Macedonia Travel Guides

best way to see Macedonia is by Paraglider, Hangglider or Glider, normaly in tandem til one meet the winds and place!
Macedonia has dozen flying sites that are regular hosts of balkan, european or world cup's in paragliding...
and although aerial sightseeing is available in all spatial regions [1], still best sites for this kind of exploration are regions of Pelagoniya[1][2][3] and Polog[1][2][3], and for most skilled maybe it would be challenge flyover between skopye and ohrid, only once hovered with paraglider by the pilot from the glider-link above... however, whatever site or approach is chosen always consult someone http://www.vfm.org.mk/en_clubs.html [1][2][3]...

if not for flying, there is always room for Speedriding in our modest but unique ski resorts like Kopanki on Mount Pelister, Galichitsa and Golak, Smrdliva Voda on Mt. Kozuf, Stanich on Mt. Bushava, Mavrovo on Mt. Bistra, Ponikva on Mt. Osogovo or Popova Shapka on Mt. Shar, the last one with the famous downhill/super-g track Tseripashina with 800m vertical drop and 3,16km course length, where have been held for 40 years the FIS Sharplaninski Cup and where are located most profuse hiking routes in the country http://sharamountainguide.com.mk/en/ [1]...

the Shar mountain is among highest in Macedonia and native place of the eponymous dog Sharplaninets [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] macedonian shepherd dog, today featured on 1 denar coins and 2011 post stamps, it was brought up in ancient times and it was Alexander's personal guard-dog known as Peritas, his favourite pet beside the horse Bucephal... also Shar mountain is considered as europe's most butterfly diversified place, incredibly populated with 147 butterfly species, even though bio-tour operators prefer easily reachable sites like mount Galichitsa
   


Edited by Max - 23-Jul-2017 at 19:20

already mentioned above, the mineral water Pelisterka is as Foltin from the same town of Bitola, the south part of the republic, where is bottled in the base of Baba mountain that after its highest peak is widely known as Pelister, from whom is named Pelisterka... today Macedonia has 16 brands of bottled water, among whom Inaqua is saltiest and Ilina is sweetest mineral water, but still Pelisterka rulz... as mountain region Macedonia is rich of fresh water, that is more enticing when it is tasted right from its springs, waterfalls and rivers http://www.build.mk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1373 [1]



Edited by Max - 23-Jul-2017 at 19:14

Transport - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/macedonia/transport/getting-around one can choose common options like taxi, bus or train-tram, for now with most reasonable prices in europe, or try some scenic approach [1][2][3] that in the capital is most appropriate with the JSP city-bus fleet of retro double-deckers [1][2][3][4][5] also there is always option for renting some oldtimer for city-cruising especially in small towns or villages (just ask for zastava 750/yugo/101, fiat 126/124/1300, reno 4, citroen dyane, trabant, buba or moskvich) even cheaper option than the standard rent-a-car, but without insurance though this is outstanding way of sensing the spirit of the place e.g. in Skopje where time didnt stop with '62 flood or '63 earthquake, but stopped in the transitional '90s as it has stood in the next clip from 1993

It’s generally a good idea to find taxi either by phoning a well known company (or having your host or hotel do so), or locating a cab in a visible taxi rank. Avoid lone cabs, and especially avoid taxi drivers soliciting tourists at bus or train stations. [1][2][3]

http://www.nationaldrivesafe.com/macedonia-driving-summary

Traffic regulations in Macedonia - right-hand traffic. - Speed ​​limits in the local area: 50-60 km/h regional routes for motorcycle and car: 80/100 km/h highway: 120 km/h for motorcycles and cars, all the other vehicles on all roads 80 km/h (except for trucks with trailers or lorries over 7.5 tonnes and buses that transport children: 70 km/h) tourist Tip: Keep strictly to the speed limits! Especially in the summer months can be expected with continuous radar control. - Parental Control Children under 12 must be transported in the back seat. - Light during the day Year-round mandatory for all motor vehicles. tourist Tip: If you want to be on the safe side, prefer low beam lights during the day, as daytime running lights are sometimes tolerated. - Requirement to carry In addition to be carried association package, warning triangle and safety vest, also must have a Replacement Lamp Kit(except for Xenon or LED lights). Furthermore, bring a second warning triangle for trailer, also tow rope was required til year ago. On the subject of safety vest : Each person entering the road or the verge of setting up the breakdown triangle, must wear a safety vest. - Alcohol limit 0.5 parts per thousand (0.0 per thousand for professional drivers) - Mobile phone while driving Allowed only by using a speakerphone. - Winter Equipment In the period from 15 November to 15 March, all vehicles must have: * Radial tires on all 4 wheels and winter tires on the drive wheels * Winter tires must have a minimum tread depth of 4 mm * When driving with summer tires in this period, snow chains must be carried in the vehicle and pulled at the request of the police. * Bus and truck drivers must carry a snow shovel. - Use of studded tires is prohibited. - Penalties for traffic offences - http://www.build.mk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=448&PID=109983#109983

