Prizren, Kosovo
Greetings from Kosovo, a place which is understandably, and agreeably, free of tourists. Sometimes I like to flow with the backpacker circuit, but not always.
The keys on this typewriter are laughably eccentric and the speed of my connection is pitiful but with a Peja beer to accompany me, a meal somewhere to look forward to and a room in which to watch my recently purchased pirated copy of '28 weeks later' chanting to me, all is well with my world. You may wonder how I will watch the film? On my portable DVD player, that's how..the ultimate travel accessory, and at a mere 10 euros second hand only deceptively plush.
Today in Skopje, the Macedonian capital, where I spent one night after Ohrid, I walked in on a Mosque during the weekly friday prayers. My exotic presence was noticeably reflected upon but always aimably I felt (ok except for one staring guy). They wanted to engage me in conversation in German, which taxed my O level memory. Only men and boys were present. I liked the ways they just hung around the drinking fountains, languidly paying attention to their religious responsibilities when they felt the calling, casually removing their shoes where appropriate. Otherwise just chatting and idling around.
As it was in Bosnia 4 years ago, it remains a surprise to see Muslim Caucasians. One just doesn't expect it (does one?...or do 'you', if we must be modern). Whilst one accurately might not expect Muslims to be Arabic (most are Asian), one cannot help expecting them not to be white, as many of them here are.
I suppose in this climate some might think that last paragraph either racist or Islamophobic. That would be unbelievable if it weren't believable.
The keys on this typewriter are laughably eccentric and the speed of my connection is pitiful but with a Peja beer to accompany me, a meal somewhere to look forward to and a room in which to watch my recently purchased pirated copy of '28 weeks later' chanting to me, all is well with my world. You may wonder how I will watch the film? On my portable DVD player, that's how..the ultimate travel accessory, and at a mere 10 euros second hand only deceptively plush.
Today in Skopje, the Macedonian capital, where I spent one night after Ohrid, I walked in on a Mosque during the weekly friday prayers. My exotic presence was noticeably reflected upon but always aimably I felt (ok except for one staring guy). They wanted to engage me in conversation in German, which taxed my O level memory. Only men and boys were present. I liked the ways they just hung around the drinking fountains, languidly paying attention to their religious responsibilities when they felt the calling, casually removing their shoes where appropriate. Otherwise just chatting and idling around.
As it was in Bosnia 4 years ago, it remains a surprise to see Muslim Caucasians. One just doesn't expect it (does one?...or do 'you', if we must be modern). Whilst one accurately might not expect Muslims to be Arabic (most are Asian), one cannot help expecting them not to be white, as many of them here are.
I suppose in this climate some might think that last paragraph either racist or Islamophobic. That would be unbelievable if it weren't believable.
I may not be going to Saudi Arabia after all....visa worries and troubles. But we shall see.
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