Aaaaaand π₯π₯π₯ we BACK!
I was thinking about where to take you guys next, and this seemed like the most logical step. // ha! step... get it? because...because I'm walking.... shut up
Vardar is Macedonia's (and Greece's) longest river. It cuts straight through the capital, Skopje, giving many wonderful views to passersby.
Last week I took you on a stroll through The Old Bazaar, and the area we're gonna walk through today directly links to one of the many exits from Π§Π°ΡΡΠΈΡΠ°. Specifically linking the old city with the city center and many government buildings. π
π© NORTH SIDE π©
Going through the Old Bazaar you reach a little square. It's filled with stands selling anything and everything. π But it is also home to a couple of churches, a theatre, and a museum dedicated to the Holocaust.
Going through this square we reach the stone bridge, one of the most important landmarks in Skopje. But we will no go on it just yet, we'll circle back, don't worry. ππππ
We will instead head East, and the many government building that path entails. *// does that sentence make sense? We're rolling with
π© EAST SIDE π©
The East side is rarely visited by tourists. It is comprised of ministries, other institutions, and the National Theatre. We'll be taking the back way on this one. Oh my... π¨π
The mad lads that comprise our government actually thought at one point that making a public beach would be a good idea. π It would be, if not for the fact that the sewage system, along with every other dumping system in the city and nearby, goes into the river Vardar and pollutes it.
From this point, we keep going East until we reach the metal bridge.
We go across the bridge to reach the South Side. The bridge itself is carved with Macedonian history, from ancient times to the migration of the Slavs. Unfortunately, it was recently the target of a mass protest over here, so it's currently damaged.
π© SOUTH SIDE π©
We are now entering a more commercial area. Heavily trafficked and spotted with the oldest mall in the city and a bunch of cafes. Chief of which is the Irish Pub.
Throughout the river, there are many pathways that go down to the riverbank.
As well as other smaller bridges in between the Stone Bridge and Metal Bridge.
And 'boats' which are just fancy cafes on the water. π
We are almost to the main town square, Square Macedonia. This entire South Side is just cafe after cafe with the occasional niche club mixed in.
And we are there. Where? HereβοΈ
π© SQUARE MACEDONIA π©
The square has gone through the most renovation and reimagining projects in the city. Changed its style and shape many times throughout the decades. This current one, however, will probably stick for some time.
At its center is the most massive statue in Skopje - Alexandar the Great.
The square connects to the Stone Bridge which will lead us back to the North side.
The significance of the Stone Bridge comes from its longevity. It has been here since... the 16th century? Something crazy like that. It has been restored many times through the centuries, but its significance has remained potent. π Its main landmark is the place where a famous Macedonian revolutionary - Karposh was hanged by the Ottoman Turks.
It's separated to show respect for a great man that sacrificed himself for the Macedonian people. And then vandalized with meaningless tags. π Oh well...
And that's it we're back on the other side where we started. I hope you guys had as much fun reading as I had walked. π
Not sure where we'll go next week, but I reckon I'll find something interesting.
Obligatory shout-out to the πPIZZAπ gang, π€ gang. π€
All pictures were taken by me using an iPhone 11.
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Thanks for reading and I hope you guys have a great rest of your week. π