Pristina Photos - June 19

The Muscatine and Kosovar groups spent part of Saturday in Pristina, Kosovo's capital. We visited a museum (which didn't allow many photo opportunities). We also visited the "Newborn" statue near the center of town. One section of the main thoroughfare in Pristina was renamed "Bill Clinton" Boulevard not long after the war. Kosovars view the United States and President Clinton as their liberators. The huge banner of President Clinton that was hanging in Pristina when Keith and I first visited in 2002 is still there, although it is starting to fade and show wear.

Newborn Photos Newborn was unveiled weeks after Kosovo declared its independence on February 17. Thousands of people have added their names to the statue since it was unveiled. Burim was our leader during our visit to Pristina....and that was no easy task as more than 50 people snaked through the streets of Pristina. I gave him my umbrella so he could use it as a "landmark" as we straggled behind.

Museum and Miscellaneous Photos

This is a view I took from the van of Kosovo's main power plant on the outskirts of Pristina. The plant continues to struggle to keep the lights on throughout Kosovo, although the power situation here is considerably better than it was in 2005 and 2002. ----Kristin McHugh-Johnston