40 Bunar Fest

Before I continue with places around and in Prizren, maybe is good time to say something about "40 Bunar fest" because  very soon this spectacle will beginning It's very popular fest in Prizren but also on Kosovo and a across the border. People comes from all sides the world to participate

40 Bunar River Tubing Festival. In this competition participants must get down through the Bistrica River from the Electrical Industry Museum to the Old  Stone Bridge in the downtown. They must get down as fast as it is possible. To get down the river participants use a inner tire or. This race is called Kosovo’s craziest race because of challenges and hard parts of the river: The low water Levels, protruding rocks and freezing water.40 Bunar Fest is a traditional festival that takes place every year in the Bistrica river of Prizren . This event is known as an extreme sport. It's in spring because water is god deep for game, but also cold because river comes from the Shar Mountain and  snow is  melting down. lately will not be possible because level of water is to low

I got some photos  3 years ago. And I will show you how it looks and what is about and maybe just maybe you will be interested to participate in it.

When rocks are on the bottom of the river and water is calm everything is going cool

But sometimes you just don't have luck. You can watch but rocks are so sharp and they get punctured tire

Or you can stay without tire and just walk

On some place you must to  walk because is to dangerous to sit on tire

There are optimistic people who put together their tires and going like this .

Almost done 

There is a end and people who helping you to get out of the water

This is the end of journey 

Now, as you see there is a lot of action and fun. There is also party after this race. If you have adventure spirit this is definitely for you.

If you are interested , more about this you can find on their website http://40bunarfest.org   or try to find them on facebook.

Kaljaja fortress

Kaljaja is a medieval fortress in Prizren, It was built on a hill above Prizrenska Bistrica, around which the modern city developed. The first fort, erected on this location by the Byzantines.The fort then came under the control of the Ottomans for four centuries, giving it its modern shape. Kosovo 

Kaljaja is realy amazing place for me and for visitor who comes in Prizren. You will not gonna believe me but first time I was on Kaljaja when I was 20..22 years old. The reason is not distance or hard walk, because its not so far away it is little bit hard walk. But reasons were actually stupid.  empty promises ...I was a child and I wanted so hard to go there I really wanted. Than I wasn't in Prizren for a long time and than I came again first thing I wanted to do is to go on Kaljaja

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When I was a child my parents always took me to nature, somewhere  on hils, mountains, woods. This view is from hill who is parallel with Kaljaja. Can you imagine how I felt when I saw Kaljaja so close but I couldn't go there. The name of this place where I was is named ... "Bayir"

I liked this view, it was early summer or late spring....I see grass is green

Year 2009 view from this point was like this. No reconstruction, old look. I took it with my compact digital  Casio camera. Today is looks different

This is new look. I do and I don't like. I do like because there is a lot of place made ground from rocks , there is a hedge and poles from where you can see city safely. But why I don't like ? Before reconstruction view was better with cannon, had some spirit....

 

This is winter version. 3 years ago I worked in local web portal, so we decides ( with my two colleagues ) to go on Kaljaja. It was really strong winter a lot snow we had and it was risky, but we decidet. Are step foot were first and snow was knee-deep. That wasn't stop us to make some photos and video

Video is muted, because there where a song from popular singer

This is a view that we looking for.Winters look, roofs full of snow, good sky.

Now this is 3 years ago. Today there is restaurant on your way to Kaljaja. You will see it on next photo when I will update this post about Kaljaja . Every year they making something new.

Take this close shoot

Night look with stars. I like blue color,almost all blue ranges

Romantic blue sky with stars. Long exposure

When I left fortress I look behind me and took this shoot

View from nearby hill

For now that's all from Kaljaja. But soon, very soon I will update this post because on fortress are making something I am not sure what is exactly but I will show you before and after.

