I stands for ice, ice stands for Iceland. I will share more about this magnificent country in next posts. Here just a few photos from the ice cave, I visited. Though, just want to add that it really is difficult to stay for some time and take photos in -15C. Even thought, Iceland is worming you up inside!
I could not dreamed of a better day in Budva that luckily I experienced. Everything was just perfect…the weather, atmosphere and off-season time, I have always cherished. But to be honest, mostly it was down to a great walking route I did that day. So if it happens that you will pop in to Budva, I would highly recommend to fallow that path too.
Budva is a town located on the Adriatic Sea cost of Montenegro. The country name perfectly describes the landscape of this magnificent Balkans area. Once you will cross the border, the stunning mountain range will surround you, no matter on location you will visit. I have to say that it is kind of a perfect environment for me to be, as of my love for high hills conjured with waters like lakes, rivers and endless sea. And all that stunning land came with one of the friendliest and nicest nation ever.
Before starting, I would like to recommend visiting also a Kotor, another coast town just 30 minutes to the north way from Budva. I am afraid, I didn’t get a chance to see it, as of my busy schedule, but every possible backpacker, I have met (along with all locals), agreed that it is a must see place too!
So coming back to my perfect day, the start wasn’t the easiest, as we came back late from night out. It was cool, as Budva is a perfect place for good long night out, but the next day headache wasn’t the best thing to start my day with. Despite that, I looked on the map of surrounded area, and I quickly made my mind on activity, I was going to do.
This time I decided to have a long walk by the cost up to the stunning place called Sveti Stefan. It is a 22 kilometers in total, so if you are not keen on long walk, you can hire a bike or take a bus. Please note that with the last option, you will not see the beautiful beaches on your way there. My other thought is also to stay till sunset, as it is truly magic moment to watch, then after take a bus back to Budva. I knew that we will go there again by car with other people from hostel, so I didn’t have to stay till late.
The whole way is easy and very straight forward, located right by the cost line. You will just have to head south and fallow the path. On your way you will see loads of beautiful places to stop, eat or drink. Every beach will be a bit different, either because of a shelf density and shape, flora full of different kind of trees or just the rocks placed around. You will past trough 2 tunnels too on your way and a national park where you can wander around and get on a cliff. The whole walk (with no stops) should take you around 2 h each way, but please note that you really need to put a sun protection, as you will be facing the sunlight trough the whole way.
As mentioning at the beginning, the sunset over Sveti Stefan is something you just have to whiteness. I would recommend going up to the parking lot of the motorway above for the best view of it. There is also a restaurant where you can sit, eat or drink during that spectacular time. Once the sun will disappear in to the sea, you can either walk back, but not recommended in the dark, or you can take a bus from the stop located not far from there. I haven’t used it, so I can’t tell you the price for the ticket, but I really doubt it’s more than 2 Euro. So, not writing to many useless thoughts at the end, that was my peaceful journey, I wanted to share.
The beauty, natural forms, waters and lightening will definitely impress every visitor of the Prometheus Cave. More! It will stun you with a natural wonders of a breathtaking examples of stalactites, stalagmites, petrified waterfalls, cave pearls, underground rivers and lakes. Thought, “Prometheus”, as a given name, got as much to do with the geek mythology as a healthy leaving with McDonalds, it does not matter. I would even call it as a kings cave, paradise cave, darkest heaven cave…you name it. All well deserved to get an attention from anyone visiting west area of Georgia, or even further places, to come and see. The cave can be easily explored from Kutaisi, the second biggest city and former capital of Georgia, as well as from other places, like Tbilisi. Discovered only in 1984, as a baby, became as one of the most important sights while in Georgia.
To get in: Bus/train from Tbilisi to Kutaisi. Buses (marshrutkas) leave from Dibude station every 20 mins and cost 10GEL (less than 1$). In Kutaisi you will arrive at the south (same for the train and marshrutka) from where you can take a bus number 1 to the city center for 1GEL (paid to the driver when getting in or off). From Kutaisi center take a minibus N30 from Red Bridge area to Tskaltubo (წყალტუბო). At Tskaltubo bus terminal/market take a taxi to the cave. Taxi from Kutaisi (two ways) will cost around 30-40 GEL (around 15$) and the driver will wait for you. I did it, very affordable!
