The Gluten Free Traveler: Skopje
Skopje is an unusual city to visit — the capital of North Macedonia. It feels a little detached, like it’s out in a place all on its own. North Macedonia, as a country, is not one that the average person can categorically name many cities of. The chances are, if you’ve heard of any of its towns or cities, it’s going to be Skopje. Maybe, if you’re a little travel-educated, you may have heard of Ohrid (pronounced Ok-rid). This is the place that North Macedonians go when they are on holiday. Despite its proximity to Greece, this is a country that is not as frequently visited, and that’s one of the big plus points for travelers. Skopje, in particular, is an absolute bargain destination. We traveled for 6 nights from the UK and spent our time in the 5-star Doubletree hotel, including flights. Our holiday cost us £670. In a further bit of good luck, the two of us spent just £200 while out there on food, drink, tourism, and even a taxi for a day.
As we always do before we leave, I did my research. I read blogs, watched YouTube videos, and consider myself pretty savvy when it comes to traveling. But I was shocked from the minute I stepped out of the airport. Our taxi from the airport to our hotel was around £12 for a 45-minute drive. At home in the UK, even with Uber, a ride might last about 10–12 minutes. After checking in, we rested a bit before walking the 45-minute trip into the city from…