Jamboree 2005 - BEST Skopje

...or how to find berries in the jungle, escape from crocodiles, cross the street at “Record”, not to become food for natives…

GENERAL FACTS

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Official name: Republic of Macedonia
Area: 25 713 km 2
Population: 2.038.059 (census from 2002)
Capital: Skopje, about 600.000 citizens
Other bigger cities: Bitola, Tetovo, Kumanovo, Prilep, Ohrid, Stip, Strumica
The official language: Macedonian
Alphabet: Cyrillic
Religions: mainly Orthodox Christians, then Muslim, Roman Catholic and others
Political structure: State with parliamentary democracy
Independence day: 8th of September
Localities under UNESCO protection: the town of Ohrid and Ohrid Lake
Currency: Macedonian Denar (MKD): 1 Denar
Time: GMT+1
Weights and measurements: SI
Electricity: 220 volts, 50 Hz
Macedonia in CIA world factbook: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mk.html

Weather

Climate – In the plains, continental (hot and dry summers and cold winters); In the highlands, mountainous (cool summers and cold winters with plenty of snow).

Health

In all towns there are hospitals and pharmacies. The service is good and prices moderate. Foreign tourists don't pay for the health services if their native country signed the Health Convention with Republic of Macedonia (in case you only need a form from your native country).

The people in Macedonia

The people in Macedonia are open, friendly, comunicative with everybody, and willing to party (you'll be surprised how much!). The Balkans are known for having people with great hospitality and friendliness, and Macedonians are BEST example of it.

Money

The only legal tender in Macedonia is the Macedonian “Denar” (MKD).
Note bills: 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 MKD
Coins: 1, 2 and 5 MKD.

Money exchange

At the time of writing the exchange rates were:

1 EUR = 61,40 MKD
1 USD = 50,00 MKD
1 CHF = 39.40 MKD
1 GBP = 90,14 MKD

Moneys can be exchanged at hotels, banks and exchange offices at the current rate of exchange. Exchange offices are the places that you'll not have problem finding, they are everywhere and well marked. It's safe to change money in the exchange offices without being deceived. Also, if it's matter of emergency, or it's a non working day, you'll have no problem paying with euro.

Credit cards

Credit cards: American Express, Visa, Diners club, MasterCard, Maestro, Cirrus and Eurocard are accepted, and many others. You can find cash machines everywhere throughout the city. Travelers checks can be exchanged in any major bank or office.

Banks and post offices

Banks and post offices open:
7 AM – 7 PM during the week
7 AM – 1 PM Saturdays
Sundays closed

www.kb.com.mk - Komercijalna Banka - Skopje
www.stb.com.mk - Stopanska Banka - Skopje
www.tb.com.mk - Tutunska Banka - Skopje
www.unibank.com.mk - UNIBank – Skopje
www.nbrm.gov.mk - Macedonian National Bank

Prices

Products	MKD	EUR
Beer (The most important)	25 – 35 (in bars: 60 – 110)	0.4 – 0.57 (0.97 – 1.8)
Milk	40	0.65
Bread	20 – 25	0.325 – 0.4
Wine	80 – 180	1.3 – 2.95
Cigarettes	30 – 100	0.48 – 1.62
Pizza (slice)	60	0.975
Hamburger	70 – 100	1.15 – 1.62

Telephones

International call number of Macedonia is 389.

Fixed phone operators

There is one fixed telephone operator at the moment:
Makedonski telekominikacii - www.mt.com.mk/eng/.

Local phone calls from fixed line, made between 20:00 and 08:00, are 40% cheaper.

Public phones

You can find public phones in most of the places. You can buy smart cards for theese phones in a most of the shops. More info and prising on this page.

Mobile (GSM) operators

There are 2 mobile (GSM) operators in Macedonia. Mobimak and Cosmofon.
Mobimak - www.mobimak.com.mk/english/. Codes for this operator are 070 and 071.
Cosmofon - www.cosmofon.com.mk/eng/. Code for this operator is 075.

Both mobile operators can provide you roaming service. Check if your GSM operator has roaming in Macedonia.

You can also buy a SIM card, during your stay in Macedonia.
- SIM card from Mobimak will cost you 750 MKD with credit of 500 MKD.
- SIM card from Cosmofon will cost you 690 MKD with credit of 600 MKD.
SMS from both operator cards will cost you around 5 MKD.

Useful telephone numbers

Police 192
Fire brigade 193
Ambulance 194
Road assistance 987
Information 988

Transportation

Bus

In Skopje regular bus transport starts around 5am and finishes around 11:30pm. There are no night buses. Bus ticket costs 30 den. (50 cent) for any destination.

In Ohrid there are local busses that go to all the places near the Lake Ohrid and the price depends of destination - from 20 to 100 den. (0,30 - 1,70 Euro).

Taxi

In Skopje taxi service is easy to get and not too expensive. Starting fares are 50 den. for the first 2km, and 15 den. for every next kilometer. In Ohrid taxi is almost the same price or little cheaper. There is no additional charge reflecting the number of passengers.

Taxi company numbers in Skopje:
9169,9187,9191, 9192, 9193, 9165, 9173, 9167…