After a sleep in, Igor and Kate picked us up to go the Mt Pellister. Unfortanately the weather was cold and wet. However it was easy to see that this was a beautiful park. It was the first and only National Park in Macedonia. His relatives were up there also and were well prepared with coffee etc. We went for a short walk but we were all very cold!
Hot Chocolates all around, then to Auntiees for lunch. She went to a great deal of trouble and the trout was very good.
It was great to be so lookeed after by such friendly people. I would like to think that we could repay their genorosity some day!
We said good bye to Kate and Igor after very light dinner and endured the music again!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Skopje and Bitola
Skopje Day 2
it was off to the Fortress. We eventually found the gate after a long cicumnavigation and backtrack. Not much inside but a lot of archeological digging going on.
It was then off to the Turkish Bazaar...very clean and lots of shops to look at.
In the afternoon we went in search of Mother Teresa. Found her memorial and little museum.... very intersting. It was then off to the Mall to do a little shopping. Not much to buy and lots of shops with not too many people in them.
We went to a lonely planet featured restuarant. It was communist themed and was an interesting place to eat. Food not too bad.
Skopje to Bitola
it took us a long time to get out of Skopje but once we did it was worth it for the beautiful countryside and mountains. Igor had promised us a feast at his Uncles and he certainly delivered. His Family on the farm made us very welcome and we ate so much we were all uncomfortable. We then went forr a long walk on the farm and through the village. Of particular interest tto us all was the well where Igors parents had met. After we went to Bitola to look at the Old Town. It was smilar to the markets in Skopje.
It was then off to meet Radas Cousin and her family where, again we were made very welcome and again fed so much we were bursting!
Our Hotel in Bitola was much better then Hotel Ani, but ran a very loud disco..... lucky we were tired!!
it was off to the Fortress. We eventually found the gate after a long cicumnavigation and backtrack. Not much inside but a lot of archeological digging going on.
It was then off to the Turkish Bazaar...very clean and lots of shops to look at.
In the afternoon we went in search of Mother Teresa. Found her memorial and little museum.... very intersting. It was then off to the Mall to do a little shopping. Not much to buy and lots of shops with not too many people in them.
We went to a lonely planet featured restuarant. It was communist themed and was an interesting place to eat. Food not too bad.
Skopje to Bitola
it took us a long time to get out of Skopje but once we did it was worth it for the beautiful countryside and mountains. Igor had promised us a feast at his Uncles and he certainly delivered. His Family on the farm made us very welcome and we ate so much we were all uncomfortable. We then went forr a long walk on the farm and through the village. Of particular interest tto us all was the well where Igors parents had met. After we went to Bitola to look at the Old Town. It was smilar to the markets in Skopje.
It was then off to meet Radas Cousin and her family where, again we were made very welcome and again fed so much we were bursting!
Our Hotel in Bitola was much better then Hotel Ani, but ran a very loud disco..... lucky we were tired!!
Sofia to Skopje
Sofia to Skopje
Our Nick from the hotel drove us to the Central Bus Station. We caught our bus to Skopje. This gave us an opportunity to check out the countryside of both Bulgaria and Macedonia. The Bulgarian country side looked very depressed and very dry and dusty. The mountains were impressive. When we crossed the border, we drove through a beautiful river valley and it was green. Many farmers and their families were working the fields. It would be a very hard life.
We met Collaredas in Skopje and booked into the most crappy motel I have ever stayed in. it will not be getting a positive rating!!
We had a walk around to get our bearings. We walked over the Stone Bridge, very famous. Walked nearly to the forrtress and a little of the Turkish Bazaar. We found a really nice restaurant for dinner. After dinner it was to the Jack Daniels Bar for an ouzo.
Our Nick from the hotel drove us to the Central Bus Station. We caught our bus to Skopje. This gave us an opportunity to check out the countryside of both Bulgaria and Macedonia. The Bulgarian country side looked very depressed and very dry and dusty. The mountains were impressive. When we crossed the border, we drove through a beautiful river valley and it was green. Many farmers and their families were working the fields. It would be a very hard life.
