Day 6 SKOPJE [Macedonia] OHRID [Macedonia] Part One

DAY 6 SKOPJE [Macedonia] OHRID [Macedonia] (B/L/D)

After breakfast in our hotel (Hotel Continental in Skopje, Macedonia) we are going on a sightseeing tour of the city of Skopjie. 

 Lots of cheeses and cold cuts for breakfast!!! 

 His!

 Mine!

 Daily ritual...after breakfast, cart all our luggage into the bus!!!

 Our co-driver!

 Here we go!

Hehehe!!

First, we passed this beautitful structure and we are travelling towards  the Fortress.

The Skopje Fortress, commonly referred to as Kale Fortress, or simply Kale (from kale, the Turkish word for 'fortress'), is a historic fortress located in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia. It is situated on the highest point in the city overlooking the Vardar River. The fortress is depicted on the coat of arms of Skopje, which in turn is incorporated in the city's flag.

The first fortress, according to research and available data,

 is believed to have been built amidst the 6th century A.D.,

 on land that had been inhabited during the Neolithic and 

Bronze ages or roughly 4000 B.C. It was constructed with 

yellow limestone and travertine and along with fragments 

of Latin inscriptions, asserts the idea that the fortress

 originated from the Roman city of Skupi, which was 

completely destroyed by an earthquake in 518.

After a tiring part of our morning on the fortress, we head towards:

Mustafa Pasha Mosque

This mosque built in 1492 in honor of Mustafa Pasha, vizier

(minister) for the sultans during the period Macedonia was 

part of the Ottoman Empire, upon the foundation of a 

medieval church, a  very common practice throughout the 

history of Macedonia.

The mosque is located in the center of Skopje, just above the Starа Čarsija (Old Bazaar) a short walk from the Old Stone Bridge and just below the Skopje Fortress. This part of Skopje is rich in Turkish heritage and architecture and within walking distance of the Mustafa Pasha Mosque you can visit the , Čifte Amam,  Kuršumli An (Kurshumli An), Kapan An, Suli An, Murat Pasha Mosque, Sultan Murat Mosque, Isa Bey Mosque, Aras Mosque (Араста Џамија) and the Starа Čarsija (Old Bazaar).

 The mosque features early Constantinople architecture. The monumental dome that covers the mosque is 16.3 meters (53 ½ feet) in diameter.  The height of the minaret, made from limestone, is 47 meters (154 feet).  The entrance to the mosque, on the north side, façade and columns, is built from white marble and is covered with three small domes. The mosque complex also includes the tomb of Mustafa Pasha located near the north wall of the mosque, the stone sarcophagus of his daughter Umi, other tombs, a water fountain, and roses.

 Inside the mosque there is a large area for praying.  The interior of the mosque is richly decorated in colorful arabesques.  Upon entering the mosque you are welcomed by the large prayer space. 

Leaving the mosque we suddenly found ourselves in the 

OLD BAZAAR!

Old Bazaar

The Old Bazaar meaning marketplace, Albanian: in Skopje is the largest bazaar in the Balkans outside Istanbul. It is situated on the eastern bank of the Vardar River, stretching from the Stone Bridge to the Bit-Pazar and from the Skopje Fortress to the Serava river.

The Old Bazaar is a protected national landmark.There is  merchant quarter on the bazaar's territory dating back to the 12th century. During the Ottoman rule with the city, the place underwent a rapid development to become city's main economic and merchant centre, evidenced by about 30 mosques, numerous caravanserais and hans, as well as other Ottoman buildings and monuments.The bazaar  represents the only remaining cultural monument in the Republic of Macedonia, which has kept its multicultural heritage of different civilizations.

 Everywhere you can see that the old buildings are preserved.

 We could walk the whole morning at the old bazaar as there was lots to see and buy!!

"There are squares and markets, with arches and domes. Of all, the best are: the Bazaar of cotton works, umbrella makers, shoemakers, painters, weavers."

  Lots of cafes too!

A typical storefront in the Old Bazaar selling traditional items

 National costumes of Macedonia would be a good buy for masquerade parties back in Malaysia!

 The Ottoman architecture is predominant in the Old Bazaar

Many statues and monuments on Macedonia Square.

Our great group had a nice photo on the square, After our 

photo op, we are coming to one of the most anticipated sights here

 : the Stone Bridge!!

 Since I can't show you the entire bridge in our photos, I got some

  from the internet...isn't it  awesome?

"In Skopje city center, on the river Vardar, exist the monumental stone bridge, which today connects the old and new part of the City."

 (Below are our actual pictures)

 The Stone Bridge in Skopje Macedonia is one of the greatest monuments of this kind. Built from well-formed stone blocks, while the massive construction relies on power poles interconnected with semicircular arches.

 That's me on the bridge... I can't imagine I'm standing on a bridge 

built in the 15th century!!

"According to Turkish sources, the bridge was built in the 

second half of the fifteenth century, during the rule of Sultan 

Mehmed II."

Vardar Stone Bridge had suffered major alterations, 

but  basically, preserved the original appearance."

 Alexander the Great Statue on a Horse next to the bridge.

 We are so privileged indeed to be walking on a living piece of 

history!

Next will be the memorial of Mother Theresa.

I was very tired because of too much walking, so I stayed here with Alexander the Great for company while the rest went in search of Mother Theresa's house.

Sat here for a long time!!! Guess the Memorial house must be quite far and I was glad I did not have to walk to search for it!!

The Location of the museum is not randomly chosen. That is to say, on this exact place the old Catholic Church “Sacred heart of Jesus” used to stand. It is where Mother Teresa, then Gonxha Bojaxhiu was baptized just  one day after her birth, on the 27th of august 1910, place where she received her first communion and where she find her inner peace after her father’s death.

Mother Theresa Memorial House

 The desire to pay respect to one the most famous person and Nobel Prize winner from Macedonia was accomplished on the 30-th of January 2009 with the opening of the Memorial house dedicated to Mother Teresa. The Memorial house of Mother Teresa is non profit organization financed by the Government of Republic of Macedonia. 

This place had a great importance and influence on developing of the character of young Gonxha and to her desire to help the poor people. Since she was a child she sang in the Catholic Church choir and participated in charity organizations. Somehow the location itself represents a symbolic bridge that connects little Gonxha to one of the greatest humanitarian of the world, Mother Teresa. 

 

 Inside you can read all about Mother Theresa and the wonderful work she had done.

 Her rosary.

 Original manuscript.

 Famous pic of her with Princess Diana.

 Little Gonxha who later became a nun Mother Theresa

The location of the Memorial House.

Then they came back to where I was sitting: under Alexander the Great Statue.

I was sitting here so long, gangs of motorcycles have come and gone and I got to see the fountain display many times too:

 We are now going for our lunch

 Very nice promenade to walk....it is getting to look like Chinatown

 The girls got the chance to buy some lovely fruits especially extra juicy strawberries!

 Yes, it's Chinatown and we would be having Chinese for lunch.

 The following are just to show you what a chinese restaurant looks like in Skopje, Macedonia!

I will do the afternoon sights in Part 2 in my next post!!