My most memorable city in the region.

Memorable mainly due to the surprising huge neoclassical buildings and monuments. They have nothing to do with the culture and history of this region. 😀

Skopje is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. 

Tourists spend time on both sides of the river, crossing the ancient pedestrian bridge.

Weirdly, there are wrecked ships in the river that anyone can explore.

Super dangerous, in my opinion.

Apparently they are fake concrete-and-steel imitation galleons built as tourist attractions — but are rapidly falling apart.

Macedonian Street is the mostly pedestrian area where visitors hang out. Shops, bars, restaurants, fast food, ice cream.

Huge Skopje Fortress looms over the river and old city. I enjoyed exploring that attraction — but it could be much improved.

Most impressive to me in this region are the Byzantine-style churches. I love the look.

As ornate as Trump’s toilet.

Of course there are many mosques, and many very historic mosques.

See more churches & mosques.

The Memorial House of Mother Teresa is located here in her home town.

All in all, I’d recommend Skopje.

I stayed at an entertaining hostel here. Mama and a litter of brand new kittens.

I signed up for a half day tour which would get me up to the giant crucifix. Sadly, the cable car has been out for months. BUT it did get me to a great day hike in nearby Matka Canyon.

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Pristina is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. 

I knew nothing about the city before arrival. My trip is exploratory.

Of the population of nearly 1.6 million, the vast majority are ethnic Albanians.

Kosovo is a developing country with significant economic growth over the last decade. It shows. They’ve applied to join the EU.

It’s NEW. The Newborn Monument was unveiled on 17 February 2008, the day that Kosovo formally declared its independence from Serbia.

“Newborn” was chosen as a single English word for the power to describe the birth of a new country, its positive connotations, ease of understanding by non-native English-speakers, and potential to present Kosovo as a new, contemporary, trendy country. 

The most interesting tourist attraction for me was the National Library of Kosovo. Though some call it “the ugliest building in the World”, I like anything different. Opened 1982.

Sadly, the exterior is already turning to rubble.

The impressive Cathedral of St. Mother Teresa (opened 2007) is still under construction. One surrounding superb park is already finished, but there’s still much more to do with the surroundings.

The main tourist pedestrian walk is called Mother Teressa Boulevard. The Albanian–Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary Saint Teresa of Calcutta is a legend here.

There’s a statue, of course.

Another statue nearby celebrates the life of Albanian hero Skanderbeg.

There are a number of large mosques, the most celebrated being Imperial Mosque. Built in 1461.

They love Bill Clinton here. He was key to the liberation, leading the 1999 NATO bombing campaign that stopped Serbian forces and ended the Kosovo War.

The future looks to be brighter for Kosovo.

Yet here in the capital city, there’s still a lot of trash. Abandoned vehicles and buildings.

I saw very few western tourists.

Those who do get to Pistrina will be pleasantly surprised.

I’d not heard of Podgorica — though it’s the capital and largest city of Montenegro. 

It’s only been an independent nation since 2006 when split with Serbia.

I had no idea what to expect.

Would it be littered with wrecks from the old Yugoslavia and war?

Surprisingly, I found Podgorica welcoming for a western tourist. Good hostel.

Shopping malls are modern. Near Independence Square is a pedestrian-friendly zone of boutiques and cafes. The vibe upbeat.

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is new. And very impressive.

The lower section reliefs are deliberately rough hewn — gradually increasing in resolution as you look higher.

I walked over the Millennium Bridge opened 2025.

Here’s the giant billboard greeting everyone getting off a bus.

Grocery stores are well stocked. Prices often 50% or less the cost of what tourists pay on the coast.

Good markets.

I stayed only 1 night — but quite enjoyed Podgorica.

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