The Tucan tour we have joined, Balkans Explored, is 23 day component of a larger tour, and many of the group have been travelling from other locations. We are the newbies. It's an adventure style tour, and so uses public transport. However, the group is now 19, and quite large for this style, so we will frequently travel by hired mini-buses.
Yesterday we travelled from Sofia to Skopje by private mini bus. It was quite hot, with only partial air conditioning. 36 degrees in Skopje in the afternoon, but to be honest it didn't feel all that hot there. Border crossing took longer than expected..... While we sat in the bus in the sun.
Interesting afternoon in Skopje, Sunday so most things were closed. We had an orientation tour of the city ( many, many oversized statues), and then into a bar in the Turkish Quarter. Food and drink was very cheap - large plate of meat/fried cheese (770 deenas) several big beers, small beers with lemon and cokes- total price, just less than 2000 deenas or $42. Plenty for 4 people.
Today we are in a public bus on the way to Lake Ohrid. Most curtains are drawn because of heat, so there's little chance to see the scenery along the way. Pity. But time is well spent catching up on my blog. That's a bonus.
Ohrid, or Lake Ohrid is an interesting gem of a place. We did an orientation walking tour with our tour leader, pointing out the usual things tourists need to know ( places to eat, markets, banks, money exchanges etc) as well as a few places of interest in Ohrid - churches, the old fortress, beaches.... or what they call beaches. Pebbles, no sand, but popular and well serviced by very close bars.
Another full day in Ohrid - an opportunity for a day in a boat out on the lake and the chance to visit a couple of interesting places with a local guide- Zorhan. Definitely one of life's unique characters.
We visited the Bay of Bones - an archaeological site on the edge of the lake, where they have reconstructed a community to show what the civilisation would have looked like, from the remnants ( or bones) that have been discovered below the surface.
Our guide, Zorhan is a marine biologist, so full of information about the uniqueness of the lake, which is partly Macedonian, and partly Albanian. The lake is large, third oldest in the world, and mostly fed by spring water from below, with 80% of water coming from that source.
He also took us to an amazing small church full of ancient frescos. He explained several of the images, related his own experience of the miracles that are purported to occur on the anniversary of Saint Naum's death.
Boat trip itself was an experience, some smooth and glassy...
And some quite choppy.
We had prepared well for the trip, with snacks and wine, but Zorhan also supplied some. On his advice we added soda water to our wine.... For drinking during the hot sun. Good plan, no headache. Bought bulk wine for 60 denars a litre - $1.30 per litre. And it wasn't bad either. Red was better than white. Of course Zorhan also joined in the merriment, but only on the return trip.
Ohrid has an amazing laid-back tourist feel, with a real carnival atmosphere well into the night. People fill the malls, many shops open well past 9pm, restaurants, bars and cafes also busy late into the night. Only the extensive market area closed on dark ( around 9pm)- didn't seem to have enough light.
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