Northern Greece, Albania & Macedonia: Ancient Lands of Alexander the Great Day 13

Day 13 - Sunday, October 22, 2017 - Enter Macedonia; Drive to Lake Ohrid, Orientation Walk in Ohrid; Afternoon at Leisure

The city was still asleep when we left Tirana at 9:00. Our A3 route took us south and east through several small mountain villages because there was a detour for highway construction. The main highways were easier to drive and much faster but one missed the unique local flavor.

We drove along the river valley and saw fields and fields of roses growing all in full bloom. The farmers had cleared the corn and the staulks were piled upright in shocks to dry and feed the animals during the winter.

Our morning stop was near the village of Çiberraka. Anna reminded us it was the last opportunity to spend our Leks from Albania.

We drove up and over the Korab mountain range following the Shkumbin River Valley to the border town of Dogana. The hillsides were dotted with the round, mushroom like bunkers we had seen and read about in our pre-trip research.

A large statue of Mother Teresa looked out over the border of the two countries, the valley below, and the bunkers on the hillsides. We were reminded of her words, “Peace begins with a smile.”

We had time to use the restrooms and take photos. Several people climbed up the hills to take a few close-ups of the bunkers, long abandoned but the history was still vivid in the forefront of Albanian thought.

At the Albanian side of the border, Tasoss took in the papers from the vehicle. Anna walked into the office and the Albanian agent asked for a coffee, (think 5 €), the code word for a tip. Because Anna gave them a little “extra”, we did not have to get our passports out.

However, at the Macedonian border, the guards took our documents and even stamped the passports. At noon, Bobi, our Macedonian guide, got on our bus to be with us for the next five days.

Bobi gave us general information about his mountainous country. Originally part of Yugoslavia, Macedonia gained independence in 1991. The religion of the country was 25% Muslims and 75% Orthodox Christian, but they all seemed to get along well together.

Even though Macedonia had its own dialect, it was a Slavic language so they could understand all of their neighbors. Most students go to private high schools with tuition about $2000 € per year.

We had glimpses of Lake Ohrid as we approached the city of Ohrid. The population is 56,000 with many more visitors coming to enjoy the beauty of the lake. Almost all of them were walking along the promenade, sitting in the cafés, or relaxing on the park benches along the lakefront on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Our lunch was at the Belvedere Restaurant a few blocks from our hotel. While we walked to lunch, Tassos unloaded our bags at the City Palace, right on the water. After the starters and a generous salad we knew we had had enough and we passed up the main meal.

Walking back to our room we enjoyed a leisurely pace, as there was nothing on the agenda for the afternoon or evening. Anna checked us in and gave us the key to our room on the fourth floor over looking the sparkling lake and above the lakefront walkway.

We worked on our photos and the journal and then at 4:00 we went out for a walk to enjoy the sun and the waves. We were supposed to get rain the next day so we wanted to take advantage of the light for a few more photos.

Anna suggested we all go for an evening walk so at 6:30 we met most of the group to take in the sights of the city. The temperature had gone from 72 to 51, the wind had picked up, and we could tell that cold front was on its way.

Along with Bobi, our guide, five of us walked to the main business area, saw the city square with the statues of historic leaders, and found out where to buy a few groceries for our three day stay in Ohrid.

While the rest went for a pizza, we strolled back to the hotel taking a few night shots on the way.

As we turned off the lights, the waves were crashing on the barrier of the lake reminding us of all the nights in Mexico that we fell asleep listening to the pounding surf.

More about Mother Teresa:

The heroine of Macedonia and Albania is Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. Better known to the rest of the world as Mother Teresa. She was born in Skopje, which was once a part of Albania, and is one of the most beloved religious figures of the 20th century. She is the only Albanian to win a Nobel Prize.

https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-fun-interesting-facts-albania/

Accommodations: CITY PALACE HOTEL - - - Meal: B & L