Skopje: A mix between the old and the new

Skopje is the capital of Macedonia. Alexander The Great is the airport and he the first thing that the tourist can see when they arrive here by plane.

This country, even though a bit unknown, is really interesting. Skopje is a mix between the old and the new.

Around Vardar River

Skopje is located on the upper course of the Vardar River. Around the river, people spend their time running and enjoying the sun when summer arrives. Now, it is impossible to imagine high temperatures. It is cold and snowing sometimes, but it is really beautiful also, to see the landscapes in winter. In fact, on the top of the Mount Vodno, there is the biggest cross in the world. That is what the people say. The cross is is 66 metres tall. It was built to celebrate the 2000th anniversary of the birth Christ. You can also find out how Muslims practice their religion. They are a big part of the population. Skopje has a population about 600.000 inhabitants.

The Kament Most is really beautiful. Around this bridge, you can see big statues; most of which were built recently, by the Project “Skopje 2014”. The main square shows the monument of Alexander The Great. His father, Filipo II, is in front of him.

Old bazaar

The old bazaar is the most popular neighborhood of Skopje. It is possible to enjoy the day and the night in this district. There are bars to drink, and places to eat typical food, too. ‘La Caña’ is one of these places. It is a Spanish women´s bar. Not many Spaniards live in Macedonia, but, in general, the Macedonians love this country as well as the Spanish language.

Macedonian people spend most of their time enjoying life. This practice was interrupted fifty years ago, in 1963, when Skopje was hit by a disastrous earthquake. Around one thousand people died. The clock of the old train station shows the hour of this disaster: 5:17 am.

Kale Fortress protects inhabitants of Skopje. Here, the tourist can see good views of the city. It is a good way to say “See you soon”, never good bye, capital of Macedonia.

Rosario López