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD8D1890153D1E042 [1][2]

Gas Stations in Skopje - http://www.4sqstat.com/skopje/map?category_id=4bf58dd8d48988d113951735

Edited by Max - 23-Jul-2017 at 19:08

Sleep-dream inception Skopje 1964 - http://www.build.mk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=303&PID=106906#106906 [1][2]

.                                                            meteo, Fortress, mob, Church, central bank
.                                   



Day-dream culmination Skopje 2014 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=iybmt-iLysU [1][2][3">/u">]  constructions started in 2010, scheduled to be completed in 2014 as unconscious facelift-gift for the 50th anniversary of UN engaged city reconstruction after disastrous Skopje earthquake in '63, actually this is impetuous urban regeneration that attempts to put too cheerful layer to the failed brutalization from the past, among other it can be seen as link between all urban layers(old/new/clean/kitsch) that exist in the town...




Edited by Max - 26-Jul-2017 at 08:09

because at the same time elusive, covert and obvious crossroad, one can easily find way in or way out of Macedonia, only irony is that today routes are slowed down by nowadays borders and strife funding of pan-european corridors VIII which is still local and X that is completed but needs improvements in railway part, hopefully to rise train travel time til 2020 to 180km/h

except modern roads, we are also part of ancient paths like roman Via Egnatia http://www.gammathetaupsilon.org/the-geographical-bulletin/1970s/volume05/article3.pdf that was older retraced route [1]

http://www.viaegnatiafoundation.eu/ [1][2]   




Edited by Max - 02-Jun-2012 at 15:08

I am glad that there is common page like SEEH above, coz only culture can dismantle the borders in south east europe specially mental ones like pampered childish possessivity of history or culture, only sharing can unveil true sound and colors of this region for start at least virtually and tomorrow maybe in united europe actually, proccess that is pushed by artists like Todor Proeski [1][2][3] who had succeed in unifying young people from ex-yu republics in today's western balkan countries after last balkan wars in 90's    

PENINSULAR BREАKFAST ... who identifies and who determines belonging to something? As often happens, we all look for artistic production which deals with these questions. And most often, we find a great number of its products. Then we represent them. And we say: „This is representation of identity, or this is proof of belonging to something.„ But is it always so? Is it that simple? All one can say about this is that, in effect, it only offers an „image” which is to be confirmed elsewhere, by some other subject or institution ... what is important is not the matter of the presence of identity and belonging in art/artistic practices and works, but the matter of who determines and verifies those and how ... what art or what kind of art is presented in Europe as coming from the Balkans (or south-eastern Europe or western Balkans). And is this the only art being created in the Balkans? Are those the only themes of Balkan artists? Finally, who determines the theme of identity (which always boils down to the sense of national, nationalist identity) and who determines belonging in accordance with what ... „peninsular breakfast” as term is neither continental nor insular, it is neither French nor English, it is not only Macedonian (Balkan), Its use as a metaphor refers to every situation in which the subject is dependent on the other for determination and confirmation. http://www.mirage.com.mk/tekst.asp?lang=eng&tekst=117&str=4

sadly in the balkans is practiced ethnocentric instead of civic nationalism, because of as young independent state we are still dinied or refuted by our neighbors, because of we are struggling to justify our existence, because of generally all balkan nations are even spiritually divided although most of the peninsula is from same christian denomination, everybody has own national church instead of one united orthodox church as open orthodox communion... that superimposition will colapse when all balkan nations will get rid of own etnofiletism, which afterwards will lead to acclaiming right to Republic of Macedonia to call itself as its people want it, privilege that should and has everybody that live on this peninsula! this strange aspect of our life is best presented in the documentary A Name Is A Name which speaks about paradox like the name dispute between two(tomorrow maybe three) neighbors that its not enough we have adjective as Republic for someones exaggerated score politics... this just points out why still exists terms like balkanization i.e. if it's difficult to easily unite those with same or similar background, what to say then for those with differeces!? despite all unlike mostly preferred ethnocentrism on the balkans, Macedonia is true multicultural and strongly tolerant place, nevertheless low GDP or high uneiployment (factor mellow mood mentality) that at least can be optimistically seen as insurance for most creative rurality and maintaining long time after culturaly safe envinronment



