Skopje, Macedonia 10 - 11 May

We were now entering unknown territory. I say unknown because we had never met or known anyone who had ever been to Macedonia or Albania. Save for some of my soldiers who had served during the Kosovo situation a few years back. So, basically, we were expecting a run down city still emerging from the rubble if you will. Bammm! Biggest surprise of the trip. This place is great, and going to be greater. We got off the bus not knowing which of the 3 bus stations we were at. So using Bens watch compass (highly highly encouraged, amazing how much easier it was to use maps in the new cities with a compass, much easier to get our bearings. But maybe you have to be army trained for it to help...). We saw the holiday inn in the distance so we headed for that. As we walked up a cab driver started hassling me about rides and hotels, and having gotten used to being hussled I wanted to brush him off. But, he was being very nice and suggesting a hotel to us, glad we listened. As we walked along the river to check out this hotel, we started to catch our surprise of how cool this city is. The "river walk" was trendy bar after trendy bar, with couches set up outside under bamboo umbrellas. Then we came out into the main square to see nice restaurants, more trend bars and clubs. Right at the end of the old bridge with the castle looking down from across the river.

Then we saw our hotel on the top floor of a building right on the square, it was brand new and very cheap. Here's the view from the balcony.

After checking in, we went to explore the city. Skopje is set up according to religion, Christians are on the south side and the Muslims are on the north side of the river. We didn't really sense any animosity between the two, but then again we weren't there that long. We headed across the river to climb up to the castle. Here are some photos of that.

Ben and Pappy at a hole in the wall, notice the mosque in the background.

We were having fun with the features on Ben's camera.

That night we went out for another very nice and very cheap dinner. Then headed for one of those trendy bars, starting with the Irish pub. Being it a Wednesday, we were expecting the same sort f treatment we got in Kiev and Odessa. And it started to look that way as we saw lots of people out, but they all seemed to be leaving the bars, and the club wasn't open yet. Then as it got closer to midnight, the bars stopped serving drinks and started closing. So disenchanted and confused, we made our way to the nearest club and became the 8th, 9th, and 10th entries. So, things looked bleak. But within 10 minutes everything changed. It seems that the bars close at midnight, and the clubs open at midnight. No overlapping like other cities, so everyone just moves. So the place became packed. Skopje also has some massive outdoor/indoor clubs in the park that are only open in the summer, but they are supposed to be great.

Overall, Skopje was very impressive and very beautiful as it is set right in the mountains. We got up early the next morning and boarded a bus for out last major destination, the resort town of Ohrid, Macedonia.