Skopje Halta. The champion of Romania wants to repeat the performance of 2013 in the Capital of Statues. What footballers have dared to go out on the heat

The red-blue returned to Skopje, the North-Macedonian capital, where they have beautiful memories. An optimistic starting point on the route to the Champions League groups, the tonight match with Shkendija being the first preliminary round of the Champions League.

Skopje, also July, all the Champions League preliminaries, hats to UCL groups

Gigi Becali's team has beautiful memories from Skopje. Also in the preliminary round of the elite competition. On July 23, 2013 – one day difference with the present – defeated Vardar Skopje, the country's tradition team. Then, eliminate the opponent 3-0 in Bucharest.

Subsequently, the formation coached by Laurențiu Reghecampf also passed Dinamo Tbilisi, and by Legia Warsaw and qualified in the Champions League groups. In a group with Shalke (0-3, 0-0), with Chelsea (0-4, 0-1) and with Basel (1-1, 1-1). The last time the red-blue played in the Champions League groups.

From the team then he has resisted a single footballer at present. One of the leaders of that time, now, Vlad Chiricheș. Mihai Pintilii and Lucian Filip, on the other hand, passed the technical staff. In Skopje they registered Piovaccari and Bourceanu, in Bucharest Cristi Tănase, Pintilii and Pavlovici (Autogol).

Only Octavian Popescu and Mihai Toma dared to go out on the heat

Returning to the present, the champion players preferred to rest at the hotel before the match, on the day of the game with Shkendija. A five -star establishment in the capital's promenade area near the Vardar River. The temperature was already exceeding 40 degrees Celsius before noon – it reached 45 in the afternoon! -, only Octavian Popescu and Mihai Toma dared to leave the hotel.

Not ten minutes, walking along the river, in the shadow area. By step, looking at the statues in the center of the capital – there are over a thousand statues in Skopje, some quite impressive. The two footballers took the pulse of the city, after which they joined the lot.

Skopje, the capital of contrasts, unaffected report among impressive statues, parsley sold on towel and cage chickens

Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, is a city that surprises. In 2010, the project “Skopje 2014” was implemented, which radically changed the look of the city, adding dozens of buildings and statues in neoclassical style. But the old buildings, the dusty streets and, some, full of potholes.

There is a mix between Christianity and Islam, noticeable at any step. Orthodox churches and mosques are next to each other. So do people, they live. “There are about 20 percent Muslims, but their number is increasing lately,” confessed Stefan Ashkovski, former player of Botosani and Sepsi.

There are neighborhoods where Muslims are majority, and the areas look like a miniature Istanbul. From shops to restaurants to iureș and lifestyle.

The mix between new and outdated is noticeable when no kilometer from the center area, rebuilt, spectacular, with imposing statues, there are drilled streets and where the marked areas of the pedestrian crossing were deleted. Or when you pass the bridge over the Vardar river, you go to the cafes and people relaxed at Espresso, after a few minutes before you saw the old people who sell greenery in the bus station or a man pulling the cigarette, trying to sell some chickens directly from the cage!

Chickens for sale in the center of the capital

North Macedonia is an area accessible as prices, under Romania. “Skopje is more expensive than the rest,” Ashkovski told us. The liter of fuel is between 5.5 – 6 lei, and from here, the prices are lower than in Bucharest. A pack of cigarettes is up to 15 lei, the flat water at 1.5 liters – 2.5 lei, a carbogazos juice “company” – 3.3 lei, a kebap – 18 lei, a night of accommodation in an apartment in the central area – 150 lei, at the premium hotel – 350 lei. Stores and restaurants of all kinds are open until late at night.

There are new cars and some from Tito's time, semi -hinged … through neighborhoods you park where you want and where you can, just be careful not to confuse traffic on the main arteries. In the morning, cars are raised, so that immediately after lunch the same area is stuck by cars. But it is circulating and carefully, especially since there are many radars installed on traffic lights.

Cars of all kinds on the streets and parking in Skopje

What is to be seen in Skopje: “Warrior on the horse”, thousands of statues, Mother Tereza Memorial House

• In the Macedonia Square, the main market of the city, you can see the “warrior on the horse”, a statue 26 meters high. The locals say that the statue depicts Alexander the Great, which became the symbol of the city since 2011, the year it was revealed, and Macedonia has celebrated 20 years of independence. Greece has historically claimed the great warrior for 24 centuries.

Spectacular image from Skopje, from the heart of the city

• In the distance you can see the Cross of the Millennium, the largest cross in the world tronates over the capital Skopje on Mount Vodno.

• The Kale Fortress – located on a hill, offers a spectacular view over the city.

• The stone bridge – built in the 15th century, connects the old and the new city.

• The old bazaar (Stara čaršija) – one of the largest in the Balkans, with hammams, mosques and traditional workshops.

• The Mother Teresa – Skopje's memorial house is its native place (1910), and the monument is dedicated to its memory.