Macedonia Travel Guides

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

it must be noted that as standardized codex, heraldry in the past was untypical for Macedonia, although there are many coats made abroad drowned from local symbolism [1][2][3]

yet even today we are not running for western heraldry, that is evident by the latest national emblem, which is landscape composition [1][2] surrounded by domestic plants as macedonian poppy and tobacco plus cotton and wheat, cultivars by whom we were and still are famous for (before and after industrial revolution) [3] the grape probably had bad year then so it was left-out, this makes our emblem still socialistic [4] but today without the star, solely original along with other municipal coats [5]

it is also rarest example of insignia in the world, that had been punked for few years in continuity, as fart sketch in the political cartoon show Ednooki (cyclops)[1][2][3] aired on few national tv's in the past years as spitting image gig, normally this was not accepted as offensive expression by the audience - first coz as nation we are cheerful mellow mooders - second the show is public airduct and third it is produced by an clever kontrabanda [1][2][3] early in SRMa this calming role of mass brain-boggled massage was pushed by magazine the omnipopular Osten (goad) today turned to its roots again a world cartoon gallery and contest which for 40 years is held in Skopje [1][2][3] and had probably influenced the strip-art community in the country [4] which members e.g. are co-creators of ednooki [5] altho more expresed as web than tv artists, maybe coz net saves more time while pays same, even more if we are bombed by turkish soap stars



maybe all of this has affected the creativity of local authorities, who had uniquely sewed up the local boundaries that have been introduced in 2004 e.g. skopje has shape of butterfly and skopye region shape of human heart, even abstractly the capital is spreading and pumping our existence, in both cases truly symbolical shapes of our cultural and economical state in the country...
maybe tomorrow as support to the skopye'14 revival, authorities will redraw some new silhouette e.g. the forgotten sharko Peritas who didnt get chance to climb beside Alex and Bukefal, that can be marked to the city center map, or maybe his analogy should be left to the state borders...

Edited by Max - 23-Jul-2017 at 19:24

if ur not coming to balkans as cultural tourist, as is sugested in 5th post early, and came only for o'ti'um, then ur missing the best opportunity for contemplative tour of life! its shame that hosts, particularly tour operators, although have art excursions to arch.sites,sacral places,monuments etc., they dont give opportunity to the guest for direct cultural if not spiritual experience (national or religious feasts), this is left as improvised step in the programs, thats ok only for young people!? there are some offers like Galicka Svadba but those are too artificial events that almost looks as exponat than real wedding, still traditional if not else, but there are no offers for true fests, as is for example Ilinden [1][2][3] that is both cultural and spiritual feast, which lacks only better flower-fireworks on the balconies...
this approach it would be even more questionable in future coz of constant economic and consumeristic rush, that influence our stumbling upon world globalization, long process by whom we were, and still are, taken as voluntary hostages [1][2][3], thats why our cultural fields -from day to day - more and more- are becoming freedomless savannas, quite simply explained in the song our Afrika from sk-ska band Superhiks or cheerfully stressed by sk-o'regō band Kanon in its song ait izLezi, people get out of rat-race mediocre trap! definitely best portrayed by belgrade PiBiK in O'kako that as greeting is singed for, in and on macedonia/n...
...although our society is not too technocratic, while chasing EA integrations it is becoming more and more like it, as extra formal and less actual commune, if could be said communa at all, coz we live so separate that maybe only city plumbing is left for accidental intercourse [1][2] or eventually through street shoe cleaners which finally got its own monument located on the 1920 skopje korzo