Ticket costs 20GEL for entrance and 15GEL for boat ride, (for foreigners) with a guide, even if you will go alone, like I did. Guide is available in few languages (Georgian, English, Russian). IMPORTANT! I have read that for safety reason children under 7 are not allowed.
Opening hours: Everyday from 10.00-18.00. Closed on Monday
Some numbers:
Around an hour to walk trough an around 10 minutes for a boat ride
Anything, up and running, is acceptable on roads in Georgia. I am not going to write about the economy situation, laws or safety of my latest destination. Though, I might just want to say that I have a new favorite country in Europe. Now here, stunned and surprised by differences compared to the western driving reality, just wanted to share a few photos of Georgian fast and furious.
Mulled wine, food stands, a personal horseshoe, made by a real blacksmith, and gifts are only a few examples you can find at Christmas market in one of the Polish cities, Wrocław. December truly transform, though already magnificent, main square in a very mystical place with an extra hint of a magic, in a place not only kids would enjoy. There is no grumpy look at any face. People loves it, enjoy it, taking part in. Great for family, group of friends, tourists, seniors, everyone. There is a different treat for anyone and the same for us all…the magic Christmas spirit.
Food. Many stands offer an amazing and very tasty traditional Polish delicacies as szaszlyk, (pork, beef or chicken knuckle), bigos (finely chopped meat of various kinds stewed with sauerkraut and shredded fresh cabbage), home-made bread, Saint Martin’s croissants, szare kluchy (potato dumplings), potatoes with herring, pierogis (dumplings with all kind of fillings), gołąbki (cabbage rolls with rice and mince meat) and kwaśnica (sauerkraut soup from the highlands…not my fav;).
Apart from Polish food, you can enjoy Hungarian lángos with filling and cold meats: spicy smoked pepper sausages or traditional kolozsvári bacon. Lovely Spanish sweet option as churros. Balkans brought an amazing borek (pastry with different fillings, mmm I loved it when I was in Serbia).
Finishing at Alsatian pancakes known as flammkuchen and Turkish baklava.
For kids. Apart from many stands with all kind of sweets, youngsters can watch some animatronic characters behind glass convey fairy tale plays like The Little Red Riding Hood, The Brave Little Tailor, The Snow White or Pinocchio.
Children can also join one of the workshops to learn how to paint, and then practice it, their own baubles. This activity can be found next to the Christmas Windmill. On another corner, next to the Dwarf House, children can meet Santa at parking space of his sleigh with reindeer.
“Nooooo!” That is the word expected to hear when teacher announces upcoming visit to the museum in a class. Not surprisingly, we all know how difficult is to get an attention of a young mind, the curious mind that needs an extra shot of imagination to hold too, to keep the focus. Proud to admit that my city, Wrocław, managed to achieve that. Hydropolis, in the simplest explanation the museum of water, attracts thousands of visitors from every group of age, especially youngsters. The light, interactive places and modern computer projections became as a top match in the way the knowledge about the purest, simplest and most important substance on the planet Earth, WATER, can be presented.
Now as a must see attraction while visiting Wrocław, city in Poland, just can not be missed, especially by family. Easily accessible, as close to the city center (address: Na Grobli 19, Wroclaw 50-421, Poland), with a very affordable ticket prices: 18 zł (5$) concessionary ticket, 27 zł (7.5$) regular ticket, 72 zł (20$) family ticket (2+2).
By public transport: buses: 145, 146, N; trams: lines – OL, 3 ,5.
Don`t skip it!
Fact that I visited nine countries during my backpacking trip trough stunning Balkans definitely do allow me to make up my mine on the most magnificent one. Though, clearly when it comes to judgments like that, we are all aware about strong subjective side of it. Going even further, I wanted to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina for a very long time, especially because I wrote one chapter in my master thesis about the war there. Starting my journey just from knowledge of the spilled blood and history, though, still young and fresh, I went trough creation of an image in my head from all kind of sources as documentaries, photos, information, to finally finish seeing, visiting, discovering, meeting people and just simply feel this country myself. I knew before planning my trip that it is going to be my favorite country in Europe. And yet again(!), I wasn’t mistaken. Same like with Bolivia and Nepal…I just felt the chemistry before even visiting. Perhaps difficult to explain, or probably my senses are already directed towards one side and my mind sabotaging my opinion, since I am making one in advance. More or less, here we are in Bosnia and Herzegovina…..the most amazing, at least for me, country in Europe with warm people, absolutely stunning and unique rivers, diverse architecture, rich culture and beautiful mountain range all around. Spearing to write more and just adding my recommendation to visiting this absolutely unique place, I just want to share some photos I took.
