Near the Kosovo borders lies Skopje, the capital city of North Macedonia. I can’t decide if I like it or not, but one thing is certain - it’s unique.
The city stretches on both banks of the Vardar river. One bank is covered by an old Ottoman bazaar, the other by a newer district. And that newer district is the reason I call the city unique. There’s a bizarre mix of modern architecture, next to historical buildings, next to buildings that only look historical, next to ugly casinos, next to apartment blocks.
But the tackiest thing must be the statues - they are everywhere. And when I say everywhere I mean absolutely everywhere, like every fifteen meters on average. The dominant one is the over twenty meters high statue of a warrior horse rider, but more are scattered across the whole city. They are truly diverse, from old antiquity through socialism to modern times. Alternating styles are the main theme here.
To enter a completely different world I only have to cross the bridge to the other bank. Suddenly I find myself in the old city among typical narrow cobblestone streets and mosques. It’s much cozier, full of tea houses and restaurants. From the square below I can also see a giant metal cross on the nearby hill, with a view over the valley, which can be reached by cable car.
I don’t think there’s much to do in Skopje but I’d definitely recommend a visit for a day or so. At least it could work as a good base for trips to explore nearby nature sights.
