The memoir is inspired by his famed "Rocky" character's running up the Philadelphia Museum of Art's steps in the 1976 film's legendary training montage
Following a satisfying breakfast of Macedonian cheese, I arrived at the brand-new Macedonia Square (the Town/City Centre) after a short but fruitful visit to the Old Town market. The contrast was stark and I stared till somehow the reality of Macedonia started to make sense.
Being a recently converted enthusiast of European history, I was delighted to find many churches and museums here. As a typical Eastern European country, Macedonia too has a fair share of historical monuments, mosques and churches still in existence, many of them in Skopje. Many of the religious houses are within walking distance of each other. Skopje is a walkable city, and wearing sensible flat shoes is helpful, although it is not uncommon to see women in high heels walk the cobbled streets without concern.
The next morning, I headed towards Mt Vodno to see the Millennium Cross towering over the city. In fact, the cross was easily seen from every corner in the city and is a popular spot for families and tourists looking for a day break. For the adventure lover, the cable car holds no appeal and from the swinging car I saw fitness enthusiasts sweating their way up the steep incline. The cross itself is the fifth biggest in the world and stands 66m tall - and was constructed to celebrate 2,000 years of Christianity in the country. From up here, on a clear day, the city of Skopje looks like a beautiful mix of the old and new rising into the skies - but only just. Up on Mt Vodno, you can never say when it gets misty. I only managed to get a selfie before everything turned white and cold.
On Day 3, I headed towards Matka Canyon, less than an hour's drive from Skopje, following the narrow path from the trailhead, past rocky overhanging and trees. Matka Canyon is bisected by the Treska river. To say it's beautiful would be an understatement. Picture this: a womb-shaped water body with clear blue waters surrounded by pointy and jagged cliffs and trees, the silence only broken by the occasional sound of birds or falling leaves.and, of course, the sound of oars as the brave explorers headed towards Cave Vrelo, which is among the deepest caves in Europe and has some jaw-dropping stalactites. I didn't see these, of course - it was cold! Instead, I sat in the coffee shop by the water and drank coffee, another Macedonian staple. I was getting used to the good life.
I headed to Tetovo (a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia renowned for its beans), navigating heavy traffic before arriving at Sarena Dzamija Mosque (the Coloured Mosque). This was indeed a rare find. It was commissioned to be built by two sisters, so it does not have the standard outside dome typical of a mosque and it is coloured! Fancy that! The inside was a riot of colours while on the outside, it looked like playing cards placed next to each other.
wknd@khaleejtimes.com
The memoir is inspired by his famed "Rocky" character's running up the Philadelphia Museum of Art's steps in the 1976 film's legendary training montage
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