Today I was heading out of Kosovo and south into neighbouring Macedonia. I was somewhat sad as I didn't think to spend longer in Kosovo its being so small. However, I think I've fallen in love and this is my favourite stop in the Balkans so far so I'll have to come back

I’d expected Kosovo to be run down with high unemployment. However I’ve noticed a disproportionate amount of investment in this small country, making it outwardly appear to be more developed with a higher standard of living than Serbia. The Euro is their de facto currency and with the investment disparity with Serbia there is no incentive for Kosovo to reconcile with its ’poorer’ neighbour

Kosovars are also different from Serbs religiously, linguistically, culturally, and ethnically. Having spent time here its completely understandable why they wanted to separate feeling nothing in common with Serbs.

I was going to walk the 2kms to the bus terminal. However the hotel asked if they should call a cab so I asked how much. They said it would be 2.5eu ($3). Since it was cheap and my luggage is slowly breaking apart with each leg I decided to take the cab

At first he wanted to take me to the airport so I had to tell him Bill Clinton bus terminal since its on the street named after him. At the terminal the ticket was only 6eu ($7.20) cheaper than the buses were in Serbia

The bus was leaving in 10 mins and I got my seat at the back. After leaving he collected all the passports, checked them and gave them back.

At the border they collected all our passports again and gave them to the officer outside. After a minute they were returned back. Then we went to the customs checkpoint where an officer came on board and collected all our passports again.

Then they opened the luggage holds and I was worried they would open my bags again like they did at the Kosovo border but they left all the bags alone. Finally an officer came back on the bus to see what was on everyones seats so I opened all the zippers in the bags but he didn't check anything.

Finally we were clear and in Macedonia. Strangely they haven't been stamping my passport anywhere except the first time I entered Serbia. People looked more Greek compared to the Germanic Kosovars

At the Skopje bus terminal my hostel wasn't that far so I could walk. All the cab drivers saw me with my bags and kept calling over. One tried trailing me on the street. Another one later noticed me and pulled over.

Can you all go away, my hotel is right here. I was in the right spot but I couldnt find it. I asked a lady who checked her smartphone then called them.

I was right in front of them but its not clearly marked. When I went in it looked really bad. I went to the room and my reaction was I'm not going to stay here.

It was so run down and when I put my hand on the bed it was just hard coils. After the luxury of my hotels in Nis and Pristina I was not going to go this downmarket.

I went back to reception and told the lady I changed my mind and will stay somewhere else. She said ok and I hadn't paid her anything yet.

Now I had no reservation and needed to find a room. With my two big bags this was going to be a problem so I headed more into the touristy part of town by the fortress.

I know there was a Holiday Inn back the other side of the river but I didnt want to walk with my luaggage and expected it to be expensive.

At a light I saw a hotel so decided to take a chance. I asked if they had a single room for two nites and they said yes. I asked how much and could I see it first. It was 40Eu per night, incl breakfast, which was double price what the other hostel was.

I looked at the room and it was so nice, had a balcony terrace overlooking the city, flat screen tv, breakfast included, nice carpeting in the hallways. I said I would take it and they accepted credit card as most places are making me pay with cash

The last thng I needed to do was exchange money as I had no local currency. I went to a bank and stood in line forever. There was one teller taking his time and after half an hour I had local money so could pay admission fees and buy lunch