June 5 & 6 - Two more days in Skopje
Our 2nd day in Skopje, Macedonia started with breakfast on Zoya's veranda which was a traditional Balkan type of pastry.
Our 2nd day in Skopje, Macedonia started with breakfast on Zoya's veranda which was a traditional Balkan type of pastry.
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| OK Zoya, I didn't use the other picture of you - that's good, right? |
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| A flaky, pastry with cheese inside |
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| Fighting over the last bite |
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| Toru thinks it's tasty, too. |
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| Time to do our laundry...Beautiful day so it goes outside. |
Then I had an appointment with Zoya's hair dresser to get my gray all
covered up. Oops...only my hairdresser is supposed to know my
secret, but this is a good story, so I have to tell.
The hair dresser knew some English and we were discussing some things about Macedonian culture when we realized more time had passed than probably should have.
She
hurriedly started to rinse my hair and discovered there was no water.
She ran downstairs to her landlord, but he couldn't (or wouldn't) do
anything. So she left and brought back two liters of bottled water
to rinse my hair. Meanwhile I could feel my hair “cooking away”.
It turned out ok, though....a little bit white on top, but it's an
interesting story – right?
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| Zoya's cute 20 yr old something hairdresser |
The hair dresser knew some English and we were discussing some things about Macedonian culture when we realized more time had passed than probably should have.
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| Oops...the color has been in for an hour - a little too long. |
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| She adds some curl to it, also. |
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| Not as bad as I thought it might be with no rinse water. |
We went further into the city square to have some photos in my "new -doo".
I found a
great antique spoon of Skopje at a good price when who should I run
into (again)? You guessed it! Nick! We hugged and acted like old
friends and this time I did start crying! He is the most amazing young man with
such a positive outlook on life.
We went out into the rain and started singing all the “rain” songs that we knew. We videoed “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head” - so fun!
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| By the beautiful fountain |
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| Through the old town over the cobblestone streets |
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| To an Antique Shop which I just love |
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| This is #6 time that we've run into Nick from Columbia. AMAZING! |
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| "Check out my profile and the cute chicks by my side." |
We went out into the rain and started singing all the “rain” songs that we knew. We videoed “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head” - so fun!
Some more scenes from the old town.
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| European girls typically walk hand in hand or arm in arm - most are just great friends. |
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| There are many beggars on the streets, but this one is actually trading his music for money. |
A quick trip over to Kale Fortress. It was originally built by the Byzantines in the 6th century. After the 1963 Skopje earthquake, the fortress's circular, rectangular and square towers were conserved and restored. It is today one of the most popular tourist spots in the city.
On March 11, 1943, Skopje's entire Jewish population of 3,286 was transferred by Bulgarian occupying forces to the Nazis and deported to the gas chambers of Treblinka concentration camp in German-occupied Poland. Such terrible history for a beautiful city.
For our next adventure of the day, Rich and I went shopping in the “Old Bazaar”.
They sold everything there. We bought a bunch of different
vegetables as we wanted to make dinner again.
Rich had the best time trying to find some sweet peppers. Of course we don't speak Macedonian and they don't speak English. He managed to ask if he could have a sample of the pepper that he thought was sweet, so they broke off a piece and he took a big bite. Steam started rolling off the top of his bald head and because he couldn't speak for a minute or so and the shop vendors were trying to contain their laughter, I realized that he had chosen a VERY hot pepper. We all got a laugh out of that incident.
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| Rich's favorite pastime - SHOPPING for food. |
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| Every kind of bean and seed |
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| Vicki Williams would have a ball at these shops. |
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| So many colors and fabrics to choose from |
Rich had the best time trying to find some sweet peppers. Of course we don't speak Macedonian and they don't speak English. He managed to ask if he could have a sample of the pepper that he thought was sweet, so they broke off a piece and he took a big bite. Steam started rolling off the top of his bald head and because he couldn't speak for a minute or so and the shop vendors were trying to contain their laughter, I realized that he had chosen a VERY hot pepper. We all got a laugh out of that incident.
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| This was probably a story they will tell for awhile about the crazy American! |
I also bought some cheap sandals for
kicking around at the beach for less than $6.00. We had lunch which
was only about $3 for both of us – the best chicken soup ever and
big rolls.
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| YUM....YUM.... |
We prepared Kung Pao Chicken over rice
and Zoya has several cherry trees which Tortu had picked and seeded,
so I made a cherry crisp, which was a big hit. (oops...no picture)
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| Rich's expertise is his "Kung-Pao chicken" dish |
The 3rd day brought a trip
to Madka Canyon and Lake Madka.
We were practically the only ones on the trail and it was absolutely perfect weather and a beautiful hike.
We had brought a picnic lunch...we walked about 5 miles through the rugged mountains and the river-lake beside us and a very ancient trail with a few mosques along the way.
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| On the way to the lake by bus |
We were practically the only ones on the trail and it was absolutely perfect weather and a beautiful hike.
We had brought a picnic lunch...we walked about 5 miles through the rugged mountains and the river-lake beside us and a very ancient trail with a few mosques along the way.
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| Macedonian stores have rows and rows of this "meat spread"....ewww! Rich liked it. |
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| The ancient path is getting more rugged, steep, and narrow. |
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| A beautiful boat dock and lake retreat. |
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| mmm....smell that clean mountain air. |
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| We just had a lemonade without him. |
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| Such a good picture of Rich and his smiling self. |
We weren't sure how to catch the bus back to Skopje, so Rich always finds the prettiest girls to ask directions - works every time.
We traveled with these pretty Muslim young women who helped us find the right stop to get off on the bus. We enjoyed conversing with them and they wanted my facebook address and to send us pictures. They were very friendly and smart, having quite good English.
Zoya took us to have dinner at a local restaurant and we met a friend of hers and another couch surfer host. The place was quite crowded with loud, boisterous laughing and smoking (typical of most European places).
Leaving Skopje today and on to Ohrid tomorrow for two days...should be fun.
We traveled with these pretty Muslim young women who helped us find the right stop to get off on the bus. We enjoyed conversing with them and they wanted my facebook address and to send us pictures. They were very friendly and smart, having quite good English.
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| Such sweet young girls studying at the University |
Zoya took us to have dinner at a local restaurant and we met a friend of hers and another couch surfer host. The place was quite crowded with loud, boisterous laughing and smoking (typical of most European places).
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| Good company with a good dinner |
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| Oops - sorry Tyler - I can't remember what this was that Rich ordered. |
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| Shopksa Salad - again....so good! |
Leaving Skopje today and on to Ohrid tomorrow for two days...should be fun.
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