.
Skopsko. Macedonia Square in Skopje, Macedonia. Note the cross on top of the mountain. The big billboard is an ad for Skopsko beer, Macedonia’s own beer.
Another part of town. Strolling in the Albanian neighbourhood of Skopje, Macedonia. Lots of really nice jewellery shops and good restaurants serving Albanian food are located in these streets.
The bench. A huge tree located on top of Castle Hill in Skopje, Macedonia. The bench offers a nice view of the city.
Castle conversation. Two youngsters talking on top of Castle Hill.
The Stone Bridge. The bridge crossing the river Vardar in Skopje, dating back to the 15th century, connects the Old Town and the newer parts of town.
Kyrillic. Learning basic kyrillic just by looking at the road signs, driving from Skopje, Macedonia to Prishtina, Kosovo.
Fierzës region. Travelling by boat between the mountains in northern Albania early in the morning is something I would do again, and again, and…
Orange. Driving 30km/through the mountains in northern Albania. Sometimes the landscape opened up. Beautiful view from the car seat.
To Tirana we go. After a couple of days in Durrës, the harbor city at the Adriatic Sea, the highway took us to the capital.
Pulse. The city cenre of Tirana, capital of Albania.
Sofia by night. Strolling in the city centre of Sofia, capital of Bulgaria. Beautiful city – bigger than I thought – grand buildings, nice food and good shopping.