Olgeorg's VirtualTourist Home Page

Send Photo to a Friend

Matka

http://www.mymacedonia.net/

http://www.exploringmacedonia.com
http://www.freewebs.com/macedonia_ohrid/whatismacedonialike.htm
http://www.moc-stmary-la.org/makedonski%20recepti.htm
http://travel.news.yahoo.com/b/rba_daily/rba_daily7316
http://www.skopjehotels.com.mk/sodrzini.php?idMeni=3&action=1&limit1=0&limit2=10 Hotels in Skopje
http://www.ohrid-vizija.com.mk/en/index.asp
http://www.skopje.com.mk/angliski/prva.asp
http://www.skopjeonline.com.mk/
http://www.ohridhotels.com.mk/
http://www.budgettravel.com/macedonia.htm
http://www.fvm.ukim.edu.mk/ohrid2005/accomm.htm

Why do we travel?
I do because I want to get away from the daily life, see something new, meet new people, get new impulses, "charge the batteries", and - most important - to enjoy an overwhelming feeling of freedom, freedom to travel wherever I want and do whatever I want. I don't like planning to much, just make some loose plans about where to go, what to do and who to see, and then travel almost at random.

MACEDONIA (FYROM)
The Republic of Macedonia (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) is a small country in South Eastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula and is bordered by Greece, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro and Bulgaria.

Skopje is the capital city. Bitola is Macedonia's second largest city.

The terrain is mountainous with valleys and plains. The longest river is the Vardar.

Macedonia's climate is Continental in the north and Mediterranean in the south.

Environment
The shores of Lake Ohrid are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Ohrid Region. Lake Ohrid, shared with Albania, is the largest of Macedonia's natural lakes. Lake Prespa, also shared with Albania and Greece, is Macedonia's second largest lake.

Wildlife such as the bear, boar and deer can be found in the Galicica National Park. Other National Parks are Mavrovo and Pelister. The Jasen Forest Reserve, the habitat of many species of animals and birds, is thirty kilometres south west of Skopje.

Architecture
Numerous churches, monasteries and mosques can be seen in Macedonia. The town of Ohrid, a World Heritage site, has many religious buildings. The Church of St. Sophia is one of Ohrid's most well known buildings. During the rule of the Ottoman Empire, St Sophia, like many churches, was converted to a mosque.

In Ohrid's town centre the houses of Robevi and Urania are very good examples of nineteenth century Macedonian architecture.

There is much to see in the old town of Skopje including the Church of the Holy Saviour and the Mustafa Pasha Mosque. However most of the administrative capital of Skopje has been built since the 1963 earthquake.

Population
Macedonia's population was estimated at 2,071,210 in 2004. Just under sixty-seven percent of the population are Macedonian and just under twenty-three percent are Albanian.

Languages
Macedonian is the official language.

Religion
Sixty-seven percent of the population are members of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. Around thirty percent of the people are Muslim.

Food
The cuisine of Macedonia is influenced by its Balkan neighbours. Traditional food includes bread, soups, stews, lamb kebabs, stuffed vegetables, moussaka and minced meat dishes such as "kjebapchinja" and meat balls.

Meat (pork, chicken, lamb, beef) and fish are served with rice, pasta and vegetables (aubergines, beans, cucumber, mushrooms, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes). Dairy products include yoghurt and feta, a white salty cheese.

Desserts eaten in Macedonia are fruit salads, puddings, cakes and pastries.

Turkish coffee is drunk. Wine, beer and soft drinks are produced locally