Feel like you’ve hit all the hot spots in
Macedonia? Try out a few other hidden gems:
Lesnovo by Michael Erhartic
Mount Korab by Kristen Halseth
If you like hiking, MountKorab is definitely a trip worth
taking. Mount Korab is in northeastern Macedonia
and is the highest peak in the country at 9,068 feet.
You’ll want to wear your hiking boots, as some of the
spots can get pretty steep, particularly the last few
yards where the peak is just taunting you. There is
a climb organized every September in celebration
of Independence Day. This is an interesting time to
go, especially if you’re curious about what it’s like to
hike with hundreds of other people. Check out this
website for more information: http://www.korab.org.
Hidden to most Peace Corps Volunteers because of its isolation in the
northeastern part of Macedonia, Lesnovo is a small village that boasts
a large number of attractions. It is one of the most ancient villages in
Macedonia and has an historic monastery built in the 14th century that
features iconostasis and frescoes created by masters of the art. It has artificial
caves resulting from the production of hand-cut mill stones that were used
throughout the Balkans. It has wonderful eco-tourist paths for hiking and
offers opportunities for climbing, paragliding, and mountain biking. Its
location in the mountains offers beautiful vistas that are a photographer’s
paradise. So the next time you’re in Probistip, make it a point to visit this
nearby hidden jewel.
Berovo Lake by Justin Boutwell
Berovo Lake is located 6 km from the town of
Berovo near the Bulgarian border. The lake is
man-made with a beautiful dam that creates
a 60 meter high waterfall. Aurora is a new
upscale hotel/resort located on the lake which
will offer horseback riding (bring your own
helmet), canoeing and 4x4 driving (not for PCVs
of course). Berovo Lake is great for fishing and
telling tall-tales about the one that got away.
The lake is surrounded by forests with evergreen
and deciduous trees and is perfect for hiking
and camping. There are also mountain homes
and cabins for rent with spectacular views of
the lake. This mountainous region is known for
its natural foods, forests, colorful flowers, berries
and various teas. The town of Berovo has great
restaurants, coffee shops and bars and Mak 14
Justin (aka N.A.G.) loves visitors and showing
people around. By bus, Berovo is two hours from
Stip and an hour from Strumica, and there is a
daily direct bus/kombi to/from Skopje which
takes about three hours. For more information
please visit http://visitberovo.com.mk/ (the
website is a work in progress) or contact Justin
[email protected].
Debar by Ellen Rhudy
Debar may not be a tourist town on the
level of, say, Ohrid, but when you are
paying only 20 denari for a coffee, you
will come to view this as one of its main
attractions. Rumors of Debar’s spa haven’t
been true for the past twenty years, but
you are still able to visit the old hamam,
located near the city center. The hamam is
also conveniently located near my family’s
meat shop, so stop for a cut of beef and do
your part to guarantee my participation
in future slaughterings.
If this does not sate your thirst for
pampering, you can get a taxi to the spas
at either Baniste or Kovovrasti, each about
a 150 denari ride from the center of Debar.
You might also walk to Debar Lake, drop
your jaw at the mountains ringing it, then
test your fortitude by swimming in their
snow melt. Just a short fifteen-minute walk
from the lake is a nunnery, so go for a visit
and mention your close friendship with
the Amerikanka “Meri.” Take a waggling
walk back through Debar to hit all seven
mosques and two churches, including the
oldest mosque in town (dating from the
Ottoman Empire), the Kingdom Mosque
of Sinqar. Finish off your stay with that 20
denari coffee, which by this time you will
probably need.
Popova Kula Winery by Zach Koslap
(Picture from Candice Wiggum)
Slepce by Sarah Fazekas
Sure, Macedonia sometimes seems to have a monastery
every two feet. But how many of them come complete
with a story of fighting against Turks and 5,000 blind
Macedonians? An hour’s walk outside Demir Hisar is the
monastery Sv. Jovan. The monastery offers an excellent view
of the surrounding area, and upon entering its restful gates
Baba Sofce (a four-foot tall gem of a woman) will magically
appear from the kitchen and brandish the large metal
key from her apron that opens the door to the monastery
where beautiful frescoes still remain. Upon your descent stop
and have a cup of coffee at ????? ???? and admire the
traditional Macedonian clothes.
I've been in Macedonia for about six months now, and I've had the opportunity to
meet many of my fellow volunteers. If there's one thing I've learned about us, it's that
we are truly the adventure seekers: a special breed of Peace Corps volunteer. We
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