We all, as backpackers, know way to well what daily budget means to us, and how essential is to stuck to it! We have to fallow the plan on accommodation prices, food, transport and other pleasures. I can not say that you will find the cheapest hostels and, especially, hotels in Wrocław, city in Poland, but when it comes to meals…luckily we do offer few very good and very affordable restaurants. You can have a breakfast there from 2-3$ with a coffee, a soup for 2.5$ and a lunch/dinner starting at as little as 4$. And do not think it compares the quality of the food, because it really doesn’t. Food is home-made, traditional and simply delicious!! These restaurants are also very popular among students, that usually have a limited budged themselves. The only minus, I am afraid, is that the staff do not speak almost any English and that might be hard for travellers, but there is always someone around to help. Once you will master the task of getting an order, you just wont be disappointed. Here, I will write about top ten best and cheapest restaurants and some milk bars, as we call them, you can find in the city center in Wroclaw.
Definitely my number one and all time favourite. I always dine there when possible and when in the city center area, and not because is very cheap there. Students favourite too and well popular in general in Wroclaw, offering anything from breakfast, lunch and dinner at lowest possible price with and old school vibe present all around. And, most importantly, all is well made and taste very good. Location is just perfect, right next to the University of Wroclaw and very close to the main square and town hall. Please trust me and pop in for a lunch! The only minus is that some dishes, like pierogi, go fast and after 14.00 it`s difficult to order them. Opening hours also may be a problem for travellers who like to eat late, otherwise nothing is stopping you!
Address: ul. Kuźnicza 48, Wrocław
Opening hours: Mon–Fr: 8.00–18.00, Sat: 8.00–17.00
Examples of dishes and prices (English/Polish)
Broth: 6.50 PLN / 1.60 USD
Tomato soup: 7.20 PLN / 1.80 USD
Cabbage soup: 8.40 PLN / 2.10 USD
Pea soup: 10.20 PLN / 2.55 USD
Sour rye soup with sausage and egg: 10.20 PLN / 2.55 USD
Tripe: 10.20 PLN / 2.55 USD
Minced steak: 9.80 PLN / 2.45 USD
Meatballs in cream sauce: 12.70 PLN / 3.20 USD
Chicken breast in bread crumbs: 12.70 PLN / 3.20 USD
Pork goulash: 12.80 PLN / 3.25 USD
Cutlet de volaille: 13.40 PLN / 3.40 USD
Chicken nuggets: 13.40 PLN / 3.40 USD
Pork neck in sauce: 13.40 PLN / 3.40 USD
Pork pocket with mushrooms: 14.00 PLN / 3.55 USD
Pork chop XL: 18.20 PLN / 4.60 USD
Beef tartare with additions: 21.10 PLN / 5.35 USD
Hungarian meat cake: 26.20 PLN / 6.65 USD
Miruna fish (per 100g): 10.20 PLN / 2.55 USD
Pancakes with cheese: 12.40 PLN / 3.15 USD
Russian dumplings: 13.10 PLN / 3.35 USD
Dumplings with spinach: 15.30 PLN / 3.90 USD
Dumplings with cabbage and mushrooms: 14.60 PLN / 3.70 USD
Dumplings with meat: 15.80 PLN / 4.05 USD
Spaghetti Bolognese: 23.40 PLN / 5.95 USD
Pasta with chicken: 23.40 PLN / 5.95 USD
Pasta with salmon: 26.20 PLN / 6.65 USD
Scrambled eggs with butter: 3.36 PLN / 0.85 USD
Yellow cheese: 2.66 PLN / 0.67 USD
Bread roll: 1.63 PLN / 0.41 USD
Butter: 1.07 PLN / 0.27 USD
Jam: 0.80 PLN / 0.20 USD
Cottage cheese with cream and chives: 5.18 PLN / 1.31 USD
Boiled egg: 1.18 PLN / 0.30 USD
Compote: 0.89 PLN / 0.23 USD
The total cost of a breakfast set ranges from approximately 9.52 PLN to 9.95 PLN, which is about 2.41 USD to 2.52 USD. Let me know if you’d like me to update prices for another restaurant or dish!