As you noticed I am talking to much about changes. One photo after 3 years becomes history. There is a song...one of my favorite song by Tupac -  Changes

See you soon with new look

Enjoy with this song

"Our Lady of Ljeviš"

"Ljeviška"

Well this is on of most important church in Prizren especially for Orthodox Christians.It was converted to a mosque during the Ottoman Empire and then back into an Orthodox Church in the early 20th century.
There is a mark even today from Ottoman Empire. Today is not in such a good condition , and is very difficle
to take photos because it's surrounded by narrow streets. First I want to show you how church looks from the outside than I have one anecdote about it

This is view from Tower clock. I was there for different purpose but I took this photo also. As you see there is no to much place around it. If you want more information for this church you can find it with keywords "Our Lady of Ljeviš"

Time for anegdote :)  Two years ago I worked on one really significant project " Inscription Plaques of Kosovo "  And the professor ( Whos was from Istanbul)  who was charged on this project told me... " Almira,  here near is one mosque with name some name he said"...but I know on what he means but he never saw it. When I show him a place....  When he saw it he sayes..."Aman Allah, this is not a mosque" :D  I laughed Yeah  I said.... it was a church than mosque than again church  and it's such a structure it can never look like a mosque. But there is a sign on it. DO you see that white plate... I will show you closer on next photo.

You see ? It's on arabic. I work on this project but I never get  translate from this on....to bad..

That day was a sunny day, spring. I liked blue sky and I took few photos because I new that will not be able to do later because church is under protection, guard protection..so...I used opportunity

This is front view, Few weeks I saw young monks in front of the door they were entered inside. Maybe in future will be able for tourists also ;)

And this was my last shoot. I couldn't get more. For now :) In future if I have chance I will take more photos of this beauty
Of course there is a way to take photo but you need to ask permission from many institution.....I think I will wait better time. Without bureaucracy

Sinan Pasha mosque

 Sinan Pasha mosque
In addition to the bridge there is a lot of important and unique buildings that attract the attention of tourists. 

I will start with Sinan Pasha mosque.

This mosque is not just the most beautiful mosque in Prizren but it is the most beautiful in Kosovo.

I just love it's beauty of construction, stones, and also inside is so beautiful, remarkable enterier. It was reconstructed few years ago. I want to show you some photos of this beauty. It's in the downtown.

 This is Sinan Pasha mosque when reconstruction started. I took it with my nokia N95 I was searching in my archive something before this but I couldn't find.

I took this photo for my first photography solo exibition. This is mosque after reconstruction

I love to zoom and see details , especially when is black and white

I call this photo "blind shoot" I didnt see what I shoot because it was huge wall in front of me and I just put my arm over the wall and took this photo, when I saw on display it wasn't so bad :)  You can see I broke the rule of third. Object is in the middle of the photo...but sometimes you can broke the rules , especially when there is nothing interest left or right

I was on Kaljaja ( I will show Kaljaja late ) and I liked colors on the sky and lights...

  
This is view from behind the mosque. On "blind shoot" photo you could see grass and rocks, today on that place is a park, looks good 

New view from from behind. Now is little bit   harder to take all park because there  are many small buildings , you will see on the next photo 

 Today park behind the mosque. It's good for relax, nice ambient ...

Some details from park.there is a water pools and you can hear sound of water, that's relaxing you more

My black and white photography of this beauty

 Let's see inside. When I shoot inside I always need more space than I  usually have it.

This is the moment when I miss my wide lens

More details on walls

 

I like to take photos when believers are inside

I can see smile on old man face, amile and joy

"Learn in the name of God"

I am from Prizren but first time I saw interior after 20 years. Like a child I was always wondering what is inside, how it looks.... When I back from Subotica for the first time I entered in mosque like a believer it was month Ramadan and that was an amazing experience for me

This is for now my story about Sinan Pasha mosque. Amazing  art structures who attract a lot of views of people. 

Old stone Bridge

Old stone Bridge
Let's explore Prizren. As I as say Prizren's old stone bridge is one of the most a recognized treasure, landmarks of the city. It was built during the construction of Sinan Pasha Mosque. I want to show you several photos of it.

When I took this shot I dropped in the river. I put one leg on the wet rock and I slipped and BUM

This is my favorite view. When I am traveling in others places I miss this view this place

This photograph is made with 10-24mm wide crop nikon lens. I just loved that lens. But I was in situation to change it. I miss it

Ooo yes we had those lights on the bridge...few years I think, this wasn't the only bad color we had also red and pink..I don't know But lights were awful, I realy mean that. But not so...long..

There is a special feeling when you are crossing bridge. It's like a.. some historical gate. You are passing through time. But sometimes when I walk and look down at rocks I feel like I am walking on chocolate rice, it's funny :)

Now, I like those lights. Finally we got looks proper. Looks so cool and different. I was waiting for this.