Macedonia Travel Guides

this ruin above is probably another antique bath-house, rated as roman tho i think that is from Samuels time simply lacks extra brick&tile in the walls as is case with all the other excavations there, maybe in early antiquity this was part of some spa complex and in later antiquity it was used as water reservoir (as is recognized now by the archaeologists) hm probably cisterns back then were built even with statues inside (so the gathered water could be blessed instantly) anyway this structure is located on our island called Big Town [1] @ our beautiful PrLa piece which our neighbors left for us after the last balkan wars, now officially the one and only watery crown in republic of Macedonia, tho there are many in geographical Macedonia, but sure the best and purest one from all ~ with enough untouched prehistoric mood enriched by extra biodiversity, more known by its snakes, bats and birds than its mushrooms, plants and trees like the wild Foya now regularly bleached by pelican poo making them an wooden pearls in this crown ... tho this 'one&only' perception rule, counts for all of our nature, and not just coz Macedonia is part of the Mediterranean basin biodiversity hotspot, but coz scientists say its the third richest biodiversity hotspot in the world ... hm i'm mesmerized by this statement and if its true then this island [2] should be among the top ten around

 

another good puzzle along this man-made Spa talk is the natural diagonal at this place, pointing toward the shores of the Prespa Lake mostly stuffed with healing mud and sand, plus extra amount of algae above and flora below, its like fairy place and unlike Ohrid stil unburdened from extra amounts of concrete, but unluckily buzzed by tons of pesticides, hope our government will find courage to stop this mad fiasco of all those prespa apple orchards which nowadays are treated from 15 to 20 times annually, yep healing mud with layer of creamy agro-chemicals, but having plenty birds and fish on and in the lake is kind of comfort like natural compass which points that this water and its shores are stil useful, now also companied by the most urbanized beaches in the country [3]

~

and despite the fact that Prespa had the best healing-mud potential here, as always all the buzz on this matter was reserved for the Doyran Lake ~ our smallest natural lake, place surrounded by unique stories and facts like the one that here is the only cathedral Church dedicated to Saint Iliya [1] our national patron [2] but also place famous by its predominant mediterranean clime ~ reason why here we produce most of our exotic and tropical fruits like Kaki, Lemons, Olives, Kiwi, Pomegranate etc. [3]  

http://gbtimes.com/travel/balkan-pearl-lake-dojran

The Mud - the Doiran mud is mending. Its specifically beneficial in healing of the muscles and bones.This is very usual site on Dojran shores. People cover themselves with mud and bake on the sun. They believe in its healing powers.The Algae - It's good for healing sinusitis. The algae that is being produced in the lake can take care of any sinusitis inflammation you have.making it the third largest lake partially in the Republic of Macedonia after Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa.The lake was on the southern line of the Macedonian front during World War I, and its southern shore became the site of the various Battles of Doiran between allied troops and Bulgarian troops. [1]

Edited by Max - 07-May-2016 at 21:12

good reason why migrants avoid and tourists adore us

http://www.build.mk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=373&PID=160772#160772

Turns out, Macedonia's the cheapest game in town with a price index of 47, while Bulgaria follows close behind with 48 and Albania closes out the top three with 50. In fact, a whopping seven of the 10 cheapest European countries are located on the Balkan peninsula [1]

i love how improvisation gets You out of this world even u didnt want to go, its same with this video, its same with this quote, all u need next is just a room for all who want to escape from the concrete jungle

A setting sun between high black hills was turning the lake a coppery pink and the clouds all the colours of a rainbow trout. [1]

 

Edited by Max - 22-Jun-2015 at 22:55

early in 70s the old fisherman settlements have become hedonistic hot spots, among whom Lagadin with its longest 300m beach on the Ohrid lake was the elite one (for our standards, tho beach is just a beach) , yet watch closely the video this shore is stil rural enough so it could welcome any guest even those with calmed hearts, but who can tell whats ahead [1]

   

