Pauza Magazine Summer 2014 | Page 11

cultural experiences lliams ne Wi Aria MAK17 At the edge of the woods, we navigated chest-high patch of greenery. Although I was wearing long pants, I felt a sharp sting on my calf. Then another and another. “Something is hurting me,” I said. “Nettles,” said Stojan, and forged ahead to beat them aside with his umbrella. “They stung me through my pants,” I said, aggrieved.   “They’re good for the blood,” said Stojan. “As tea.” Massive, magnificent trees with smooth pale bark grew low on the mountainside. I marveled. “Бука,” said Stojan. Beech, I found out later. “With them, people make—“ “Tea?” “Furniture.” Further up we found other types of trees, most of which I could not identify by name if my life depended on it,