Skopje's Macedonian Orthodox Church

Cyrillic posters at the local movie theater

The Millenium Cross atop Vodno mountain

Driving up the mountain to see the cross up close

We stopped at a scenic overview on the way up the mountain

Checking out downtown Skopje from the overview

Me with MAJ Peoria, my official escort and unofficial tour guide

The entrance gate to a small church halfway up Vodno mountain

The Macedonian church with gate in the foreground

MAJ Peoria and I in front of the gate. Last gate pic, I promise. ;-)

I finally entered the gate and made my way to the front of the church

Cool tower in front of the church

The church was open, and we were permitted inside to take pictures without flash

I have never seen painted walls with such bold and vivid colors!

The road to the cross was closed, so we visited the 6th Century Kale Fortress instead

Kale is right in downtown Skopje, and yet there is a calm serenity as soon as you enter, as if you've left the modern world completely behind

A war monument at Kale Fortress

Downtown Skopje as seen from Kale Fortress

Kale fortress wall with the 15th century Mustafa-pasha mosque in the background

There are excavation sites all over Kale Fortress

Remains of Neolithic settlements rom 3500 BC have even been found at Kale