Skopje, Macedonia

Skopje is one of the most entertaining and eclectic cities in Europe. It breaths with an interesting mix of ancient history with a modern vibe to it. It is quite unique and will make a strong imprint on any traveler. You don’t want to miss experiencing it!

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Shop

I always buy my yarn from Teteks’ shop which is in the center of the city and all other craft supplies from the shops at the Old Bazaar. There you can find small but well stocked shops with all kinds of craft supplies. Especially haberdashery.

There are many craft shows organized throughout the year at the Skopje Fair. There’s the MKC (Youth Center) which organizes exhibiting and selling craft events, craft bazaars organized by various organizers and the city of Skopje.

Be Inspired

Nature is an everlasting and unfaltering inspiration. I love getting out with my family and enjoy the change of seasons, so the nearest spot is the mountain Vodno and the Church of St. Pantelejmon (dating from 1164 A.D).

Going to the Millennium Cross by a cable car, sipping a cup of coffee at the bosom of Canyon Matka or strolling through the streets and alleys of the Old Bazaar. My family and I love (re)visiting historic places around Skopje, so I must mention the Aqueduct, the Fortress, The Feudal Tower, the Memorial House of Mother Teresa (Skopje being her birthplace), the city square, the Daut Pasha’s Amam, just to name a few.

Any of the aforementioned places would be great for a memorable and one of a kind photo shoot.

Eat & Drink

Macedonian food is a feast for even the choosiest of the palates. For breakfast I recommend you visit Mekicite od Straza where you can grab a traditional fried pastry called mekica with a glass of yoghurt or one of their pitas with spinach and cheese. Have lunch in the restaurant Pivnica An situated in the captivating atmosphere of the Kapan An, while you can spend the evening at the Lira restaurant (http://www.lyra.com.mk) where you can try one of Macedonian traditional dishes and enjoy in the fabulous atmosphere created by their live bands.

Many sweet-shops offer great cakes and cookies. My personal favourite is the sweets and ice cream shop, Eskimo – they absolutely have the best ice-cream in the country and you may want to tickle your palate with some of the cakes at the Oh la la’s (http://www.olala.mk).

My husband and I love going for drinks and great live music at the New Orleans café, or the Brewery (both located in the Old Bazaar).

Craft

The best place to sit and craft would be the City Park and there are also coffee shops at the Old Bazaar where people can sit, chat and craft together.

If you want to join a craft group check out MATA Craft (http://matacraft.org.mk) and the Trade Association.

See Something Special

To see something special, go to The Old Bazaar, which is the hub of trade and merchants as early as the 12th century, nowadays it represents an iconic heritage site for the city. It is a vivid representation of the country's past and its inheritance from the Ottoman empire. There are many authentic shops for jewelry and handcrafted products and it can be a paradise for collectors of original arts and products, so I often seek inspiration there.

Take Home A Souvenir

There are many souvenir shops strewn around the city center and the city square (not exclusively though) and at the City Malls (Ramstore, GTC and City Mall). Miniature versions of opinci, old type of leather footwear, is an interesting and eye-catching souvenir for tourists as well as pottery and kitchenware, clothing and jewelry depicting characteristic Macedonian motifs and colors.

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