Skopje is a very interesting city – I was here a few weeks ago but this time I actually had a little bit of time to kill and explore the city.
16 years is a long time but that is when I first met my 3rd online friend back in the mid 1990’s – using a program called ICQ (precursor to a number of the instant message programs or built in SMS programs all over the internet these days). She is from Bitola Macedonia, now living in Skopje and we finally met up and she showed me around this intriguing city.
There is currently a love affair with monuments by the current administration. Parts of the city are filled with monuments and public art and new ones are still being erected. Rather then local artists being commissioned – mostly Italian artists are being tapped for these artworks.
It is very interesting to be in an old European city that is in the midst of a major reconstruction of government buildings. Major buildings are nearly finished or will be finished soon – all are massive and look historical and now line the banks pf the Vardar River near the old stone bridge (which dates from the 1300’s).
Mother Teresa is ethnically Albanian, but was born in Skopje. We visited a new memorial and museum in her honor.
If you ever find yourself in Skopje – a nice place to frequent for food and wine that my friend took me to is:
Pelister City Restaurant – www.pelisterhotel.com.mk
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- Mother Teresa sculpture in front of her Museum
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- Author in front of massive Alexander the Great Memorial
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- Part of the impressive “warrior on a horse” memorial – perhaps Alexander the Great
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- Paris, Bucharest, Vientienne, Skopje. The “arc” really makes its way around the world.
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- Now this…your guess is as good as mine!
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- Another massive new government building
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- Monument & new governement building
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- New government building
Wow! You sure that’s all in one day? Great photos.
how times change…. from the city of Alexander to trying to find place on global map….
nice photos….
Yes! A really intriguing city because of its current modern day “renaissance” – actually all those photos were taken taken in the evening – I was in Skopje earlier but didn’t have much time to walk around the actual city.