Falling into the trap of routine, I started to take two of three optional streets to walk towards Mother Theresa Boulevard in the heart of Prishtina. Realizing that one day I had taken a turn on impulse and voilà! What a cozy corner I had stumbled upon! Such a neatly arranged space to take a short break if tired after a walk, to sit down with a cup of Prishtina’s famed macchiato, have a smoke, or scroll on social media for a while. How come I had not noticed that esthetic corner until then? It had been waiting right there, tucked away quietly in a short, narrow alley just across from the Main Family Medical Center, leading into another alley inside a central residential area dotted with small sandwich bars, pasta places, and cafeterias.

The neat corner is artistically arranged. The rustic-style wooden bench and wood-wrought iron coffee table set, complete with an ashtray and waste bin, are set against a turquoise-anthracite painted wooden background, displaying warm-hearted taglines. The magnificent mural of a mountain landscape on the adjacent residential building gives this corner a remote-cabin-in-the-woods vibe. I called it “Rendezvous Bench” and plan to sit there with a book, a coffee cup, or with a friend to chat, as often as I can. The good news is that every time I pass there, the spot is clean and quiet.