I’ve been dying to make a trip to Macedonia before it turned to winter. My travel partner has bailed out on me so I was forced to travel by myself. I don’t really care for travelling abroad by car. There are too many things that can go wrong and I’d be by myself. In a last minute thought, I asked some friends if they'd be my guide to Skopje. We left a bit late and my friends were more concerned about food than I...imagine that...so we burned a bit more of daylight than I'd intended to do...but I made my first run to Skopje...beyond my first experience in February of flying in and out of the Skopje airport.
The border on the way down was like a traffic jam. It was a half-hour wait to pass. By coincidence, colleagues of my friends were waiting in line at the border directly in front of our car. I stayed in the car but everyone else got out for the reunion. The border on the return trip was a five-minute stop and go which is more my speed.
First stop was Matka Canyon. It was a mountain lake surrounded by sharp cliffs. We walked around, stopped at the café to be seen, and watched the boats and kayakers go by.
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Same Photo
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Matka Canyon!
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Matka Canyon!
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Matka Canyon!
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Matka Canyon!
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This is a hotel at Matka Canyon!
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Lost?
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The old Skopje train station.
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The old Skopje train station. The clock stopped at the time a major earthquake rocked Skopje and destroyed much of the city. It doesn't change.
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Next stop was the city center. We parked our car at the nearby mall. First stop on our walking tour was the shrine to Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa, recently made a Saint, was born in Skopje, Macedonia. We didn't go in but there will be another run soon.
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The Shrine to Mother Terese...Skopje, Macedonia
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Mother Teresa & Bluelou
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Saints Constantine and Helena Church - Skopje, Macedonia
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Off to the city center - Triumph Gate Near the City Square - Skopje, Macedonia
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The City Square - Skopje, Macedonia
I'm told that between 2009 and 2012, there was a mandate for statues in the city center and they went overboard on the statues.
I'm told that between 2009 and 2012, there was a mandate for statues in the city center and they went overboard on the statues.
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The City Square - Skopje, Macedonia
The historical museum is in the background.
The historical museum is in the background.
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The City Square - Skopje, Macedonia
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The historical museum is in the background.
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A bridge that's been around a long, long time and even survived the 14th century earthquake.
End of the tour for now but I hope to be back.
End of the tour for now but I hope to be back.
