Kosovo
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Kosovo to Macedonia
Prizren Still staying in Prizren, we set off the next afternoon for a rustic wine tasting a short drive out of the city. By rustic, I mean standing in a small dark cellar. We tried generous samples of whites, roses, and reds, accompanied by sumptuous charcuterie boards including goat, sheep, and cow cheeses. We all agreed the whites were really good, the rest were inoffensive – that’s what Australians call good but not great wine apparently. Also included was raki tasting. Raki is the traditional drink of many countries in eastern Europe, and is a by-product of the wine making process. The grape skins and other fruits are used, and…
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Kosovo
Gjakova We left Peja for a stop in Gjakova, one of the oldest cities in Kosovo. It dates back to the 15th century. The town center, flattened in the Kosovo War 25 years ago, has been restored to its traditional style. There is a beautiful mosque here, built in the 16th century. The imam there spoke to us about the mosque, and islamic traditions and history. Nearby, we went for a short visit to a sufi tekke, or lodge for practitioners of the religion. Sufis seem to be a mystic branch of islam, related to the famed “whirling dervishes” based in Turkey. We entered the prayer building, filled with strange…
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Adventures in Kosovo
Via Ferrata On the way to Peja, our tour leader asked if anyone wanted to do a via ferrata that afternoon. I knew nothing about via ferrata other than pictures I had seen where it looks like you’re hanging off a cliff. A few people decided to go, and said “oh come on Lynn” so I signed up also. (Our tour leader Dusan found a sheet of paper, wrote “Release Form” on it, and asked us to sign underneath). I find it hard to turn down an adventure, and how hard can it be? Well, as I found out, via ferrata, which means “iron road” in Italian, is a climbing…