Northern Greece, Albania & Macedonia: Ancient Lands of Alexander the Great Day 16

Day 16 - Wednesday, October 25, 2017 - Travel to Skopje; Visit Šarena Džamija; Explore Matka Canyon; Boat Ride; Drive to Skopje & Check In

Another crisp day! It was 46 degrees but we had blue skies, a fantastic sign for our last travel day. At 8:30 we departed for Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia.

As we left the lake, Anna reviewed the events of our stay in Ohrid, an effective teaching strategy. Bobi took over the microphone and gave us an abbreviated history of the region of Albania and Bulgaria that Tito held tightly known as Yugoslavia.

After Tito’s death, the regions were very divided and the wars that separated the union were devastating to the population. Macedonia gained independence without any fighting in 1991. The older people were nostalgic about their time under Tito and longed for the financial security they once enjoyed.

Disagreements began a century ago with the Balkan Wars of 1912 when the area fought against the Turks. Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria took parts of the region of Macedonia. Bobi explained the tensions between those neighbors existed even today.

When the region gained independence they called themselves Macedonia. But because of the political issues they were forced to rename the country as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM.

We traveled up the mountain passes with views of the colorful reds, oranges, and yellows of the fall trees. There was a major construction project to eliminate the tight curves and narrow roads.

The village houses were built of red brick covered with ceramic or stucco with red tiled roofs. Many were in disrepair as Bobi said, an indication of the poor economy.

Our morning stop was at 10:00 at a wide spot in the road called Straza; 4,000 feet of altitude. The mountain range divided the region of Mavrovo National Park and small villages perched on the hillsides.

Between the construction and an accident, it was slow going for most of the morning. We had fantastic views of the snow-capped mountain range in contrast to the green valleys.

Albanian flags hung from the balconies and there were many mosques, their white minarets towering above the villages. Bobi explained that this area was predominantly Muslim with ethnic Albanians settlers living here.

At 11:00 we stopped at the city of Tetovo, where we got to see the Šarena Džamija Mosque. Built in 1458, by two sisters who dedicated their fortune to the Muslims of the community. The original building burned and was rebuilt in the 1830’s.

In respect for the faithful who were praying in the active mosque, we took our shoes off and the women covered their hair with scarves. This was one of the few mosques we have visited that allowed photos.

In another hour’s drive on the Mother Teresa Motorway, we reached Matka Canyon. Declared one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe, Lake Matka was formed by damming the River Treska. The area was known for outdoor and water sports.

We had lunch at the Canyon Matka Restaurant and Hotel. Our boat ride after lunch took us through the deep gorge of the clear mountain river. We made a stop on the river and climbed up to the entrance of a limestone cave.

Vrelo Cave had two major chambers and a very still clear lake. We were able to take a few photos and then we climbed out of the depths and were back on our boat for the trip back to the Canyon Matka Center.

The remainder of the route to Skopje was on the four lane road so we were able to make good time. It was just 4:00 when arrived in Skopje.

Our room was on the fourth floor overlooking the square, the commemorative statues, several fountains, and the stone bridge over the Vardar River.

We had some time to get our bags organized, start looking at photos, and work on the journal. At 7:00 it was time to walk a few blocks to our dinner at the Old City House Restaurant.

We walked back to the hotel on our own, marveling at the many statues in the central area. Music was coming from the opera house and the ambience of the city was enchanting.

Vic was taking photos of the illuminated buildings, statues, and fountains. We knew we would not be able to be out tomorrow night so we enjoyed strolling through the city center.

At 9:00 we returned to our room, completed the journal, and then settled in for the remainder of the evening. We have a busy day exploring Skopje tomorrow.

Always in turmoil, more about the conquests of Macedonia:

Macedonia was ruled by the Ottoman Empire from the 13th to the 18th centuries. After the Balkan Wars of 1912 to 1913, the land was divided up among Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia. After World War I, the country became part of Yugoslavia. After World War II, it changed its name to the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, declaring independence in 1991.

http://primaryfacts.com/5469/macedonia-facts-and-information/

Accommodations: HOTEL STONEBRIDGE - - - Meal: B, L, & D