Hello people!
Well, I had travelled a lot in last few mounts, but haven`t posted much photos of my road trips on this blog. So I decided to refresh blog feed with photos from my newest road trip to Macedonia (Republic of Macedonia). I know Macedonia isn`t really on you travel bucket list, but belive me it`s worth of visiting. Macedonia is historical contry, full of ancient monuments and buildings who testify about our past, the past of big conqueror, sainthood and small people who fight for their own place creating the better world for their children and future generations. This trip is bit of season but for me what makes it special is coming back to this contry after 9 years. So many things have changed but feeling is still the same and that is real reason for happines. I visited Skopje, Ohrid. Bitola and Krushevo (birthplace of deceased Balkan star Tose Proeski).
Skopje is the capital and largest city of Republic of Macedonia and its located on the upper course of the Vardar River. I won`t write a lot of facts about Skopje, you can Google it :). Nine years ago I visited Skopje and stayed about 3 or 4 days it was time around Easter so we had chance to see some of Macedonian tradicional customs and participate in them. Back then Skopje was too big for me and pretty much haotic because of traffic and low tolerance of people while driving by disregarding traffic rules and they were so messy, everywhere you look around there is some pile of trash. But there it was something magical in the air, something I can't explain, something I felt again after all these years. Skopje is city of diversity and power. The center of the city has changed a lot, on better of course. The project of restauration and building is still on, but it looks magnificent! This time we only had a few hours to stay in the city, but enough to see what it`s important and of course drink famous Skopsko beer. I hope you will feel the spirit of Skopje in photos I`ve captured.
Ohrid is the largest city on Lake Ohrid. Ohrid is notable for once having had 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and has been referred to as a "Jerusalem (of the Balkans)". The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. In 1979 and in 1980, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In fact, Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are both Cultural and Natural sites. I think this is enough about Ohrid. It`s like a seaside town and when you sail on the lake it feels like sea, it`s almost surreal. People are very kind relating to foreign/tourist. Sitting on the shore and listening the waves takes you far, far away something like floating on the water, there is only you and nature, nothing more. Visit Ohrid in the summer or in any other season, you won`t regret it!
Bitola... Bitola is one of the oldest cities in the terittory of the Republic of Macedonia. There are so many historical facts about Bitola but I won`t write any of them. There is one old tradicional song about this city and it`s called "Ako odam vo Bitola" if you translate it, it means "If I go to Bitola". Music always better express what you feel and think. Play it while you watch the photos from Bitola, I think you`ll feel and understand
Ако одам во Битола,
ќе прошетам по Широк сокак.
А на Дембел чаршија
кафе ќе се напијам,
младост мило ќе си спомињам.
Еј, мори моме, како да речам,
за Солуна, за Стамбола,
неа не давам.
And last city on the route to home - Krushevo. It`s the highest town in Macedonia, situated at an altitude of over 4,429 feet (1350 m) above sea level. Well, I have serval photos of the city but they`re taken from the bus. My explanation for that is only one name Toše. This city is his birthplace. So we visitet his grave and museum house. There are no words that can explane all the feelings I`ve felt at that moment. He`s existence and acts are truly beyond the words. And I promised myself I`ll go back there because he deserves it. If you loved his music and him visit this place, pay him rispect. Toše, you`re the sparkling star in our lives and you`ll alwayes be!
Hope you enjoyed watching and reading this blog post, comment/share. Thank you!!!
