http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Macedonia , Skopje en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:05:44 +0000 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:05:44 +0000 Montenegro Bulgaria September 29th October 7th While in Kosovo we found out that due to boarder restrictions we could not leave Kosovo through Serbia if we entered in Montenegro. Just like that our plans changed and we were off to Skopje Macedonia instead of going directly to Bulgaria. It's a bit of a cliche but things really do happen for a reason. While in Skopje we stayed at the City Ho http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-442090.html Hicran Cigdem Yorgancioglu MECODONIA SKOPJE MAKEDONYA SKP OHR304D seyahatinden Gunluklerindensiirlerinden bir kac kesit Eser Sahibi H.304286DEM YORGANCIO286LU Bu gezi yaz305s305na dair 5846 say305l305 Fikir ve Sanat Eserleri Kanunursquondan do287an mali ve manevi haklar305n gerek sahibidir.All rights reserved Kabhi Alvida Elveda deme Rumelirsquoye http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-438251.html The Capital of Macedonia http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-432682.html According to the Macedonian Weekly News 330 earthquakes had occurred near the MacedoniaBulgarianGreek border only a few days prior to our arrival. Earthquakes are not a laughing matter in Macedonia a particularly bad one had flattened the capital in 1963. Luckily for us though according to experts these recent tremblings would not amount to a major quake. I told Michael we could put off buyi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-403976.html While the bus ride to Skopje was pretty uneventful my quest to find my hostel once I got there was anything but. Gah.One thing I seemed to have forgotten damn shortterm memory haha is that taking the bus typically results being dropped off in the middle of nowhere AKA not exactly in the bus station at your final destination. I had to take a stab at which stop I was supposed to get off http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-385026.html We had another slightly stressful trip on our way to Ohrid Macedonia. Thanks to another inaccurate Lonely Planet map we were unable to find the tourist agency in Tirana where we were supposed to buy our bus tickets. No one told us that you can just buy them on the bus We ran around looking for this place while also trying to exchange our money as Albanian Leke is virtually worthless outstide o http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-353599.html Here are some pics of Skopje. Haven't traversed every corner of it but I'm sure I will over the next two years. DOBRO http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-350328.html OK so long story short. Me two of my Peace Corps buddies went to the TAKSIRAT Festival in Skopje two nights ago. The Roots Marky Ramone Neville Staples from The Specials and Bernays Propaganda awesome local band all played.When we arrived we walked in the wrong way. One of the security guards saw us and assuming one of us was in a band ushered us backstage to The Roots' green room. P.S. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-350301.html Took the 730 am bus to Skopje from Ohrid the bus went through great sceneries autumn colours abound in the hills and velleys we passed throughaccording to LP this is the scenic route via Tetovo. hours into the trip we got pulled over by a cop the driver cursing under his breath. We finally made it to Skopje 3 12 hours later factoring in the morning traffic in the city. A kind taxi driver http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-337053.html The only possible reason there is no direct train from Sofia to Skopje can be to see who is man enough to take the bus. This was the most unrelaxing sixhour trip ever. Our coach wound its way high up the mountainside in the pouring rain along narrow unlit roads. Of course as it was through a border point there were plenty of trucks coming the other way causing our driver to lean ever closer to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-333009.html The village of Shopska. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-311628.html A few miscellaneous photos taken around Skopje to highlight some the idiosyncrasies and nuances which contribute to the make up of the city. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-311327.html Pictures of an archaeological excavation site taking place in the city of Bitola. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-309298.html Photos of a festival which was taking place in Krushevo. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-308260.html Thus far most of the photos Irsquove been including in this web journal have been of areas surrounding Skopje. Today I toured the Roma community located within the city of Skopje. The Roma community one the most disadvantaged groups in Skopje make up about 3 of the population. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-304449.html Photos of a festival in Galicnik. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-303140.html Much to my surprise getting out of Albania was rather troublefree. I managed to board the bus mildly conscious for a fiveinthemorning departure for Kore. Having arrived a few minutes early and aware that Albanians share the same concept of punctuality as the rest of their Mediterranean neighbors which is zero I darted off for an espresso only to be told to get right back on the bus imme http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-278123.html Well we actually had breakfast in this hostel but it was slightly uninspiring. Rob as usual made the most of it by having as much toast as a person can consume. It was too smokey to sit around in the kitchen for long so despite the snow outside we went to explore the city.The road into the centre was very flooded so we had to be careful whilst we walked. We took it in turns to avoid the rubbish an http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-220414.html Journey and First NightMet a Czech guy called Vladmir on the train and we travelled north of the border playing chess and drinking beer. Arriving in Skopje was an experience walked from the train station down a familiar road to Kisele Voda to where the hostel should be but couldn't find it in fact I walked past it 5 or 6 times without ever noticing it was thereThanks to Macedonian good will http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-214573.html Hello bloggersSince we last blogged we have travelled down the Turkish west coast through the Greek Islands and now up to Macendonia.From Troy where the last chapter ended we continued south along the Turkish Mediterranean coast to Bodrim via Bergama and Selchuk. Bergama was inland somewhat and the site of a huge Roman archeological site complete with amphitheatres arches aquaducts and temples http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Macedonia/Skopje/blog-202178.html