Skopje

Ah Macedonia... but which one? The Macedonia of which Skopje is capital is formally known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, not to be confused with the region of Macedonia in Greece, of which Thessaloniki (our next stop) is the main city. A simple distinction, but a vital one if you want to gain kudos with people from either place.

Where I grew up in Western Australia is known for its Mediterranean climate, and in Macedonia, the weather reminds me of home - cool wet winters perfect for curling up in front of the fire with a book. The weather clears and we set off to explore the city and surrounds. In comparison to Budapest, Belgrade and Pristina, Skopje is old - it was founded in the 3rd Century BC, and as well as being distincly Macedonian, has many Greek and Turkish influences (see photo above) which can be seen and tasted around the city.

At the national museum (Museum of Macedonia), there's pottery, jewelery and stone work covering Stone, Bronze and Iron Age periods - not that exciting. What really interests me is the collection of Christian relics dating from the 1st through 16th centuries, which may suprise those of you who know I'm not even slightly Christian. I find it fascinating to see the depth of devotion to God evident in artworks, carvings and engravings. No matter what field they are in, I find passionate people inspiring, and the pieces on display demonstrate the passion and love these artisans put into their work.

In a certain way, Skopje reminds me of London - everywhere you turn, there is a historical monument which dates back thousands of years, while in the foreground, daily life goes on as it always has. As I look back on thousands of years of human habitation, its difficult not to feel humbled, and honestly I think that's a good thing...