I had a startling welcome to Macedonia. The first thing I had to do – apart from paying the motorway tolls without having any denar – was to drive right across Skopje to the British Embassy for my meeting.
traditional Ohrid architecture
They do have street signs in Skopje – a huge improvement on Belgrade – but they’re in Cyrillic! By the time I’ve read it, I’m past it…
Anyway, only one wrong turn.
After my meeting and a scrummy roadside kebab, it was off south again towards Bitola.
Sunday, 7am, Ohrid
Another shock to the system – after an hour or so, it was onto the mountain roads. My 1,600cc Renault Megane was in 2nd gear at some points.
Bitola was interesting – the Macedonian “capital” until Yugoslavia came along and decided it should be Skopje.
Alberta, telling us how it is
Ohrid was beautiful. So was the mountain pass (up to 1,500m = 4,500’) which lies between them.
Amsterdam, 31.5.11
© iain taylor 2011