One impression that I was left with after my trip was a sense of… unfinished? The opposite of stillness. It’s hard to explain. The city of Skopje was such a mix of modern, ancient, renovated and decrepit, and through it all it was clear that Things were Happening, but… there was also a sense of organized chaos? I have a lot of question marks in my thoughts about the city, and the best I’ve been able to tell people is It was interesting. I think the one conclusion I will come away with is that there is no need for conclusions.
In any case, Skopje is full of statues – hollow statues – so many figures standing or sitting around or holding epic poses, it’s quite grand. And many of them are large! Immense! Makes you feel a bit small, to be honest. And the sort of grandiosity that puts me a bit on edge. Here’s a very, very, very tiny sample:
Alexander the Great, of course.
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The view from under the arches of a medieval bridge… not even the oldest object around.
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Upskirt photography at its finest.
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The other side of the bottom of the previous statue – sitting around for ages!
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A paeon to motherhood, I assumed – I might add that nobody was looking particularly thrilled.
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I am frighteningly ignorant when it comes to good music from the region, though, so here’s Loreena McKennitt instead. I intend to work on my musical diversity.
I had many of the same feelings in Russia. So much big, grand art next to crumbling Soviet era buildings next to huge palaces in varying states of repair next to massive churches next to crackerbox sized apartments.
I like your musical diversity. It’s mostly Canadian. ;D
I love the third one, you have such a talent for catching the sun in images
Every time I take a photo against the sun, I think of you, Giliell. :)
and I greatly appreciate it.
Concurring Giliell @ 2.
I like the left bush in the second. It’s a fine catch.
Old bridges always fascinate me. And I agree with Ice Swimmer, the bush is well caught,
Now that you mention it, it looks guilty (caught red-handed!).