even though new democracy Macedonia is pioneer in constructive legalism i.e. officially in our constitution there are no minoryties only nations, not one or two everybody are recognized as nation, refreshing move in mostly egocentric europe that is considered as future model for multiculturalism in eu, also e.g. Skopje is only city in europe where christians and muslims still live together side by side accepting own differences like oriental music assemble that eats burek in the morning and baklava in the evening, normally turlitava and shopska for lunch... so our nationalism ends with loving our own(and common) rather than imposing it to others, but politics and media twisted this to pride instead of love while struggling to won some ephemeral elections thus ruining for ages builted multi-ethnic coexistence    

nationalism was more pronounced amid politicians than the masses, masses don't want conflict, even while imposed and controled conflict went on decade ago, there was no crisis point, this is a sign that multi-ethnic sentiments are already inbuilt in Macedonia, which has always been multiethnic. Branislav Sarkanjac, a professor in philosophy, wrote this book Komsi Kapicik, it's a Turkish term and it means a small neighboring door, in earlier times each house in Macedonia was separated from the other with a wall that had a door in it - kapijik. in Macedonia, these doors were often between two religions, too, so it Komsi kapicik became traditional Macedonian logic of co-existence. And it would last another 2000 years if politicians don't set it afire

today we are trying to maintein open these passages mostly through culture, and best way for that is as allways with art e.g. movies like Before The Rain from Milco Mancevski as '90s portret of balkan tragedies awarded with the Golden Lion for the powerful cinematic experience filled with gorgeous views and poignant tales, or the War Is Over from Mitko Panov first Macedonian state-funded film that was shot in Albanian language, or songs like Raise Up Your Hand from Kiril Dzajkovski or bands like Bla Bla Bla that breaks stereotypes and understand multiculturalism as way of life instead just as 'exclaimed intention' as such usually observed by our naturalized analysts [1][2][3]  

...


Edited by Max - 17-Apr-2018 at 00:41

from romantic period, most famous poems in Macedonia are Serdarot [1] epic poem from Grigor Prlicev and T'ga Za Yug [1] quoted in the first post as nostalgic poem from Konstantin Miladinov who were inspiration for many poets after their time http://www.pen.org.mk/en/publications/anthology-of-macedonian-pen-poets- most of them modernists like Matea Matevski which poem is presented below, joined after by the song Zajdi Zajdi as rearranged traditional poem, just to point out how deep "can go" local melorecitation...   

Sunset Crimson. Crimson. Crimson. Like a song carried off into the blue sea of mountains the sunset drowns... From the grass to the shepherd's pipe from the flock to the cloud all luxuriant ablazed. From chest to song from step to fountain everything is strangely coddled. A flock enamoured of the shepherd's pipe a bell lost in a song an eye crazed over a peony. Crimson. Crimson. Crimson. http://www.e-books.com.mk/01poetry/matevski/eng.asp

many dances has own complementary song e.g. with Maskoto Oro goes along the song Filka Moma [1], Kostursko Oro with Dodek je Moma [1], Arap Oro goes along Zajko Kokorajko [1][2][3][4][5 etc., this paralel is flexible because for one dance there can be different songs depending on region of origin, or ussualy with most of the songs is danced Lesnoto/Pravoto Oro (EasyOne/Direct or StraightOne) as simple everyday dance...

playing, dancing and singing are three forces in the process of creating folklore masterpiece, but their tuning-fork sources are also as important as they are, such are culture, geography and cussine, mostly responsible for longevity of our tradition! all of these through history were bonding macedonian ethnic code in way that today cannot be dismantle nor by wars, separations or politics, as long as there is will for living the tradition instead of putting it in museums, at least music should stay pure and unforgotten if everything else evaporate, and even no one it'll be capable to play and dance at least singing will remain live and same - coz as features of the soul word is endless and voice is purest emanation of eternity       

famous macedonian songs are partly listed on following links [1][2][3][4][5] and next video is mix of 5 songs from 3 main geographical regions in Macedonia       



among folklore singers in Macedonia respectfull status have female voices like Vaska Ilieva, Anka Gieva, Vanja Lazarova, Mirvet Belovska, Violeta Tomovska, Kostadinka Palazova, Petranka Kostadinova and nonetheless famous male warblers such Nikola Badev, Aleksandar Sarievski, Kiril Mancevski, Mirko Mitrevski, Zoran Georgiev, Trpe Cerepovski, Naum Petrevski etc. all of them performing traditional songs [1][2] but also new adaptations or even own compositions such as famous songs of Jonce Hristovski - Makedonsko Devojce, Zasvirete mi Calgii i Ako Umram il Zaginam
and among new performers outstands interpretations of Elena Hristova, Todor Proevski, Vera Milosevska, Saso Gigov, Dobrila Graseska, Bobi Andonov, Aleksandra Mangarovska etc.

