I wake up as late as I can for breakfast then head to eat as much as I can before it shuts. I’ve had the best night sleep, firmest beds yet. Breakfast is a buffet so there is sausage, Albanian pancakes, cake, cheese, charcuterie, tomates, cucumber, bread and a lot of fruit. There is of course eggs which I can’t eat and cereal with full fat milk, also a no. Still there is plenty of choice. There is a coffee machine and I’m really excited when the guy thinks it’s powder only to come back saying it’s milk. Gutted, thought I was finally getting a real coffee. I am offered alternative but only soy so I pass. I graze more than eat but I eat a lot and take some fruit with me for the next ... read more

I lie in today. I don’t sleep in because the hostel is noisy and about 930 they start hoovering and it goes on for a long time. Around 11 I get up, have a cold shower on my sunburn and head downstairs. There are a surprising number of people around. Emma from Australia and Essen from Finland are about to head for food so I join them. They want a view so I take them to where we were yesterday. We drink a few coffees and have a bagel and bacon. When I ask for mine without eggs he says they can do it but I won’t like it, weirdest response I’ve heard but at least it wasn’t a no. We sit chatting and eating for a while then we head for a wander around some ... read more

I head out before work and have another go at getting fruit. I find the old bazaar and buy two oranges, two nectarines and some cherries. Back at the hostel I make an instant coffee and eat my cherries and work from the hostel room for the morning. The cherries are amazing again and I get a task done quite easily and the morning passes quickly. At lunch I change location heading back towards Macedonia Square to the bar we were at the night before. They recommend a flatbread which is okay but nothing special but I work and drink two cokes while getting my calls done. I catch up with Kerry and then around half six I head to the fortress. On my way I pass the corn seller from last night and give him ... read more

I have plans around going to a bear sanctuary and a Serbian monastery but when morning comes around I opt for a lie in then I slowly pack my bags taking a very chilled start to the day. Once I’m ready I head to the bus station and as I’m looking for the bus I trip again. This time my leggings are split and my knee is cut. A woman tries to forcibly pull me to my feet but I have to stop her because I need a minute. She is trying to help but yesterday’s ankle is sore and I take a second to catch my breath before helping myself up. I find the Skopje bus and put my big bag under checking it is the right one and doesn’t leave until half 11. The ... read more

I am up by 8. It is another sunken bed so my back is really starting to hurt. I have been attacked in the night by something bitey so I have a shower which is really hot and helps the bites. I am out and heading into town by 9. It is around a 20 minute walk into the centre of the city and it is already really hot. I find the newborn monument which is the letters NEWBORN, built to commemorate Kosovo's independence as Europe's newest country. Except they are in the wrong order, they now spell NONEWBR and the B and R have Broken Republic on them. I have to google and it seems that as a political statement in the 15th year of Independence and with pressure growing to form a new alliance ... read more