Tu dla moich polskich braci moj ulubiony fragmet z Misia:
“Jedziecie do stolicy kraju kapitalistycznego, ktory to kraj ma byc moze tam i swoje plusy. Rozchodzi sie o to jednak zeby te plusy……nie przyslonily wam minusow”.
Just opened recently, so does recently became one of my favourite. Highly recommended for tourists, students and “grandma`s kitchen” lovers”. You can find here pierogi, mash potatoes with meat, loads of salads, krokets and recently pizza. Its very close to the city center (main square). You just must to pop in!!!
Main Location (Kazimierza Wielkiego 17):
Monday to Friday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
Railway Station Location (ul. Piłsudskiego 105):
Monday to Saturday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Scrambled eggs with butter: 4.20 PLN / 1.05 USD
Bread roll with cheese: 3.50 PLN / 0.88 USD
Cottage cheese with chives: 5.80 PLN / 1.45 USD
Boiled egg: 1.50 PLN / 0.38 USD
Jam: 1.20 PLN / 0.30 USD
Compote: 1.00 PLN / 0.25 USD
Another milk bar very similar to Miś Milk Bar. Also in the city center area, just a bit further north. Prices and menu are very similar to Miś, so you can have a tasty, homemade, delicious meal at a very affordable price again. The big plus is that this place seems less busy than Miś, but also popular. Pierogi are served from 13.00 and are the most popular dish, so you need to pop in earlier to have a chance to get them.
Address: ul. Drobnera 4, Wrocław
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Examples of dishes and prices (English/Polish)
Scrambled eggs with butter: 3.43 PLN / 0.85 USD
Cottage cheese with chives: 3.68 PLN / 0.91 USD
Bread roll: 1.43 PLN / 0.35 USD
Butter: 0.61 PLN / 0.15 USD
Jam: 0.80 PLN / 0.20 USD
Cocoa with milk: 2.35 PLN / 0.58 USD
Traditional Polish dumplings (6 pieces): 9.50 PLN / 2.38 USD
Soup of the day: 6.50 PLN / 1.63 USD
Pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms: 10.00 PLN / 2.50 USD
Pierogi with meat: 10.80 PLN / 2.70 USD
Hungarian meat cake: 18.00 PLN / 4.50 USD
Compote: 4.00 PLN / 1.00 USD
Address: ul. Legnicka 23, Wrocław
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Scrambled eggs with butter: 4.50 PLN / 1.13 USD
Cottage cheese with chives: 5.80 PLN / 1.45 USD
Bread roll: 2.00 PLN / 0.50 USD
Butter: 1.20 PLN / 0.30 USD
Jam: 1.50 PLN / 0.38 USD
Compote: 1.00 PLN / 0.25 USD
Russian dumplings: 12.50 PLN / 3.13 USD
Meat dumplings: 14.50 PLN / 3.63 USD
Dumplings with spinach: 15.50 PLN / 3.88 USD
Hungarian meat cake with goulash: 26.00 PLN / 6.50 USD
Goulash with potatoes and salad: 18.90 PLN / 4.73 USD
Sweet pancakes: 10.00 PLN / 2.50 USD
This bar offers a great traditional range of our old school PRL toasts – a typical Polish fast food during the communism time. It has been opened in 1979 and still serve one of the best and very cheesy toasts with mushrooms. Portions are very big and very filling.
Address: ul. Wita Stwosza 40/1a, Wrocław
Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
Traditional toast with cheese and mushrooms: 9.50 PLN / 2.38 USD
Village-style toast with mushrooms, cheese, sausage, and onion: 11.20 PLN / 2.80 USD
Greek toast with olives: 11.40 PLN / 2.85 USD
Open-faced toasted cheese sandwich with mushrooms: 8.50 PLN / 2.13 USD
Zapiekanka (Polish-style baguette pizza): 12.00 PLN / 3.00 USD
Mega Zapiekanka with double toppings: 15.00 PLN / 3.75 USD
Pepperoni toast: 10.50 PLN / 2.63 USD
Ham and cheese toastie: 9.80 PLN / 2.45 USD
Another amazing milk bar near the city center. This one is open a bit longer. You can find loads of tourists here, as its very close to the main train and bus station. Food is homemade and very traditional, however a bit more expensive than other milk bars like Miś or Mewa.