Lagadin is an small tourist village with peaceful life and clean beaches.  Ikar Hut is a new interactive concept where the guests them selves can participate in creative workshops, gardening, or diverse outdoor adventures and activities.  You'll never be bored with us. If you are willing to meet the lake deeper in its crystal clear waters, or hike up to the top of the mountains around, you are more then welcome to join us [1] if u stil wonder how, just ask for the mayоr [2]

this Poem was inspired by the Ohrid Lake but from Struga perspective although written in Moscow [1]

and about the top post resignation from the nowadays decadence I'll add that even the old core of the city cant escape this mood, simply in times of spiritual blindness what else is left around to enjoy except consumerism 

maybe only way to dwell there through the time, and reach some peacefulness, is to disconnect yourself from all the technology while singing some etno vibe 

Ohrid is a town-museum and a cultural treasury of Macedonia. It has often been referred to as “Balkan Jerusalem”. Situated on the shore of the lake, it abounds in natural and spiritual beauties. The antique name of the town is Lychnidos. It became known for the work of St. Clement and Naum, the disciples of the first Slavic educators and enlighteners St. Cyril and Methodius, they were the founders of the famous “Ohrid Literary School” which was a highly developed ecclesiastic, educational and literary centre, and among the first in Europe. The town of Ohrid with its lake, its natural beauties, and its historical and cultural heritage is a true pearl of the Republic of Macedonia and enjoys the protection of UNESCO. The unique flora and fauna of the lake make it one of the largest biological reser­vats in Europe and pose a rare curiosity for explorers, who have named the lake "a fresh-water sea". It covers an area of358 km and the greatest depth measured in it is 228.7 m. Its crystal clear water provides an extraordinary translucency of 21.5 m. Some of the species which live in the lake are relics of the ancient plant and animal life which used to thrive throughout Euro-Asia, but today can be found only in the Tiberius Lake in the Near East and the Lake Baikal in Siberia. The fish life in the lake, with its 17 distinct species, is truly amazing. The best known are the two kinds of endemic Ohrid trout, Letnica and Belvica (Salmothymus ohridanus), also the Eel which can reach up to 1.5 m in length. These fish are a real challenge to anglers and a treat for gastronomes, especially for those who know how to pre­pare the trout in the famous "Ohrid way".  Danilo kocevski – METROM - 1997

OH Girl Grow Up    With Big Smile 

tho without dirty look 

 

Situated on the shores of Lake Ohrid, the town of Ohrid is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. Built mainly between the 7th and 19th centuries, it has the oldest Slav monastery (St Pantelejmon) and more than 800 Byzantine-style icons dating from the 11th to the end of the 14th century. After those of the Tretiakov Gallery in Moscow, this is considered to be the most important collection of icons in the world http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/99

http://www.build.mk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=617 [1]

