Small Balkans tour

[OnlyMark]

For nine days we went on a flying trip around parts of the Balkans we’d not yet been to. It was Easter and knowing the weather could well be somewhat crappy it was better to seek out somewhere with things to see rather than try and find a sunny and warm place to stay for that time. It is now probable that I will leave the area in the summer to return to Germany after Spain whilst Mrs M stays a little longer to finish her contract. She will then go back as well and we’ll be there (unless something comes up we don’t know about yet) for a few years.
I’ve been tasked to help with long term ill father in law and mother in law and kid stuff which requires me to leave early.

First, a map of the route. Not too far, less than 1800km as things/countries are quite close together, but roads are generally single carriageway apart from Belgrade to Thessaloniki, and especially in Albania are nose to tail traffic -




Belgrade and Thessaloniki are interesting and stops in Skopje, Kruja and Shkoder were less so, but at least worth time having a wander round. Skopje is a weird place where the centre is done up like a show piece and empty of life.
What I wanted to point out is relatively small town called Ohrid in North Macedonia.
It did help the sun came out for a change but it was still a step up in interest.

On the shores of Lake Ohrid it is known for once having 365 churches and has been called the "Jerusalem of the Balkans".
Very pretty in a very scenic location and with lots to see.
Since Roman times I’ve counted it has been ruled by twenty six different Empires, some twice, but nevertheless, each left a mark and it goes to show the (continuing) instability in this region. Now a UNESCO natural and cultural heritage site -

[OnlyMark]

Castle up on a hill which we’ll have a walk up to -




Almost transparent water in the lake -




First making our way along the shore -








Through the back streets bordering the lake -

[Voy]

Once again - thanks Mark, for your travelogues ! For this one two bits from reading that are brought to mind - In the first Mrs Polifax book they escape across Lake Shkoder, but rather more fun, if you read the Lawrence Durrell book about when he was in the Diplomatic corps in Belgrade, there is an hilarious description of a Christening - it was my friend Phillipa !

[OnlyMark]

Along a rather rickety but lovely boardwalk -








Still keeping below the cliffs -






A small view of one of the churches, dedicated to St. John and built in the 12 Century -




We make our way upwards -

[OnlyMark]

Through the wood -




Into the fortress. Initially built in 209BC it has had a history of being destroyed, rebuilt, taken over, rebuilt and added to and so on.
Little if anything is left from the original -








Nice views -

[sophie]

That area is sure stuffed with history!! Thanks mark!

[auntieannie]

and you had lovely weather, too!

[OnlyMark]

Not quite finished yet.
This was the only proper sunny day we had. Fortunately the best place to have had it.

[OnlyMark]

We work our way back down via the back streets again, through the main fortress and town gate -










It’s unavoidable to pass various churches and at one we came across either the before or after wedding shoot -










Reaching the town again, the main pedestrian shopping street -




A look back to where we came from -

[OnlyMark]

A look inside one of the churches -












Unless you know something about pearls, which I didn’t, there is something unique about -




This is from the BBC -
“For nearly 100 years, there have only been two families that have known how to produce the Ohrid pearls: the Talevs and the Filevs. Unlike regular pearls, Ohrid pearls are made from shells, which are ground and made into balls of various sizes by adding at least eight coats of a secret emulsion, giving them their characteristic shine. Each layer has to be dried before the next one is applied, which can take between 45 minutes and an hour each. The emulsion’s ingredients include scales stripped from plasica fish – sometimes called Ohrid trout or bleak – but the rest of the process remains a mystery.”
www.bbc.com/travel/article/20200123-north-macedonias-top-secret-pearls

You learn something new every day.
We finished off by having a walk back up another hill to see the amphitheatre and the views -










I’ll leave it at that because blurry rain soaked photos of some building somewhere unidentifiable was about all I had from the rest of the trip. Very lucky to catch the sun in the best place for it.

[kuskiwi]

Lovely and again thanks

[auntieannie]

orthodox churches do like their bling...