Address: ul. Kołłątaja 27/28, Wrocław
Monday to Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Examples of dishes and prices (English/Polish)
Scrambled eggs with butter: 4.00 PLN / 1.00 USD
Cottage cheese with chives: 5.50 PLN / 1.38 USD
Bread roll: 2.00 PLN / 0.50 USD
Butter: 1.20 PLN / 0.30 USD
Jam: 1.50 PLN / 0.38 USD
Compote: 1.00 PLN / 0.25 USD
There is no way I will not think about Lepione (old Bazylia restaurant) without remembering my time at university. This buffet style restaurant is located inside one of the law department buildings, where I studied. I can’t say the food is top mach, but I love the fact that its cheap, you can fill your plate with everything you like, and you pay the same price of 0.90$ (1.20 zł) per 100g. I used to eat there after my lectures, exams, alone, with friends or family. The other thing about this place is location and surrounded stunning architecture you can enjoy while eating.
Address: ul. Kuźnicza 42, Wrocław
Opening hours: everyday: 12.00–23.00
Examples of dishes and prices (English/Polish)
This is a buffet style restaurant where you add to the plate anything you like and pay for 100g. You will find there anything from traditional dumplings, salads, fish, chicken, goulash to Chinese chicken with bamboo. Price is 5 zł, that’s 1.33$, for 100g.
Promotions
Discounts after 5:00 PM, with prices dropping by 15%, 25%, or even 50% depending on the time.
This amazing bar is located in one of the biggest indoor markets in Wroclaw, called Hala Targowa, so after a very tasty traditional, homemade meal you can have a look around.
Address: ul. Piaskowa 17, Wrocław
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
Examples of dishes and prices (English/Polish)
Scrambled eggs with butter: 4.50 PLN / 1.13 USD
Cottage cheese with chives: 5.80 PLN / 1.45 USD
Bread roll: 2.00 PLN / 0.50 USD
Butter: 1.20 PLN / 0.30 USD
Jam: 1.50 PLN / 0.38 USD
Compote: 1.00 PLN / 0.25 USD
Soup of the day: 13.00 PLN / 3.25 USD
Tomato soup: 13.00 PLN / 3.25 USD
Sour rye soup: 13.50 PLN / 3.38 USD
Meat dumplings (8 pieces): 24.00 PLN / 6.00 USD
Russian dumplings (8 pieces): 21.00 PLN / 5.25 USD
Pork chop with potatoes and salad: 35.50 PLN / 8.88 USD
Hungarian meat cake: 35.00 PLN / 8.75 USD
Różowa Krowa Bar Mleczny is located at Świdnicka 36, Wrocław. Here are the opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Everyone of us, or at least most, do some itinerary before traveling. Its is always a significant question on the length of stay in each place, especially for a first-time visitors. Capitals, as usually the biggest cites in the country, are no estrange to that doubt. Many of them in Europe vary from Barcelona, where you can stay for weeks, to smaller ones, where you can discover the place in just even less than few days, and feel satisfy. Good internet research always help to plan your trip better. And here I come with my blog post to answer that questions about one capital in Europe.
So where are we this time? Sophia, a capital of Bulgaria, a magnificent, and massively underrated (!), country, with stunning mountain range Vitosha, that is a volcanic mountain massif on the outskirts of the capital, visible literally all around from the city. Vitosha is one of the symbols of this city and the closest site for hiking and skiing. However, when it comes to Sofia, and as much as I loved Bulgaria myself, I can not say that capital itself offers a lot. One day is all you need to discover the place. I would even suggest going to see Rila Monastery in the morning and do the sight-seen after. All could be done in one day. Most of the major attractions are very close by, almost all located on one street. If you are staying in the city center area, you can start your tour from Ancient Complex Serdica, site situated just above the Serdika metro station, that displays the remains of the Roman city.
There is also a History Museum to see. Just 2 mins away you can see a Rotonda st. George, The Church of St George is an Early Christian red brick rotunda that is considered the oldest building in Sofia.
Now heading forward on pl. Knyaz Aleksandar, you can visit Ethnographic Museum (showcasing folk costumes & regional art & artifacts) and Russian Church. A bit further, on a left hand side, you can visit a stunning Alexander Nevski Cathedral. Built in Neo-Byzantine style serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria, and it is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of the symbols of the Sofia and a primary tourist attraction. Heading more towards Crystal Palace, you can see on the way a building of a National Assembly.
