Super Skopje.

The group of young girls. Outside the shopping center.

Bleak Turkish settlement, suburban Skopje.

A mosque captured, suburban Skopje.

Doing what I like, being a monkey.

Scooter ride in Skopje 19th September.

Arriving in Skopje at 4am, I found myself a struggle to find anything open, anything that looks remotely like a hotel. I met a guy from the bus and got chatting to him. It appeared that he was with a group of 4 people. They were traveling back from a 3 month excursion in New Jersey learning english and doing bar work. On arrival in the dark and gloomy bus station, the guy offered me a lift to the center of Skopje to find a hotel or something on that note. It ended up that his cousin was a taxi driver and offered me a free ride. It was a empty town. No people, no things open, thinking maybe no bed? Considering it was 4am on the 17th on September, it was a Friday and I thought differently to the reality...

I see light, I see light! We strolled slowly past the light in the smokey taxi and I faintly said "stop" to the taxi man.

"What?"- he said

"This looks ok, I get out here?"- I faintly replied thinking this is better than nothing.

There was people in this light room which nearer by clearly looked like a bakery. It felt as if my eyes weren't quite wide awake. I HAD to snap into reality here.

I left the taxi after a considerable time pondering the thought whether to get out or not. I had to. There were many people, who had obviously had the munches after a heavy night out.

I found myself a hotel room after being told a hotel was near by. It was a very restful sleep and I felt peace.

The following days I stayed in a lovely flat, in the central area of Skopje. Daniel Janev, a graphic designer hosted me for two nights. He gave me rides on his scooter through the streets of Skopje which was excellent fun!

I had the opportunity of bumping into a group of young teenage girls in a shopping mall, in which after time of getting to know, were eager for a photo shoot in one way or another. They were extremely excited to be photographed! I wasn't sure where they were taking me in the taxi however it later discovered that we visited one of the girl's house, in which her mum and sisters lived. It felt almost rural, in the dark, with a dog barking suddenly out of no where, we had a great chat and coffee all together and of-course... Photographs! It was a fascinating experience that I hadn't of know at all had if I had not gone to the Macdonald's in the shopping center for internet.

I thought Skopje was an interesting city. In the heart of the Balkan region, I saw what settlements were developed and how people reacted with different nationalities that recently moved or visited Skopje. There were lots of gypsies and lots of people arguing with them however there was a feeling of prosperity with the younger generation plus the major investment in the re development of the city planning.

After 3 days of an adventure itself, I headed to Pristina, kosovo. The road was 3 hours to Pristina. A lot shorter than thought.

Couch bouncing.

Following the time in Belgrade, I visited the city center, a beautiful town with one heck of a history. People are very much talk in depth many things about historic Belgrade in which interests me a lot however I do fail to take in every fact that these people know so much of.

I visited lake Ada just outside Belgrade with my couch surfer, Jelena and had a lovely time as the sun set, over a Serbian beer. Onward taking me to a lovely restaurant where I ate fish soup at a considerable £3. It was a lovely dinner on the lake.

Following the days of visiting different parts of central and the suburbs of Belgrade, there is just one place that I still wish to see. There are still buildings that have not been demolished from the wars in which I find it quite a surprise that it hasn't been demolished, for obvious reasons (that people don't wish to see a decade later...)

I do a photo shoot of a local young lady in whom lived in Los Angeles. We decided to have the photo-shoot situated by the river bank and in the late sun light of a September evening. It was good fun, quite short however it was nice doing a shoot in a completely different environment which inevitably created some photos of Vanja's style and retro theme, (That evolved in the making of the shoot). This was just an experimental shoot however when the sun went down, we decided to go to a bar called the Stairs, funnily enough just by some 'stairs'. We have some food and marveled across the river as darkness fell. We shared the photos and chatted about them. After a while, Vanja left whilst I was in gear for finding a couch to sleep for the evening and a new friend to make. Only the time was ticking quick, which made me think of plan B. No messages from the internet couch surfing so I went on a walk, with my life in my backpack...

Yesterday evening, which was Thursday, I find myself without a couch/ mattress to sleep on before realizing that the evening was getting late. However I was lucky. With lots of canvases, paints and etching boards around me, I really pondered the thought of where I was as I lay to sleep. It felt lovely and tranquil! The blanket had a light stench of dogs but it was a great sleep. Today I wake up with a walk along the river with the host and his dog, a gentle but large one. Ivan and his dog show me round the fortress situated adjacent by the main big park and the zoo in central Belgrade.

It was a lovely time with Ivan. He showed me a part in which I hadn't been around before. However the next day came and I had to get to Skopje as I had spent 6 days in Belgrade. It was an amazing first week of my tour in which I found myself doing more things than I expected.

Thank you to all the friends I made and the people I met in Belgrade. It was a wonderful time.

Jo

First stop; Belgrade

Even before landing to Belgrade, I already have a feeling of anticipation, excitement and adventure waiting for me. I spoke to a lady on the Wizzair from Luton to Belgrade, giving me a good understanding of how Serbia is, information about Belgrade as the sun sets behind us, I feel a roar of excitement...

9.45pm- Sunday 12th September 2010.

As I get my first stamp printed on my passport, I feel extremely excited being in a complete foreign place that is unfamiliar to me, in a optimistic way. This is what adventures are about, in my personal opinion.

I head for what is to be a wrong exit of the airport as I gear with an attack of voices around me shouting "taxi?" "You need taxi?". Ok, this is the wrong place. I head up the escalator where I get chatting to a bloke from London, recommending me a hostel. I thought to myself, it sounds good. I see this guy as a genuine type, although I could be wrong, anybody could in my situation.

I believed in his words... We set off in a taxi, in darkness, heading directly to the city center. And he takes me to the hostel, and what a beautiful introduction it was. I was welcomed with a small glass of raki with the free use of internet and after set my self to sleep, for the adventure to continue...

I am amazed by the hospitality and the stories people have to say here. I am overwhelmed with an uncertainty in peoples opinions of loss and warship especially when openly discussing about the countries next to Serbia. However endeavored with a small sense of uncertainty and perhaps fear, people here are generously open to tourists and foreigners. Especially when they hear that I am from Scotland, the conversation grows...

I have a roam around the city center in Belgrade and see for myself what people think of it here. I like the freedom of seeing through my own eyes what is taught to me. Quite an array of different architecture origin from influences of different countries and cultures. One part of Belgrade, I feel I am in Vienna, the other I feel I am in others. The evening is tamely safe, although vigilance is required.

I meet up with a woman, on the site www.couchsurfing.com and find that she is one of the keenest participants on this site. Her name is Jelena "Yelena" and is very keen, and very open to tell me eagerly her experience being a Couch surfer. Later that evening, on a calm and chilly Monday evening, she has already started networking people to see if they have a spare couch for me!

I was lucky! And considered very lucky that she had found a host for me. Before so, "Yelena" takes me to a local couchsurfing meeting with local "surfers" over a Serbian beer.

I find myself going into a very modern flat, on the outskirts of Belgrade, with lovely furniture with pine wooded furniture and two "Barcelona" black chair living room. A modern interior apartment got me sleeping safely and soundly under a ceiling. A man named Rodlojub "Rodloub" gave me a safe place to stay...

Bravo Belgrade,

"Hvala"- Thank you.