Our stay in Kosovo in 15 memories

Our stay in Kosovo in 15 memories

The Kosoteam stay in Kosovo has been over for almost a week ... just for fun, a little back on the highlights of these ten days!

La rencontre avecKosovo 2.0

"TheKosovo 2 project.0 is motivating for young journalists.When the team of this media born in 2010 launched, their work then took the form of a blog.Today,Kosovo 2.0 publishes specials who take the form of an ambitious magazine on the bottom and in form.

Jack Butcher fromKosovo 2.0.© Anaïs Roucly

Around a table, Jack Butcher told us how he got carried away by this movement.This Briton thought he was only staying in Kosovo for a few months.It's been more than two years since he is there.He told us how this journalistic adventure took it to the body.

In Kosovo, the writing of this media strives to clarify each event in the light of the country's history."Slow journalism", a journalism that takes the time to understand, to explain.Kosovo 2.0 reminded us of young journalists, that everywhere, there is a place for another form of journalism.»»

Sofian Aissaoui

Roma village in Mitrovica

"15 days and a meeting.That of these children of Roma Mahala, in Mitrovica.First of all had to overcome their shyness.Then the curiosity of the kids won it.They approached me.Asked me for my first name in a language that I did not master.

We have communicated by gestures and smiles.The young girls, above all, surrounded me.My glasses, my jewelry, my watch.All intrigued them.They danced and sung in front of me.

Roma children, in Mitrovica.© Florie Castaingts

They continued to talk to me, convinced that I understood them.Our ‘Conversation’ ended with photos and bursts of laughter.»»

Florie Castaingts

Football baptism

"Admittedly, it looked like a Ligue 2 match, or even worse.But attend the premiere of a Kosovar club in the Champions League, in the city which most symbolizes the weaknesses of the country ... it will remain engraved.

For the occasion, the KF Trepça 89 opened the door to us, and we were able to cover the match with a freedom to make Grégoire Margotton pale.

The presentation of the teams during the Champions League match.© Thomas Schnell

I also retain the supervision, the security service, local journalists, all very happy to see French interested in Kosovar football and at this very special moment for them.»»

Basile Dekonink

Good and inexpensive vegetarian food

"Calvary than being a vegetarian in this world!Vegetation in the Balkans, I didn't believe it much when I got to Kosovo.If the very ‘Viandarde’ culture of the region is omnipresent in the markets and in the stalls of Pristina, the city is in fact a little gem of veggie gastronomy.

Sandwiches topped with chili and garnished with raw vegetables, sheep's cheeses are delicious.Count between € 0.80 and 1.5 € for a XXL version sandwich (really).Not to mention flat bread, soft at will and always fresh, that restaurants serve, however modest they are.

A fresh sandwich for 1 €!© Jonathan Dupriez

Favorite for Baba Garoush, a restaurant from Mezze Mediterranean to die for, Soma Books, “Fancy” address or Tiffany.Small regret, not having tasted the vegetarian burger of Dit Nat, another refined address of the Kosovare capital.»»

Lire aussiJOUR 2 - Réveil matinal et découverte de la ville

Jonathan Dupriez

Meeting the Goranis

Notre séjour au Kosovo en 15 souvenirs

"Leaving without knowing precisely where we are going, nor exactly who we are going to fall ... Definitely, the adventure is the adventure.Lila and I played spontaneous and fear reporters, on the borders of Kosovo.With just a smile and a knife, direction Dragash, a small town in the far south Kosovo, we will meet "the Gorani people".

Gwendolina and Lila with two Goranis.© Gwendolina Duval

Dans la navette qui fonce sur l’unique route de montagne, les deux petites « French girls»» parlent et rient fort.Unsurprisingly, we were quickly spotted on Dragash square.

Good star.We could not have imagined a more beautiful scenario.The meeting of Ekran Bajrami around this cigarette kiosk, and his colleague from Avoko, in the middle of the country of Gora was simply magical.»»

Gwendolina Duval

Visit the historic center of Prizren

"After five days of hard work, I made a little return to my first love, tourism!And, at the end, an article on the 5 essential places to visit in Prizren, to read on Kosovox.

The least we can say is that the visit was epic!40 ° C with the thermometer and a beautiful insulation as a bonus, which nailed me in bed all day ... but it was worth it!A breathtaking view from the Kalaja fortress, charming alleys, the omnipresent Lumëbardhi river…

View of an Orthodox church in Prizren.© Manon gayet

Not to mention restaurants by the water all more cute than the other. Et les grillons m’ont donné l’impression d’être quelque part dans le sud de la France ! Une escapade incontournable pour quiconque fait un détour par le Kosovo…»»

Manon gayet

A young Kosovare meets a Serbian for the first time

"Two days after arrival, Kosovox immerses itself in one of the most complicated issues in the country: Albano-Serb cohabitation in Kosovo.

The report is pampering very well, as always in this country, where everything seems easy.A young girl from the University of Pristina, accompanies us to Gracanica, a Serbian enclave next to the capital.The 20 -year -old student meets Serbs for the first time.

Valbona bytyqi is a young student from the University of Pristina.© Florent Vairet

While we are in the city's Orthodox monastery, classified as UNESCO's heritage, a discussion between the girl begins with the Serbian guide.

As the exchange progresses, the subject of the war arrives.The guide, previously very calm, gets angry and incriminate the Albanians of atrocities during the conflict, without nuance.

