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I've been to Ohrid, it's pretty damn big lake, big as sea.
I'm from a country pretty close to Macedonia and we basically speak almost the same language, even I'd be "half Makedon" given the story of the region I'm from. So anyway, are you planning to visit? Note they aren't in EU/Schengen as far as I know so bear in mind you'd need visa (I mean...assuming you aren't American...).
The Balkans seem more interesting to some because in the countryside, people still live very traditionally. It's like going back in time 200 years, to experience Europe before industrialization and modernization. If you do your research, you should be able to time your visit for when they have national folk festivals, which are really something to experience. And everyone says Lake Ohrid is beautiful. Food is basic, but in a good way, if you enjoy home-made sheep cheese, home-baked bread, barbecued lamb, and other products of village economies based on sheepherding.
I've been to Ohrid, it's pretty damn big lake, big as sea.
I'm from a country pretty close to Macedonia and we basically speak almost the same language, even I'd be "half Makedon" given the story of the region I'm from. So anyway, are you planning to visit? Note they aren't in EU/Schengen as far as I know so bear in mind you'd need visa (I mean...assuming you aren't American...).
My wife and I are looking at places to retire overseas. Yep, Americans, which means we have to jump through some hoops. Considering traveling every 3 months between places in non-Schengen countries. Finding the Balkans to be affordable, safe, and English is widely spoken to varying degrees. Of course this is all research at this point, plan to visit soon. We'd really like to settle on two cities to travel back and forth every 90 days. Bitola, Macedonia and Cluj, Romania are on the radar for now.
The Balkans seem more interesting to some because in the countryside, people still live very traditionally. It's like going back in time 200 years, to experience Europe before industrialization and modernization. If you do your research, you should be able to time your visit for when they have national folk festivals, which are really something to experience. And everyone says Lake Ohrid is beautiful. Food is basic, but in a good way, if you enjoy home-made sheep cheese, home-baked bread, barbecued lamb, and other products of village economies based on sheepherding.
The peasant groups in far northern Romania are definitely as you describe. And yet software development in Cluj isn't far away. Fascinating part of the world. I've run across websites describing food in Macedonia, and it sounds delicious! They have salads, for example, that are similar to Bulgarian salads, and the one describing them said she had some of the best salads she ever had there.
I was there in 2002, and at that time I wouldn't have reccomended it at all as it was not a nice place. The food was OK, loved the history and ruins, the national museum was fantastic, but at that time you needed a local guide or you were sure to be picked up by the Barney Fife chapter of the KGB junior division looking to shake you down for a bribe.
I visited Skopje, and I'm really glad I was able to, but I wouldn't have gone back.
At that time, there was civil war in Kosovo and Bosnia, the country had just come apart with the death of the old communist dictator, and it was a dangerous place to be.
I hear from people I still know over there it's really changed and the country has really been working to improve, I really hope so as there was so much there to work with, and a lot of the people were great.
My best advice would be do your homework and use caution as it's a very different place even from a lot of the European and other Balkin countries.
Just be sure before you make the jump.
From what I hear from people I know in that area, I'm actually kind of considering another trip over there, but I will be very confident I know what's going on in the country before I do.
OP, was that you, with an earlier thread about Romania? Why do you want 2 locations in the Balkans? And how can you afford 2? Plus a car? That won't be cheap. What about Slovenia--too expensive for you?
I was there in 2002, and at that time I wouldn't have reccomended it at all as it was not a nice place. The food was OK, loved the history and ruins, the national museum was fantastic, but at that time you needed a local guide or you were sure to be picked up by the Barney Fife chapter of the KGB junior division looking to shake you down for a bribe.
I visited Skopje, and I'm really glad I was able to, but I wouldn't have gone back.
At that time, there was civil war in Kosovo and Bosnia, the country had just come apart with the death of the old communist dictator, and it was a dangerous place to be.
I hear from people I still know over there it's really changed and the country has really been working to improve, I really hope so as there was so much there to work with, and a lot of the people were great.
My best advice would be do your homework and use caution as it's a very different place even from a lot of the European and other Balkin countries.
Just be sure before you make the jump.
From what I hear from people I know in that area, I'm actually kind of considering another trip over there, but I will be very confident I know what's going on in the country before I do.
OP, was that you, with an earlier thread about Romania? Why do you want 2 locations in the Balkans? And how can you afford 2? Plus a car? That won't be cheap. What about Slovenia--too expensive for you?
Unfortunately as Americans we can't just move to Romania. There's a workaround involving getting a business visa, even though no actual business, and that costs $1500 a year. Decent apartments are affordable enough that we can maintain one in each location. WizzAir makes it possible to go back and forth reasonably. Or we might try to get residency in Macedonia as it's a much more affordable country. My wife wants to see France and Italy so living in an affordable country nearby gives us that chance. We'll eventually go back to the States to be near the kids but want to see Europe for awhile. If there's an affordable non-Schengen country that's easy to move to for Americans I'd love to hear about it. Slovenia looks very nice but that's probably why it costs more than some of it's neighbors.
Unfortunately as Americans we can't just move to Romania. There's a workaround involving getting a business visa, even though no actual business, and that costs $1500 a year.
In view of this, have you checked out Macedonia's gov't website, or embassy site, to see their requirements?
I've been surprised to hear from visitors to Albania that it's nice there. Personally, I'd prefer Montenegro. You don't have too many options. The Bay of Kotor in Montenegro is a beautiful sight!
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