isnt something missing in this picture? people, no one notices or cares that should have happy shiny shoes, so in a way we are also tourists in our own country, seeking for knowledge and experience that we watch how its passing by, although not able to truly see it, our attention in transition have been trained to focus on tele-vision gaining self respect from tv consumption, habits that position us 2nd place in europe! so with closed windows we have become forgetful for regeneration and sharing of our local traditions, and living in a box became our daily reality, instead the opposite a beyond the box true reality that is the invisible world behind this material world who gives substance and meaning to our life! shamely Most of us had forget to sing, play and dance macedonian motifs, that is even more terrible when we find our self talking with foreigners that have this ability, and start arguing that We all know the path but We have better things on mind like salsa or katange or maybe frappe of both! that’s why we need constant refresh, about how much to abandon from the material to gain in spiritual, if we want to keep live and fresh our local watermark, yet as most of humanity today we are also blinded coz inability to interchange this paradigm, thus not recognizing why, what and who is who in this age of possessive individualism!


Edited by Max - 23-Jul-2017 at 19:27

above oasis article the one before last link, is little over-exagerated although in many aspects true, still its posted decade ago, when we were at the beginning of the end of posttitoistic transition that almost tear apart the country in all aspects, from economy through politics till culture ending with instructed conflict! it was time of hedonistic apathy that in '90s was mostly amortized by western carrots like new tv's, freedom of speech, opportunity for civil society, crossborder collaboration, chance for own business or idealism, times when we were happy if someone got brand new doc martens... and then came along cellulars, playstation and internet, that immediately introduced the feeling of global village where normally everybody got lost, specially the mirc generations that today become allround facebook addictives! yet I miss the pager period of my life, when you'l get a message on which werent obligated to respond not loosing own integrity!

back to the point, today Macedonia is far away from 90's regional instability, corruption or crime, this is also confirmed from foreign authorities [1][2][3], today Macedonia is more safest and equipped than many european countries taken perceptually, even tho we dont have their standards, maybe coz disparity between the reach and the poor is not so dramatic as is elsewhere, so we rarely fall in despair having more empathy that envy among citizens! maybe we are not in temptation coz our billionaire are immigrants [1][2] and the rest of wealthy Macedonians are not more than local-size entrepreneurs [3] or maybe we are encouraged by modest entrepreneurs that as artists bring confidence in our society in a more normal way than any local sultan's candy-store e.g. work of the animation studio fx3x [1][2][3], that along with mikrosam are potentially most perspective private companies, normally if they continue to invest further like mikrosam in its hi-tech, but also if dont forget on their predecessors like vardar-film or euro-composit, as all of us remembers and learn from own tradition... maybe this sounds like cheap advertising, but still for us another big success of common people for now in small country, tomorrow maybe in larger like eu, this points out to our potential that needs more manufactured outsourcing and nlp management, in mean time we must stay focused just to ensure maximum support from our older brothers...



when it comes to tourism we are not place for elite one coz we are reachable place available to common people, as should be place where Christianity blossom, but mostly as hidden gem instead of popular bijoutery, truly authentic as is whole balkan! and its better to stay like this! on other hand active and mass tourism like its practiced on seashores, will make us to become minority in our own country of 2 mil. thus our tradition it could completely fade away, or in best case this can happen with our tranquility and wilderness, pumping up lots of garbage and decadence!
definitely cultural direction in tourism can be achived only if we live for it i.e. in it, with consciousness for our own potential, just we need to speed up some approaches immediately e.g. our behavior to the guests which although among citizens is on distinctive level yet among salesman is lacking the needed politeness and hospitality, that lately is corrected by public guerrilla campaigns http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonian-minister-defends-controversial-ads [1]

...independent and hard working people with ancient roots, that in titoism became significantly lazy-clever as it was itar peyo in the middle ages, people that today are keen to become western vassal heroes similar as in midle ages was krale marko to turks, are people that tomorrow may become again truly free and self-sufficient, sharing own beauty only to those that truly needed it, coz its sin to cast the pearls in front every wanderlust nomad, though dont take me seriously I'm only thinking aloud about my fears for world that reach strange crossroad [1]...       



http://www.build.mk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=373&PID=201799#201799




Edited by Max - 23-Jul-2017 at 19:31