Tomorrow, we leave Skopje, Macedonia for Pristina, Kosovo. Macedonia was one of the six republics that made up the former Yugoslavia. In 1991, it held a referendum, and declared itself independent. The history of the land goes back at least eight millennia.
In 2010, the government launched “Skopje 2014” which produced many statues, monuments, buildings, bridges, facades, fountains, you name it. This effort to revamp the capital has resulted in a kitschy Vegas-esque feel for visitors, including Kenric and me. We were a little conflicted about some of the photos we posted these past few days.
New Buildings of Antiquity
During the “Colorful Revolution” (2016), Macedonians threw paint balls at the white buildings to protest the wastefulness and corruption. The initial budget of 80 million Euros with the completion year of 2014 had ballooned into 670 million Euros. Knowing this, we got even more turned off by these new buildings of antiquity. It made us appreciate what’s behind the facades even more, especially the Old Bazaar.
In May 2017, the new government announced its plan to halt Skopje 2014. We do see quite a few sites that are mid-construction and unattended. Hopefully, the people’s money will be spent on things that actually improve the people’s lives, and locals and visitors will get to enjoy Skopje’s historical charm and natural beauty again soon.
Skopje’s Historical Charm Has Not Been Lost
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