culture is idea of cosmopolitism best expressed by music as universal languge, here people were singing all the time, in good or bad times singing was substitute for laughing and crying, singing was and still is best way to praise God and life and to stay in touch with creativity, here singing was and still is way of cheerfull comunication instead of talking... as cosequence in this country songs are with plenty of different moods, in same time fairly simple but enlightening wise, even today e.g. traditional limbo song Naseto Selo [1][2 which in few verses talks about boredom, carelessness and forgetfulness   

important to notice is that as with Orthodox Chrurch Singing songs are very alike or similar in neighboring contries because originate from same ethnological substrate overlaping around Macedonia as center of that cultural substratum, except that here in the core music was perfected in specific way or better to say practiced in rather different circumstances! it is well known that was challenging to stay calm in times like otoman feudalism or balkan romantism(second one still lasts) and here that was achieved only by chanalising all fears and tears through songs, singing was like easy burden carrier but also cultural strugal for freedom, similar as in modern times was reggae in Jamaica, just that in Macedonia every house had have own Power Singer instead of gramophone

also among cultural richness of our country is ethnic musical diversity and can be easly noticed by Roma people and their dance Chochek and singers such Esma Redzepova [1] or Muarem Serbezovski and brass performers like Ferus Mustafov [1], Agusevi, Cerkezi or Kocani Orchestra but also chalgija performers as Marem Aliev

Edited by Max - 06-Nov-2022 at 23:45

nowadays among best performers of our musical echoes are Orchestra Pece Atanasovski [1][2][3], Stefce Stojkovski Orchestra [1][2][3][4][5], Kaldrma [1][2][3][4][5] and many other...

but also there are etno-classic crossover interpreters like Dragan Dautovski [1], Anastasia [1], Synthesis [1], Baklava [1], Monistra [1], Ljubojna [1], Petar Rendzov [1]

all in all dont miss to listen our folklore! best place to be heard and seen is every year in may or june at Dolneni Festival http://www.culture.in.mk/story.asp?id=7075&rub=55 [1][2] and if not live on festivals, squares, concerts or in gardens, parks or mountains, then ask for any recording that your host may have and enjoy while visiting the country! but have in mind that our traditional music later has became affected by XX c. instruments which are heavly changing the original sound, so look up rather for traditional instrument orchestras instead of electric or eclectic like most of the numbered on following link [1] although if songs are played by pros still sounds quite good [1][2] but not as pure as traditional interpretations [3][4][5]

Edited by Max - 18-May-2012 at 11:56

Macedonian Traditional Instruments Macedonian folk instruments can be broadly classified into two main groups: traditional and oriental instruments. Gayda, kaval, supelka, duduk, zurla, dvoyanka, kemene, different kinds of tambura, tapan and def  are generally considered traditional instruments.  With slight variations, garneta (clarinet), violin, oud, laout, canon and tarabuka and/or daire are typically part of the oriental instrumental ensembles called Chalgii. The traditional instruments are used in various combinations - Gayda (bagpipe) is inherent to the Macedonian musical culture, particularly villages -[1][1][1][1][1] - Tambura is also considered a traditional instrument, although it was brought to Macedonia in the XIV and XV century by the Turks -[2] -  Kaval is typical macedonian flute instrument with unique sound, the Kaval and Supelka have traditionally been regarded as shepherds instruments. -[3][3][3]    Above three instruments often are played together  with some percussion instrument (tapance/daire/tarabuka)   - Zurla / TAPan are typically heard at weddings and other social occasions on which people entertain by performing folk dances -[4][4][4]     Macedonian traditional music has ubber-clasicall Size -[1][2][3][4][5] ...

Another interesting genre in the Macedonian musical culture is Chalgiya. In Macedonia, calgiya present an ensemble which employs instruments of persian-arabian origin tho as such earlier largely influenced by its byzantine neighbors, anyway in middle ages it became some sort universal balkan pop-music, variation of the traditional music spread through oriental ensembles that flourished mostly in the larger towns.  
today Calgiya is a typical old-town music i.e. "starogradska muzika", already having long tradition in towns, notably Veles, Ohrid, Bitola and Salonika...
As style chalgiya carries strong oriental influence, as reflected in the playing style, however in the course of time, the calgiya music in Macedonia developed its specific tonal dialect and expression -[5][5][5][5][5], which later got further modifications eg. in Egean Macedonia where is combined with brass orchestras -[5], or today as crossover with traditional instruments -[5]  
Chalgiya ensembles were and are welcomed at weddings, religious celebration rituals (Christmas, Epiphany, Easter etc), holidays and fairs etc.






Edited by Max - 15-Mar-2017 at 14:56