Vila Domarija Skopje

... had a traditional Macedonian Salad which was delicious -- think peppers and eggplants and potato salad. It tasted much better than my description! We also shared a pizza which turned out to be one of the best pizzas we've had in the Balkans so far.

After that it was time for bed as we had an 8am bus to Ohrid the next day. Upon reflection Skopje was far from a terrible place to spend a few hours -- we just wouldn't recommend going out of your way to pay a visit.

... as the London Pub was, I'd do some sightseeing. In terms of sights, Skopje doesn't really offer them on a plate to you. It is not, by any stretch of the imagination attractive. However there are little bits and pieces that make it worth dropping in if you're passing through the region- in all honesty I was only there because it was sort of en route. I started off by walking down Ulca Makedonija (naming every street after the country it's in doesn't strike ...

... was very nice to have hot water this time. Today is Macedonia's Independance Day, they don't do much for it in this household, but there was something going on down at the center square. Too tired to go and see how they celebrate, I really didn't miss much because I heard the fireworks being set off near the house. Later in the night, people marching through the streets singing songs and just having a good time. Til I have another adventure!

First day here, arrived about 3:50pm which is almost 9am Indiana time. I am not so much jet lagged but just plain wore out from traveling. Marija drove me around to see some sites before heading to her place, where I will call home for these next few weeks. At "home" Marija's mom had prepared a welcoming dish for me to eat... basically chicken and rice- never go wrong with chicken!! I was presented with homemade chicken and ...

... are pretty horror-esque. After shooting I ate at a fast food resaurant called 7. A burger place. It really made me feel like a kid again. The burger is huge, and they load it with home made ketchup, home made mayo, and lots of french fries. I remember as a kid telling my dad he should put french fries on his burgers, and im glad to see that someone else thought it was a good idea. It ...

... been quite easy to find, if Lonely Planet knew the difference between left and right (there is no map, so I'm following their written directions) and if the Albanians believed in street signs. These things not so, I spend quite some time wandering the streets around the main square, picking out a minaret above the skyline and moving towards it until I reach its mosque. Although this method fails to bring me to Sarena ...

... actually difficult not to take any side, even though it is better not to tell your opinions too loudly. Now part of the Albanian population in Struga wants to build a statue for one Albanian hero to the middle of the town. If it is good or not, i don't know. Where will it lead, who knows. When you talk with people, yuo hear so often so radical view points from both sides. Great-Macedonians and Great-Albanians are repeated, but maybe it is stupid to generalize that those ...

I arrived in Macedonia a few days ago, my plane had the Danish soccer team....it sure made my flight go a lot quicker, hehehe. The weather here is lovely....its not overly hot but warm....i haven't seen sunshine in over 2 weeks so im glad i can wear my shorts here. Macedonia is cheap as chips.....im loving it.

It is illegal to cross into Serbia from Kosovo, so to get back to Budapest I had to first go back to Macedonia and enter Serbia via the main Skopje-Belgrade highway. The trip from Prishtina only takes 1 1/2 hours, most of which is spent at the border while UNMIK looks at all the passports of the passengers. I had planned to spend the day in Skopje and catch ...

... the middle of the mountains,and the KLA hoped to creep by unnoticed.My sudden groan of pain from my sore ankle,when it had again twisted in an unseen pothole,had not pleased him.When M slipped ov** lat** in the walk,he kept impeccably silent,only to be surrounded in moments by his devotees,asking how he was and making enough fuss to wake the dead. Our final approach saw us leave the steep,and often wooded escarpments behind,and come out onto a flat plateau ...