The oldest decorative plastic known of today made of wood is the sculpture St. Clement of Ohrid at the church St. Clement of Ohrid towards the end of the 13th century, the doors in the alter-screens of the monastery Andras (Holy Virgin and Archbishop Gavril), the hanging lamps of the church St. Nikolas, Varos, near Prilep, the sanctuary doors of the church St. Nikolas Bolnicki in Ohrid. The oldest wooden iconostasis is in the church Mali St. Vraci in Ohrid. [1] The oldest preserved wood iconostasis in Macedonia can be found in the church of St. Mali Sveti Vraci in Ohrid known as Church Sts. Kuzman and Damjan. It is not known when it was built but here you can see a beautiful iconostasis dating back to 1352. Two columns from this iconostas carved in wood can be seen today in the house of the Robevci family in Ohrid. Above the iconostas there is a cross depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ which was probably created in the 17th century. [2] The magnificent wood carved door from St.Nicholas of the Hospitals from the 14th century housed in the Archaeological-Historical Museum in Sophia, comprised of 16 panels is a rare artifact, and has been an object of scholarly polemical analysis for many decades. [3] It is normal to suppose that decorative sculpture was complementary to fresco-painting and an integral part of the architectural arrangements and the architectural conception. The oldest specimens of decorative sculpture in Macedonia are the wood carvings on the altar screen in the church of St. Sophia in Ohrid. After the Ottoman conquest, the influence of Middle Eastern elements in the Macedonian wood carving became much stronger. The shallow and flat arabesque style of carving dominating until the 17th century began to be replaced by more intricate styles of carving. In the monasteries of Slepche, Treskavec, Zrze, Varosh (near Prilep) and in the Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin of Kichevo, a number of works by Macedonian wood-carvers have been preserved. They reveal the characteristics of the Slepche-Prilep wood-carver's school: shallow and flat carving and rich geometrically interwoven floral and animal motifs. Wood carving in Macedonia in the 13th century continued its development with new vigor and was enriched by new elements. The members of the Miyak wood-carver's school introduced the human figure in their artistic works and integrated it within the ornamental whole in an amazing way. The art of wood carving was not confined to churches and monasteries only: wood-carvers' tayfi (groups) began to decorate mosques, as well as sarays (mansions) and houses of wealthy merchants. In 1814, Petre Filipovski's "tayfas" from the village of Gari made the Great Iconostasis, kept in the National Library in Belgrade until World War II when it was destroyed by bombing. Petre Filipovski "Garka", his brother Marko, and Makarie Frchkovski from Galichnik worked on the iconostasis in the Church of the Holy Savior in Skopje from 1824 to 1829-an iconostasis ten meters long and six meters high . Some of the characters in the Biblical scenes are depicted dressed in Galichnik folk costumes. Art historians are unanimous that the value of this masterpiece lies in the softness of its lines, its arrangement of the forms, its stylization and its baroque playfulness. In the period over 1830 to 1840, the famous master wood-carvers Petre Filipovski and Makarie Frchkovski carved the iconostasis in the Monastery of St. John Bigorski. They left behind self-portraits among the scenes of this iconostasis and again on the iconostasis in the Church of the Holy Savior. The iconostasis in St. John Bigorski is a grandiose example of Macedonian wood carving, divided into six horizontal squares abounding in floral and animal ornaments.

http://www.build.mk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=263&PN=1



Edited by Џоле - 28-Feb-2015 at 19:21

one more time about Prespa
but now from Aerial side and Windy PR
seems i need extra room for additional info, not needless at all, coz here is located one of the most lively south'european checkpoints for migratory birds, tho with small 2k-ha strickt reserve called Ezerani Wetland [1] visited by over 260 bird species 104 of which water birds... except that these birds are prespa celebrities, they are also continental alchemists who fructify all that plants around, in such way giving them original essence from many asian and african skies, thats why this place shines strong worldly mood, in same time without any urban lightshow, but with many rural fireworks... all this theatrical scenery is praised highly through the countless costumes from all around ethnic Macedonia assembled in an cozy village museum [1] sure they are mostly of interest to special guests...



yes these shores are regularly visited by Light Balls usually spotted as aliens without alienated intentions popping out all around the lake, fact that is distinctive for this region except that here we are rarely witnessing any crop circles as i know, tho swirls are common occurrence! maybe some alien fish is juggling with some aural messages!? for this info i have testimony from local pilot but also local fisherman too, tho there is also some net info [1] and while i know that in most cases they are demiurgs here i hope they are not, but this is just mine false comfort, coz probably they are [1] and as direct consequence of none monastic life at this moment in any of those 20+ monasteries and cave churches around there... stil there is plenty evidence from known flying object i.e. humanoid gliders and paraglides, only paragliders here glide less than ohrid side of mount Galitchitsa where they have pilgrimage site [1]