Kosovare's face liquefia.It was the first time that she heard the story of the war, told by a Serbian.»»

Alice Lefebvre

The tears of a Serbian who lost everything in 2004

"‘ For you what is Notre-Dame de Paris?Well for us the Serbs of Kosovo, this cemetery is the same thing ... ’Vanja tears in front of the ravaged tombs of its‘ ancient ’, in the Serbian cemetery located in the Albanian part of Mitrovica, marked me forever.It is the oldest Orthodox Serbian cemetery in the country, a symbol for the community.

A tomb of the Serbian Orthodox cemetery.© Lila Lefebvre

In 2004, he was ransacked by Albanian nationalists.Since then, Vanja, which comes from Zvecan, the second largest Serbian city in northern Kosovo, rarely returns there, and always under police protection.Weeds have made their way in the middle of the broken steles.But impossible to come and rebuild the tombs, the Serbs are too afraid to come back here.»»

Lila Lefebvre

RTK visit, Kosovare radio-television

"You might as well admit it right away, our group was not distinguished by its maturity during this visit.Letting go of a dozen young journalists looking for distractions in television studios, all of this was not very reasonable ... Kosovare Radio Télévé (RTK) will remember it.

A Manon plan filmed by a reporting camera of the station will be able to serve as a reminder.But the director of RTK did not lose his day: that morning, a star was born.“Naten me Jonathan Dupriez” will undoubtedly become the next “late show” in fashion among housewives under 50 years old.»»

Hugo Lemonier

The mountains of Rugova

"The moment when we emerged from a path that served in a forest dotted with lights of light.Lost in the mountains of Rugova, we were in despair of falling on a lake at the end of an hour of climb interrupted by temporary showers.

Lila in the Rugova mountains.© Raphaël Marchal

We never found the lake, but we found ourselves on a rocky promontory which offered a clear view.Lila frizz, lost in a field of mountainous flowers, remains one of the lightened in the stay.»»

Lire aussiJOUR 6 - La Kosoteam en ordre dispersé

Raphaël Marchal

One last walk in Pretina

"On Monday evening (July 3, 2017, editor's note), we wandered with Sophie.At the same time as we walked, we started to discuss.We lost the notion of time.The night was gently falling on pristina.The sky was pink.Only the minaret overlooking the market pierced the sky.

Sunset on pristina.© Anaïs Roucly

Under the tense canvases, the last sellers put their goods.Some stray cats passed here and there.I stopped taking a photo, but nothing beats the atmosphere that reigned at the time.The city was temporarily calm.She was soon to be caught up in the noise and music that intoxicate the evenings of the Kosovare capital.»»

Anaïs Roucly

A getaway at the borders of Montenegro

"At the top of the Rugova mountain, at the end of a stony and ravine path, is the border with Montenegro.The demarcation is materialized by three pyramidal stones.Four customs officials come to meet us and control our papers.

On the border between Kosovo and Montenegro.© Thomas Schnell

The discussion is committed.Police are addressed in Serbian to our guide, himself translated into Albanian to our interpreter.And she, who tells us about the words in English.Finally, we discuss between us in French.The memory of this scene will remain.»»

Thomas Schnell

Zeqir Halili's house

"After three hours by car on a steep road, after having passed several dizzying pins, we arrive at the top of the mountain, the last before the border with Montenegro.In search of testimonials on the history of this constantly disputed border, we tapped at the door of the house of Zequir Halili, the oldest man in the village.

Zeqir Halilil and his wife.© Florent Vairet

We are afraid to disturb him but it is well to know the hospitality characteristic of the Rugova region.Hardly he understands that we are looking for information about his region than the human face lights up.The door of his house opens in large to let us go back.His discreet wife is busy behind to receive us as required by tradition.

Lire aussiJOUR 9 - Bienvenue à Mitrovica

Here we are in this large, dark room sitting on sofas covered with local fabrics.In exaltation, man gets lost in his memories.We fear that we have not typed on the right door.Suddenly, the man takes out a case.Inside, 20 years of cut articles dealing with the border conflict.»»

Florent Vairet

The meeting with Majlinda Kelmendi

"Already meeting an Olympic champion is phew, it's really the ultimate thing in sport, the top of the top.But the importance of what this title in particular, the first in the history of Kosovo, which gives hope to the whole country, is even more special.

Discover its training conditions, a dojo no better landscaped than that of my home, in group, while its competitors had ten times more means, it allows to realize the magnitude of the Perf.Being able to follow training, rigor, concentration, repetition of gestures, it was impressive.

Enfin, la sympathie de Majlinda et de son entraîneur, qui nous ont permis de suivre tout cela, et voir Florie se faire retourner, pour toute la souffrance qu’elle nous a infligée en tant que red chef adjointe, c’était vraiment parfait !»»

Marc Van Torhoudt

The Obiliq/Obilić coal power plant

"After several days spent in Pristina, I wanted to change the air.And what air!We went with Sofian and Anaïs to Obiliq/Obilić, a few kilometers from the capital.The city has a characteristic: it has two coal power plants that produce almost 95% of the country's electricity!

One of the two Obiliq power stations.© Sophie Vincelot

The landscape is almost lunar between houses in poor condition and half -empty shops.Obiliq/Obilić could be a film setting as the landscape is striking.But what I have most selected is this incessant buzz.Difficult to imagine the daily life of the inhabitants of this village.Another world 15 minutes from the capital.»»

Sophie Vincelot