Skopje, Macedonia

Last Thursday, we left Nis, Serbia for Skopje, Macedonia. Our train was scheduled to leave Nis at 12:15 but we knew from experience that the train runs a bit late. What we didn't know was that is runs 70 minutes late. By the time we arrived in Skopje, we were running a total of one and a half hours late. When we met up with our friends Dimi and Michelle, formerly of DC, and their 4-year old daughter Elena, Dimi explained that the Serbian and Macedonian train systems are basically on their last legs. It is considered to be the lowest form of transportation and Dimi had never taken a train or known any Macedonian who has. Now we know.

We spent Friday through Sunday hanging out with Dimi, Michelle and Elena and had a wonderful time. Friday, Dimi took off early from work and gave us a tour of Skopje, including the Ottoman style fortress, the former home of Mother Teresa (it was torn down by the government to make way for a road), an architectural hodgepodge of a shrine to Mother Teresa, and a Macedonian history museum containing about 7 exhibits ranging from early pottery and bronze tools to a diagram of Skopje as it was originally designed by a Japanese architect but not actually built.

Saturday was nonstop rain so we all headed out to see what Macedonians like to do on rainy weekends...shop at the mall. Three malls later, Dimi, Michelle and Elena took us out for a traditional Macedonian lunch. The food was amazing! We ate seeded breadsticks with two types of dipping sauces; two Greek-esque salads with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and white or feta cheese; thick and fluffy pita bread; white beans served up cassoulet style; and a meat platter containing pork chops, lamb sausage and a bacon-wrapped, cheese stuffed pork sausage. Which meat do you think was Amir's favorite?

On Sunday we all piled in the car and headed off for lunch and a nature walk at a canyon. The weather was beautiful, sunny and blue skies. Later in the afternoon, we tried the country's best ice cream, according to Michelle, followed later on by dinner at an Indian restaurant. Let's just say that Macedonian restaurateurs haven't quite figured out the concept of saag paneer. It came out as a spinach dip that you might find at any summer block party in the States.

Today is Monday and we have bid Dimi, Michelle and Elena goodbye as they have gone to work, work and school. Amir and I are scheduled for morning haircuts and then we'll pack up and head out by bus to Lake Ohrid, about two and a half hours away from Skopje, where we will spend a few days checking out what some claim to be one of Europe's largest and cleanest lakes. It also has so many churches surrounding it that some claim there is a church for every day of the year. After Ohrid, we'll either head straight to Thessaloniki, Greece by bus or pass back through Skopje in order to get their by train. (Can't wait for more Macedonian trains.)