Close by National Stadium, called Vasil Levski, could be an a attraction too, but to be honest, can be skipped. At the end I would suggest adding a National Palace of Culture, but its located a bit far away. However, can be easily reached by trolley line 1,2,5,8 and 9 just from the Crystal Palace.
This is a main itinerary for Sophia city center. Please keep in your mind that Rila Monastery is a must see place too, so if you want to spend one day around capital, please do add an extra day to see this stunning monastery hidden in a mountains.
The stream of thoughts can probably come to loads of first time “Skopje arrivers”. I guess I was one of them. This small-sized capital of Macedonia creates an easy and quick access to the city center, so the surrounding architecture can be noticed right away. You may be experiencing thinking that you haven’t seen quiet a capital like this before. What history did not leave, you can always bring back, or can you really? The design of, so called, project Skopje 2014 completely transformed the way city center looks like today. There are loads of stories, loads of reasons behind this “clearly original” change. Big budget got involved too. And there is that sour question at the end: who is this really for? Tourists, as in the first place? It’s not a secret that it is one of the fastest growing industry. How about the locals? How do they find them self around? Maybe a show off, or the way to stand out to bust the tourism. You really have to get to the bottom of all this. The path trough, almost baroque kitsch like drooping richness in a country with not so great economy, may leave you with loads of questions.
This, once plain, maze of Europe became a place for many neo-classic buildings and bridges along the river. Perhaps too white and too clean structures may turn out way too difficult to help you to get the vibe of past-time travel. Yet, you can’t really say they are not impressive. Shall we be grateful Macedonia is showing us how newly done acropolis possibly looked like for Greeks back in the days? Perhaps. Could be a plus. It can be left only for an individual opinion. But the feeling of fakery is still a bit present. The project has two main aims: to draw in more tourists and to try to reclaim aspects of the country’s history from neighborhood Greece, appealing to the patriotism of many ethnic Macedonians. Walking by the rich bronze statues full of bridges definitely wont make your head to turn away. You gladly will take your camera to photograph the things around. You will see, you will capture and then you will start to think. How? I do not see any problem investing in tourism. I do adore Moroccan king for doing so. And so do Moroccans, as I spoke with many of them. Yet, the King do it differently. He want to keep the culture present, but just making the country more accessible, safe and inviting. But here we have a bit different situation.
We are discussing a country where 21.5% of the population live below poverty line with minimal wage at 231 Euros. Macedonia is also very vulnerable to economic developments in Europe, with a strong banking and trade ties and dependent on regional integration and progress toward EU membership for continued economic growth. And yet, on another hand we have a government spending loads of public founds. It been known that cost lay somewhere between €200-€500m (depending on who you talk to) and may have resulted in drop in minimal wage. Than we have a beautiful new buildings and statues. Quiet two opposite situations that divided the nations. The project, known as Skopje 2014, instigated by prime minister Nikola Gruevski, is just as questionable and arguably as diverse as it was when first announced.
Many Macedonians are questioning the scheme’s vast public expense – not to mention its aesthetic qualities. We have also this sticky problem of complete ignorance towards a very large Muslim community, religion and culture that, sadly, did not get to participate in the project. I visited Skopje in March 2017. Being around city center area for few days, I witness anti-government demonstrations on a daily base. Thought, peaceful, yet shouting for attention a lot. But there’s no doubting it has put the city on the tourist map.
Foreign visitors used to come to Skopje primarily to wander around the beautiful Old Bazaar district, with its alleys, mosques and old hilltop fort. But now they can go in less than five minutes from drinking a Turkish coffee among people and architecture that wouldn’t be out-of-place in a traditional city of the Middle East, to being surrounded by faux-classical European architecture and imagery. Maybe not a bad thing. Diversity. Something for us.
So where this all bring us, tourist, the recipients of the project? I hope very close to Skopje. You have to remember that it is one of the most amazing countries in Europe, with magnificent landscape, mountain ranges, canyons (Matka Canyon) and lakes. All that comes at a very affordable price. Public transport is good and very cheap. People are very friendly and possible to interact to in English. Food is absolutely a heaven with a kebab to die for! So yes! Whether the project of 2014 worked or not, we will have to leave it for individual opinion. I think even for the one who are not so keen on it, Macedonia will not be disappointing in any single way. I absolutely loved my time in this Balkan country. I’ve met loads of warm people, and I saw a beauty of the landscape. I am satisfy, happy and richer than the newly build Skopje surrounded architecture.
Solo female traveller 
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