There are not a lot of places in this world where you wake up surrounded by complete silence. At the dawn of the day, unless you hear cormorants early in the morning following the fishing boats at the end of Stenje, the village of Lake Prespa has no sound — the only thing that one can hear is the endless, blissful silence… - National Geographic Serbia http://www.greenfudge.org/2014/04/28/macedonias-forgotten-prespa-lake/

as it was started this page, in same manner it will finish, so lets say this is our utmost multiethnic region coz except macedonins, turks and albanians, here could be found greeks too, altho from macedonian ethnicity i.e. with greek citizenship coz this lake is transboundary [1] its something like floating cohabitation among the multiethnic fisherman from all the sides, yea they have mutual agreement that they can overfish the widely famous Prespa Carp [1] today caught with smart nets ' irredentist move against the lake fauna but tradition too, so if u are ecologically conscious avoid eating local carp from modern fisherman tho i'll suggest from them go for Tsironki - an sunny Belvitsa i.e. dried clipfish, delicious for meze even without wine! ...what are stringed peppers Vezulki to Prilep thats Tsironki to Prespa, and combination from both give away Makalo freedom sound, as such understandable to all of those 23 species of fish found in the area from which 9 are endemic... once i was in love with Prespa which heart i sense its not from this world - feeling that is closely depicted by this clip [1] it was also my first excursion place in primary school think 4th grade or so, normally place of my first true romance by the lake as i can remember (which is extremely rare thing) it was early spring but it was hot as late summer, altho this is not unusual coz this lake is way warmer than its neighbor, not on every spot but also ideal for winter sunbathing...

use ur time wisely

life cant wait for insurgent nostalgia
tho i am assured by my blood relatives that our romantic foot-soldiers and especially their Voyvodi lost their freedom fight coz lack of more herbal consciousness, they missed the antique flower message from our ancestors TO 'use Camomile tea - so they could have clear throat and sing more pure songs e.g. for song like Shto E Ova Chudo Mamo (What Is This Miracle Mama) [1] instead they've used probably too much thorn-apples or maybe extra amounts of hrdya (soma)

so the uprising was more psychodelic than real, tho the blood was pouring from all the sides making bold reaction 10 years later after Ilinden from our neighbors and their melting promises that they are invading to liberate macedonians - when in my family three brothers were separated and turned against each other, something that regularly is popping out even today in this independent part of Macedonia when all the parties are bribed by some neighboring propaganda machine, thus keeping us hostage from within i.e. easiest way to stop us becoming aware and strong enough so we could unite again all this peninsula - as was case in antiquity and middle ages, but Chamomile Tea and everything is possible tho avoid reexported goods except if they are from some distant mrmr relative of ours [1][2]

this beauty of meadows as it is often called,
will charm you with its soothing elegant and floral fragrance,
that goes hand in hand with with its authentic and familiar flavor,

Pure as morning dew with its golden yellow colour,
it has a magical effect that is most powerful in the morning,
or in the evening whenever you wish to brush away stress

How to experience this Tea at its best:
To increase the feeling of relaxation, instead of one
put two tea bags in a cup, then add a little honey
and just few drops of lemon juice

has even piano as welcoming sculpture

altho its better to have them few around the town [1]



but for 1/10 of Sk, they dont have enough new ideas so they could keep fresh that Musical City epithet, today except Foltin and Parketi i cant recall for new big bt-names on our music scene, and not that they are lazy but they cant focus more artistic energy coz all that emigration trend which is probably oldest among our cities i.e. as always people of Bitola were prone toward wealth early becoming largest macedonian commune of fortune seekers in the west [1] now even with billionaires down there [2][3] hm on other hand ex-bitolchani are only compatriots that dont reinvest something in their birthplace

then there were others that have been uplifting this city, like Manaki brothers who has had the first balkan and ottoman camera here [1] memory now reverted by the famous camera festival [2] which has made this place world-celebrity checkpoint something untypical for any local city

what to say city of art in the past century



stil Bitola today has another ace in the sleeve its probably most famous place for macedonian pastry like Zelnik, Maznik or Mlechnik even the sweet Milibrod [1] maybe due to the fact that early it was largest macedonian town in ottoman macedonia after Salonica, or coz it was most versatile place of local vegetables 1], tho all of them widespread across the country... also here u can find the largest Shiitake producer if not only one in the country that export in eu, as karmic message it says all - Bitola is healing place if u listen its food while tasting its music!

simply Bitola is Fresh, Young and Gifted in any season