Kosovo - Foreword

A trip to Kosovo? A trip to a former war-torn country?

There are places in this world where the sun always seems to shine a little brighter, the raindrops are purer, the clouds more dramatic. And every rainbow there is like a smile from the heavens.

For us, Kosovo is one such place in this world.

When we arrive there, it truly feels like coming home; our hearts open up and are filled with a deep sense of awe and gratitude. Kosovo has captivated us, and has done so for a long time.

Whether it is the simplicity, the authenticity we encounter at every turn, that heart-warming hospitality, that optimism and that ever-present zest for life. Despite political adversity. The cultural differences. The allure of the unknown yet familiar. The visual experience. The overall impression. Who knows.

Before our first trip to Kosovo over 10 years ago, we had no expectations. We had no preconceptions about spectacular landscapes, cultural riches or the people. What are they like? What values shape them? Just a barely perceptible sense of uncertainty. Are we safe?

We were surprised. And, without exception, positively impressed. We were greeted by incredibly diverse, unspoilt landscapes, rugged high mountains and fertile, vast plains, criss-crossed by wild rivers and picturesque lakes. We constantly came across impressive buildings from many great eras and different cultural traditions. We met people whose character traits were thought to have long since been lost in this world: open, honest, trustworthy, and full of life.

Many encounters and conversations brought us closer to a culture characterised by profound historical contrasts and, at the same time, a youthful dynamism.

It sounds as though Kosovo is a small miracle, which one certainly wouldn’t deny the country. Kosovo is a corner of the earth that comes across as immensely authentic and shines from the very depths of its heart.

Nevertheless, a visit there demands a close look. And a deep engagement. At every turn. Without exception.

The last war, though so long ago, set the course. A return to old, imposed dependencies, to ethnic oppression, must not and will not happen again. The direction is unambiguous and clear. It is about independence and freedom. About existence and recognition. It is about the future and self-determination. Today and tomorrow. Together.

However difficult the path may still be.

And for the traveller? For them, Kosovo is certainly a huge surprise. A little adventure and an encounter with the unknown. A step outside one’s comfort zone. And a learning experience, if you’re open to it.

Which country can still offer that today?

We wish you an eventful journey!

Martina & Günther