I told Robert to come easily around 11.30
a.m. Today we walked to the city centre
and crossed the bridge over the river and went to the other side. This was entirely different from this side of
the bridge, other side is Muslim area and old houses, Bazaar is very interesting
with silver gold and filgeri work is famous here. As butterfly
in different size in filgeri work is famous. We walked and
walked.
Robert is a walking guide like Zarko in
Belgrade. Both know much history of each
and every street and its importance.
Robert is not happy with so many statues coming up in one Sq km
area. There is a statue of Alexander,
the great near his father and another side, his mother’s statues is
coming. Robert thinks this is the
capitalist Govt. which is wasting the public money just for cheap publicity. We
sat in a typical open restaurant and had some local cold drink. While returning, we saw the place where
Mother Teresa was born and the place where her house was. I clicked some
pictures. Then I went round the exhibition at her memorial place. I was shocked that no picture of her getting
Bharat Ratna Award was there. There was
a little information of her work in India.
I met the woman in charge and got myself in an argument with her. She said she will get more information and
photographs. Only photographs of getting noble prize and US President giving
her some Award were prominently displayed.
Her “Sari” a piece of white and blue Dhoti was displayed.
It was getting very hot and we walked back
to the hostel restaurant. We just ate
baked tomatoes and cucumber in sour cream.
I asked Robert to meet me at 6.30 p.m. and I wanted to take some rest.
6.30 p.m.:
When I came down after taking shower, I saw Robert sitting at the
reception. He did not go home. He has brought 1.5 litres of plastic cocacola bottle, full of
homemade Raeki. My laundry has also arrived by now. Clothes were washed and pressed. I kept both the things in the room. Robert said he will drive to the other side
of the hill where we could not go yesterday.
Inside temperature in the car was 36⁰ at 7 p.m.
We now drove up the hill. There were many houses which Robert said were
illegal and built after 1962. Earthquake had demolished Skopje City. Air became cooler now and in half an hour, we
reached the last point where there is a monastery, a church and
restaurant. There is a commanding view
of the city. Sitting there, we had small amount of baked tomatoes and Raeki. After one hour, we drove back to the hostel
restaurant. Although I was not feeling
hungry but I ate whatever was brought including red wine of Alexander brand.
Robert got two burgers packed for me for
tomorrow. Today he has asked for Macedonian Pizza which is quite long and with
half chicken and half lamb meat. I did not even eat one fourth of it. Then I bade good bye to Robert. We had discussed in last two days how in
Balkan States YHA could be strengthened and also Indo-Balkan cooperation in
future. I will write separate note on it.
I fixed alarm for 5 a.m. on the phone and also Robert told Receptionist
to wake me up. Then I bade good bye to
Robert and thanked him for his generous hospitality.
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