Hello from Kosovo! For the last month I've found myself volunteering at a hostel called Buffalo Backpackers in Kosovo's capital, Prishtina. I was originally only supposed to stay 2.5 weeks ( from mid month to the end of July), then three weeks turned into staying until the end of August, and the end of August has now turned into staying until mid-September. What can I say? Something about this country and this hostel has sucked me in and I'm not ready to leave. Why Kosovo?That seems to be everyone's question from back home to the guests that arrive and learn that I'm a volunteer from the States. Why would a woman from the U.S. be working at a backpacker hostel in the middle of the Balkans? And of all places, why Kosovo? My visit here started as a visa run. I needed to get out of the Schengen area (which includes countries such as Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, etc. etc. etc.) and so I found out the closest places to visit would be the Balkans. I also decided I needed a break from traveling for a couple months and needed a place to call home for a bit. After emailing a few hosts in the Balkans, the owner of Buffalo Backpackers was one of the first to reply and the most thorough in getting back to me (thanks, Chelsea!). So here I am! What I knew about Kosovo was mostly things about the war that I had watched on the news as a kid/teenager in the 1990s. I had also met a few travellers that had been here and convinced me that now was the time to visit because in 10 to 20 years the country will look completely different. But that's it. I had no clue what to expect as my bus pulled into Prishtina on July 14th. My Favorite Things About KosovoNow that you know why I'm here, it's time to share my favorite 3 things so far that I love about my summer here in Kosovo. 1. Buffalo BackpackersI have to start with home sweet home, the hostel. Normally I avoid traditional "backpacker" hostels. However, in the spirit of this journey in trying new things and pushing myself a bit I decided that instead of just staying at one for a few nights, why not live and work at one for a few weeks (now months)???? In my first couple of nights here the basement flooded and I found myself shoveling water out the back door in my barefeet. There's a lot of things in that sentence that I hate doing very deeply. That was the low, but it only went up from there! The owners, a Texan woman and local Kosovar man, made me feel right at home. Guests started arriving in waves with most people planning on staying just one night and then extending their stay on for 4 to 5. Between the staff and guests, it's been like having constant little travel families and stories that will last a lifetime. If I had to say what my absolute favorite thing to do is in Prishtina? It would be sitting on the porch with old and new friends, drinking the local brew called Peja, and talking about our travel lives and the things we love (and hate) about this fascinating little country. 2. Cafe Culture Along The BoulevardCafe culture is big in a lot of parts of Europe and my first experience with it was in Greece. The best place to have it here in Prishtina is along the pedestrian walkway in the center, The Boulevard. The street is lined with cafes, everybody hanging out and chatting for hours, and cupfuls of whatever caffeinated beverage your heart desires. I love cafe culture because it begs you to slow down, spend time with people, and, if you happen to be alone, to people watch and take in the world around you. (And maybe a little part of it reminds me of my first love, Seattle.) 3. Germia Park & Other Natural EscapesI've been to Germia Park twice, but if you heard the way I recommend it to our guests you would think that I spend every waking moment there. My true Californian colors shine whenever there's water involved and Germia Park has just that. At the beginning of the park is a lake-sized swimming pool nestled in the hills and in the hills there are trails for hiking and biking.
Outside of Germia Park, I've also joined our hostel's day trips to the mountains and waterfalls. I had no idea that Kosovo held such stunning natural beauties. |