Author: Igor

Author: Mario Petkovski, North Macedonian writer

Since there are not many travel guides for the city of Skopje, I decided to write one just because it is a very vibrant, cultural and interesting city for your next destination. Skopje is the capital city of North Macedonia and a city with a rich history. 

Most people would know Macedonia through Alexander the Great who was one of the greatest rulers in history and build his Kingdom starting from currently North Macedonia to India.

However, even though Skopje has a lot to offer from its history, unfortunately, most of the interesting artifacts were destroyed or stolen since it was 500 hundred years occupated by the Ottoman Empire. 

Skopje also experienced a devastating earthquake back in 1963 which destroyed most of the city. However, Skopje is now rebuilt and has beautiful architecture but unfortunately, it struggles a bit with finding the right identity.

There are many monuments in the city as well as Gothic and classical buildings that are tourist attractions and the best thing is that Skopje is one of the cheapest countries in Europe, so a trip to North Macedonia could be a bargain.

Why Visit Skopje?

Another reason to visit Skopje is because of the cultural mixes you will experience through architecture and people. Obviously, that 500 years of Ottoman Empire occupation had an influence on Macedonian culture. It has very modern buildings surrounded by gothic architecture in the center, and right across the Stone Bridge, you will get to Skopje’s old bazaar and experience completely different cultures.

Places to see in Skopje

Vodno Hill is a great place to go for an amazing view of the city and at the top, there is the Millennium Cross which is 77 meters tall and the third-highest cross in the world. Vodno is only 1066 meters tall and very good for a Sunday exercise.

Another natural beauty is the exceptional Canyon Matka, which is located in the western part of Skopje. Just because of the untouched beauty of this place it attracts tourists all across the world. Matka also has the deepest underwater cave in Europe and it is still not fully explored along with several old monasteries. You can easily get there as they offer cheap public transport.

If you are up for sightseeing around Skopje, The Kozjak Dam is the perfect place to go. It is about 35 kilometers from the city and it has a breathtaking view of the crystal blue lake placed in the middle of a couple of mountains. 

Other things to visit are the City Fort – Kale which is placed in the center of the city where you can get a great view of the city center and the city park where you can take amazing photos as well as visit the biggest football stadium in Macedonia which hosted The Super Cup in 2017.

Other things to do in Skopje

One of the best things about Skopje is that you can get local traditional very tasty food very cheaply. If you are a party animal, Skopje offers a couple of clubs where you will find a decent nightlife and very cheap drinks.

I think that Skopje is one of the most packed cities with betting businesses and everywhere you turn you can see one. It is the perfect place if you like wagering and, due to the liberal policies on online betting, you can gamble on horse races, like the Kentucky Derby.

Unfortunately, there is no Uber in Macedonia so you should try to avoid local taxi drivers since you can get ripped off. The best way is to ask your hotel to arrange a taxi.

Skopje is a very interesting city and great for your next vacation. There are many things to experience, and if we talk about food we need another article just to explain how good it is. Since you are in North Macedonia, you can pay a visit to the city of Ohrid which is protected by UNESCO and it is considered to be the jewel of Europe. If you want a cheap vacation but still very interesting and rich with culture, Skopje is the way to go.

Spending time in a garden is always a great and rewarding experience but it’s also a wonderful way to make money if you decide to. There are many ways you can turn your passion into a profitable business. All you need is a bit of organisation and a lot of determination.

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Full-time business

Gardening can definitely be turned into a full-time job. There are so many people struggling to keep up with their own gardens because of their busy schedule or their lack of a green thumb. They also sometime struggle to find a solution for keeping their gardens safe – a great option is LinkCare Automatic Gates. You could take advantage of the weather and changing seasons by offering to clean up fallen leaves to use for mulch, clear snow for people or mow lawns. Older people especially aren’t as capable of doing these things…

You could also learn to install greenhouses and polytunnels for your clients in need of a helping hand. And if you need to connect with tree service business you can do it here: https://www.thelocaltreeexperts.com/fl/tallahassee/ 

Be ready

Once you’re ready to start your own business, you need to take into consideration some important points. 

• Make sure that you are physically fit. Gardening is not an easy task, it can be quite physical but will also require that you work in the rain, snow and boiling sun. You have to love the outdoors.
• You’ll need to possess some basic horticultural knowledge, the difference between a tulip and a pansy and much more, the more knowledge you have, the more likely you are to be hired.  
• There are also a lot of business management tasks such as accounting and marketing to take into consideration. You’ll have to negotiate with suppliers, liaise with customers and draw up contracts and budget. 

There is no special requirement in terms of qualifications to be a professional gardener, however it always looks good on your CV if you have some experience or qualifications to reassure your customers. 

What’s next?

It’s really up to you how much you want to work as a gardener, but keep in mind that it will also influence how much you’ll earn. As with any business, do not expect that you’ll make a lot of money at first; take it easy and get ready to work hard. Make sure you research local competitions but also the insurance you’ll need to start your business. Self-employed gardeners are known to charge between £10-25 an hour depending on where they work. Research what other gardeners are charging in your area and set your prices accordingly. Fix your price and stick to it.

Finally, remember that gardening is above all a passion, but it will require a lot of hard work and labour on your side to make sure you keep your business alive.

More and more people are striving to have bigger and better control over their working lives. The aim is to have better work/life balance and also, many wish to pursue other ambitions or interests, perhaps hoping to turn their passion into business. Some attempt to juggle their full-time job and their other pursuits, but find that the natural lack of flexibility of full-time employment often means they simply do not have the time to give their attention to other matters.

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An interim career provides flexibility, bigger control over your work life, the opportunity to dedicate yourself to other pursuits and higher earning prospects. Could this be the career move for you? Consider the following factors:

Profile:

• When searching for an interim professional, businesses are looking to hire highly qualified senior leaders that easily adapt and fulfil the needs of the role they are looking to fill. You would be expected to have deep knowledge of the specialised skills required and you must be able to self-motivate and self-manage.
• Interim management requires a high level of communication and people skills – you will be required to deal with a wide range of people in potentially challenging environments.
• If structure and routine is your comfort zone, this may not be the career move for you. A major shift in your mind-set will be necessary – you are now the expert and an independent leader. You will be called on to make tough decisions whilst ensuring that management/employee relations remain intact.
• As the work can come and go sporadically, this career is better suited to those who have the financial breathing space to leave the stability of full-time work. Thus, a thorough look through finances, budgeting and forecasting is necessary before embarking into working on an interim basis.

Benefits:

• Every day and possibly every job is different: you will be in a position to choose which projects to take on and how many. Meaning you could be working in a variety of businesses, each with their own challenges; this helps to keep the work interesting and ultimately will provide you with invaluable work experience that you can take into future work.
• Earnings: When well-managed, the projects you’re involved in will usually provide you with increased earnings.
• Finally as previously noted interim management will enable you to become more independent and flexible, giving you the much needed time to really enjoy personal pursuits.

Overall, most that make this career move can attest to how rewarding it is. Nonetheless, before deciding, it is vital that potential pitfalls and skills required to be successful are fully understood.