Pristina Cemeteries part 2 - The Orthhodox and Jewish Cemetery

As I said in an earlier post, I'm kind into cemeteries as fascinating reflections of culture.  And because Covid has delayed the start of classes I have some time on my hands to explore the city.  So, without further ado, here are some pictures of the Orthodox cemetery at the south west side of town.  It is still active - there are recent graves - but terribly overgrown and poorly kept.  I'm not sure if it is because there aren't resources available to pay someone to maintain the cemetery or few family members living nearby or what.  The church and chapel on site appear totallly abandoned and in disrepair.

But here's the thing - there was the guy with an official-looking vest there at the church, as if he were guarding the place.  He was just hanging out.  I wouldn't have worried except that the cemetery was so isolated, and I was the only one there and frankly this guy creeped me out.  So I stayed alert, took my quiet meditative stroll around the grounds, took pictures, investigated the church, and left. 

I had to climb over a wall (someone had actually put sturdy metal stairs over the wall), cross the railroad tracks, and cut across a field to get there.  Streets in Pristina are a bit challenging - lots of dead ends and weird transitions from paved to dirt back to paved.  Sometimes the easiest route is over a wall annd across a field.


Like I said, overgrown and poorly-kept

Although some areas are a little tidier

Interesting that they put pictures of the deceased on the tombstones.  Notice the little mini-chapel in front.  Many graves had these.

The church there is totally abandoned - gutted and trashed on the inside, and some broken windows.

The sign here said that this is the Jewish cemetery area, and that the European Union was financing its "rehabilitation and beautification" as an "Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace."  Well, isn't THAT interesting.  According to Wikipedia, there are 3 Jewish families in Prizren, numbering 50 people.  Israel DOES recognize Kosovo as a country, and the two countries established diplomatic relations earlier this year.






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