trip to macedonia

[nushevski77]

post deleted

[Carlin]

my Cheche and Nini are going to Skopje, Ohrid, Bitola, and Lerin in September for 2 weeks; is there anything they should know before hand of what could be happening then and what are some things/places I should tell them to do/go that people don't know of. Also my cheche seems to believe that English besides macedonian is spoken in tourist areas, I don't think thats true could someone confirm?

http://www.exploringmacedonia.com/

https://travel2macedonia.com.mk/

https://www.discoveringmacedonia.com/destinations/bitola/

Top sights in Ohrid:
- Old town and traditional restaurants & lakeside cafes
- St. Sophia cathedral
- Samuel's Fortress
- St. Jovan at Kaneo
- St. Naum Monastery

Bitola:
- Sirok Sokak is as good a place to start
- The clock tower

For the links above, you can find/research more there some things/places you can tell them to do or visit. You can also check youtube videos.

I think the young people will/should know decent english in general but I'm not 100% sure (that's at least my experience/broad conclusion). In general, I found that middle age people and older don't know english, or speak very BROKEN english. I remember more than a decade ago there were some German tourists in Skopje, at the main bus station terminal, and they were asking a lady, (it was like a sandwich/hamburger shop) who must've been in her 50's, a couple of very basic things, like do you have ketchup and napkins and she didn't understand it at all - so I stepped in and helped out.

[Niko777]

Lerin:

-The old part of town (Varosi) by the river and church St. Panteleimon
-The main pedestrian street "Pavlos Melas"
-Visit the rooftop cafe of Hotel Lingos for panoramic views of Lerin
-Visit the surrounding Macedonian villages

[Karposh]

Pelister, it's a must if you like the great outdoors and a bit of hiking. The cheater's way to the top is to either catch a taxi to the village of Nizhopole and hike up to the Golemo Ezero where a steaming hot cup of complimentary mountain tea will await you at the log cabin there and then continue on to the top or; you can take a taxi to the other side of the mountain to Molika hotel and try hiking up from there. Either option is beautiful and worth the trek up. I've done both options and both are absolutely beautiful. I loved every minute of it. You can pick wild blueberries along the way and/or wild strawberries. The wild strawberries blew me away. They leave a very strong and sweet smelling strawberry scent on your fingers for hours after you have picked them. Without doubt my favourite part of Macedonia...But I'm a biased Bitolchanec.

[Risto the Great]

I'm probably biased also, but I think the food is much better in Egej. Other than that, I overdosed on Macedonia many years ago by going many times in succession. Now my heart is a little broken with the place and I've got little desire to return.

[Niko777]

One more tip, when in Bitola, stay away from the restaurant "GRNE" on the main square. Don't let its prime location fool you

[Momce Makedonce]

I`m going back this year for the first time in 9 years and have some stuff that I really want to see in some of those places as I never have before.

In Ohrid, Sveti Naum, Galicica National Park and Trpejca village.

In Bitola, Pelister National Park and the Ancient Macedonian ruins of Heraklea.

Skopje I want to check out the Museum of Macedonian struggle as well as go to Matka Canyon which is not far from Skopje.

I have never been to Lerin or Egej in general but considering visiting this time, I will still be in Macedonia when the village Ocvarani celebrates Ilinden so that might be something I decide on doing.

Hope I gave some decent ideas.

[Niko777]

I have never been to Lerin or Egej in general but considering visiting this time, I will still be in Macedonia when the village Ocvarani celebrates Ilinden so that might be something I decide on doing.

You will have a great time! Ilinden is celebrated in Ovcarani July 19 and 20

[Momce Makedonce]

You will have a great time! Ilinden is celebrated in Ovcarani July 19 and 20

I think I will too Niko! Have you been before? Also is there anything I need to know before going? Do they cause trouble at the border on the day or in the preceding days before the Ilinden celebrations in Ovcarani? Thanks in advance.

[vicsinad]

I think I will too Niko! Have you been before? Also is there anything I need to know before going? Do they cause trouble at the border on the day or in the preceding days before the Ilinden celebrations in Ovcarani? Thanks in advance.

My wife's aunt and uncle, Macedonians from Tetovo area with American passports, were held up two hours at the border around that time. They wanted to visit Egejsko before Ilinden but were called dogs, gypsies, scum and told their documents were worthless in Greece. They were finally allowed in after making calls to American consulate or embassy, but they were so upset they decided not to visit anywhere in Egejsko.

[Niko777]

My wife's aunt and uncle, Macedonians from Tetovo area with American passports, were held up two hours at the border around that time. They wanted to visit Egejsko before Ilinden but were called dogs, gypsies, scum and told their documents were worthless in Greece. They were finally allowed in after making calls to American consulate or embassy, but they were so upset they decided not to visit anywhere in Egejsko.

That's unfortunate. Apparently things at the border have cooled down now, or so I've heard. I remember police check points outside Ovcarani where they would stop traffic and ask the driver for ID (for both locals and visitors), but the check lasted only 2 minutes. If they ask at the border where you are heading to, best answer to say is Thessaloniki.

[Gocka]

quick question; my cheche will be in Skopje on September 8, will there be any Independence Day celebrations? cause is that day still celebrated as independence day, or is the day Macedonia became north Macedonia the new independence day?

Good question. I guess we will find out.