A Friend in a Peaceful Protest: The Colourful Revolution of Northern Macedonia

“Our Balkan adventure is one of our favourites. We saw some amazing places, had the best food but what made it truly special, were the people.”  Lowri Thomas and Jamie Jenks of Many other Roads describe their visit to Skopje which coincided with the ‘colourful protest’ of Northern Macedonia and share tips for a budget-friendly vacation to Macedonia. Here is their account in this edition of Travellers’ Tales: 

We arrived in Skopje, Northern Macedonia – hot, tired and completely overwhelmed. We also had no idea where our apartment was (eek!). As we were leaving the terminal a taxi driver approached us asking if we needed help, this is where we met Sasho. Our meeting with Sasho will forever stay with us.

 

Sasho was our first glimpse into the kindness of the Macedonians. As we were driving to our apartment he was chatting with us. He asked about our travels and must-visit spots. We mentioned that we were venturing to Lake Ohrid after Skopje. Sasho then told us of all the places we must visit on the way and offered to drive us in 2 days (how could we say no?!) 

After arriving at our apartment in Skopje we first noticed how clean and new the city looked but within minutes, we asked each other “Why is it covered in paint?”

 

We had no idea that we had just stumbled into the ‘colourful revolution’ of Northern Macedonia. The protest occurred when president Gjorge Ivanov pardoned a number of politicians that had been caught up in a huge scandal.

 

The reason behind this protest was that change was needed. The city became a rainbow of colour, displaying the feelings of the people. We felt that this simple act of painting the city symbolized so well the National pride of Northern Macedonia.

 

As we watched the protest from above we had a text message from Sasho, checking we were okay. He also arranged for us to leave the City the next day as more and more roads were getting blocked off and soon it would be impossible to get to our next destination.

 

The kindness of Sasho and him taking us under his wing was the core of every person we met in Northern Macedonia. The kind, friendly and welcoming People make this one of Europe’s most must-visit places.

 

The Top Things to do In Northern Macedonia 

 

This is one destination that should be added to everyone’s list of must-visit places. To make this an unforgettable trip, here are some of the best things to do when visiting Northern Macedonia: 

 

✔️Stroll through the Old Bazaar in Skopje. Shopping for handmade crafts and sipping on fresh coffee is such a unique way to step into history. This is the perfect spot for Culture Vultures to see what stamp the Ottoman empire left on Northern Macedonia. 

 

✔️ Explore Skopje Fortress for the best views of the City. Not only is it free but has some epic photo opportunities. If you want a pit stop after visiting here, make sure you try the Austrian Palace. 

 

✔️Visit the Memorial House of Mother Teresa. If you are looking for something to do in Skopje for free, this place can’t come recommended enough. Although the museum takes at most an hour to explore, it’s a great way to get an insight into Mother Teresa’s life. 

 

✔️See the most insta-worthy views from the Church of Saint John the Theologian, Lake Ohrid. This is one view you will find hard to beat across Europe.

 

✔️Try some local wine. Not only is the wine pretty good but amazing if you are on a budget. Or go on a food tour to sample local delicacies.

 

If you are looking for an off the beaten track destination that is full of welcoming people, stunning views and lots of amazing things to do, Northern Macedonia is for you. This budget-friendly destination will make you see Europe in a completely new light.

 

Author Bio

 

Many Other Roads is a travel blog written by Welsh Couple Lowri Thomas and Jamie Jenks. With years of extensive Europe Road Trips behind them, they share their in-depth knowledge and advice for other travellers wanting to hit the road. The honest blog posts of their personal travels with their Border Collie Scout aim to help others avoid the mistakes they did and have the most amazing taste of Europe. Their posts are always full of original photographs so readers can get an insight into the real Europe.