We drove into Skopje, passing the Skopje Fortress which was originally built by the Byzantines in the 6th century. After the 1963 Skopje earthquake, that destroyed 80% of the city, the fortress’s circular, rectangular and square towers were conserved and restored. It is today one of the most popular tourist spots in the city. We just had a quick look as we drove past. The option was to use your lunch time in racing over to the fortress and ‘Old Town’ to have a quick look, or stay in the town centre and casually eat at one of the many restaurants. We chose the latter.
![Our view of the fortress from the bus window](https://i2.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0831.jpg?resize=400%2C266)
In 2010, the Macedonian government launched the “Skopje 2014” project which aims to give a more monumental appearance to the capital. It made plans to erect a large number of statues, fountains, bridges, and museums at a cost of about €500 million. As we walked towards the town centre we saw many of these statues. Honestly, I thought the town had overdone it a bit. There were statues everywhere and often right next to each other!
![I'm in front of the bridge filled with statues](https://i1.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0839.jpg?resize=400%2C266)
![Statues and lights on the bridge](https://i0.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/P1000950.jpg?resize=400%2C300)
![Another view of the buildings, bridge and statues](https://i0.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0844.jpg?resize=400%2C266)
![This building has statues across the top](https://i2.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0840.jpg?resize=400%2C266)
![Our tour party listening to our guide talking about the statues](https://i1.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0847.jpg?resize=400%2C266)
![Yes that's me on the bridge](https://i0.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0850.jpg?resize=400%2C266)
![This is the old stone bridge built between 1461-1469. The statue of the women diving is at the base of the bridge](https://i1.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0854.jpg?resize=400%2C266)
![Statue of diving into the river?](https://i2.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/P1000954.jpg?resize=400%2C300)
![This statue looks like men of all sorts of trade?](https://i2.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/P1000953.jpg?resize=400%2C300)
![The statue and the old stone bridge... and me!](https://i0.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0852.jpg?resize=400%2C266)
![A shopping statue?](https://i1.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/P1000955.jpg?resize=300%2C400)
![Warrior on a horse statue](https://i2.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0858.jpg?resize=266%2C400)
There are several landmarks of Mother Teresa in Skopje, the city of her birth and childhood, including a marker of her birthplace, a statue, and a memorial house. As of January 2013, Macedonian authorities laid the ground work for a new 30-metre-high statue dedicated to the Nobel Prize-winning nun.
![The Mother Thereza memorial plaque](https://i1.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0855.jpg?resize=400%2C266)
And after our walk through the many statues we have lunch.
![Waiting for our lunch](https://i0.wp.com/www.pamperstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0861.jpg?resize=400%2C266)
So Skopje was really only our lunch spot. There were many more sights we could have seen. There was on Old Town to discover and also a very old Aqueduct and of course the Fortress, but time was against us, as we had Sofia yet to explore.
So onwards we go!!!