We met Collaredas in Skopje and booked into the most crappy motel I have ever stayed in. it will not be getting a positive rating!!
We had a walk around to get our bearings. We walked over the Stone Bridge, very famous. Walked nearly to the forrtress and a little of the Turkish Bazaar. We found a really nice restaurant for dinner. After dinner it was to the Jack Daniels Bar for an ouzo.
Sofia Day 2 & 3
Sofia Day 2
We had decided to go to the National Museum which was out of town at a place called Boyana. The Lonely Planet gave clear instructions on what buses and trams to catch. It could not understand why it had moved out there but it was going to be an adventure.
Our first challenge was to buy the ticket for the trip. We found a lovely ticket selling lady, who told us not to catch the tram but to get the bus to the interchange. We could not understand this as the book had clearly stated that it was the No. 9 TRAM.....She stopped the bus for us and it started to go the wrong way.....not to worry it was a round trip and we ended up waving to her on our way past. We got to the interchange and successfully got on Bus 64. It was a terrifying trip. We had no idea where to get off the bus and no where was there a sign to the Museum. There was a sign to the Church and the book had said the museum was 1 km passed the Church. So we stayd on the bus and did a loop around Boyana. On the return trip we found the Sign and got off. we then walk for 30 – 40 minutes to the Museum. It was well worth the walk. It was a very impresssive, well thought out museum. It clearly showed the history of Bulgaria and it helped us to better understand the people.
On the return trip we understood why the woman had told us to catch the No 9 bus. We decided to catch the tram...at some time durring the trip it changed from a No 9 to a No 10 and took a different route through the city. It did go through a great looking park but it was hard to know where to get off. We walked the beautiful Vitosha St and slowly made our way home.
Day 3 Sofia.
Today we went to the Bus Station to get our ticket for Skopje. We wanted to make sure we knew where the bus left from. We got our bearings and headed to the city. Looked around a bit more. The GUM store and the Mosque and Baths.
We then headed to the major Shopping Mall and had a coffee and a look around. It was then back to the NVK building and park. We had a beer and relax and enjoyed the ambience in the park.
We had decided to go to the National Museum which was out of town at a place called Boyana. The Lonely Planet gave clear instructions on what buses and trams to catch. It could not understand why it had moved out there but it was going to be an adventure.
Our first challenge was to buy the ticket for the trip. We found a lovely ticket selling lady, who told us not to catch the tram but to get the bus to the interchange. We could not understand this as the book had clearly stated that it was the No. 9 TRAM.....She stopped the bus for us and it started to go the wrong way.....not to worry it was a round trip and we ended up waving to her on our way past. We got to the interchange and successfully got on Bus 64. It was a terrifying trip. We had no idea where to get off the bus and no where was there a sign to the Museum. There was a sign to the Church and the book had said the museum was 1 km passed the Church. So we stayd on the bus and did a loop around Boyana. On the return trip we found the Sign and got off. we then walk for 30 – 40 minutes to the Museum. It was well worth the walk. It was a very impresssive, well thought out museum. It clearly showed the history of Bulgaria and it helped us to better understand the people.
On the return trip we understood why the woman had told us to catch the No 9 bus. We decided to catch the tram...at some time durring the trip it changed from a No 9 to a No 10 and took a different route through the city. It did go through a great looking park but it was hard to know where to get off. We walked the beautiful Vitosha St and slowly made our way home.
Day 3 Sofia.
Today we went to the Bus Station to get our ticket for Skopje. We wanted to make sure we knew where the bus left from. We got our bearings and headed to the city. Looked around a bit more. The GUM store and the Mosque and Baths.
We then headed to the major Shopping Mall and had a coffee and a look around. It was then back to the NVK building and park. We had a beer and relax and enjoyed the ambience in the park.
Sofia Day 1
Sofia
Sofia was a really interesting place but not one set up for tourists. We arrived after the flight from Budapest to our hotel after negotiating a taxi. When we arrived the manager of the hotel told us there was a problem with the room and he had booked us into a four star hotel for the night until the electricity in our room was sorted. He drove us there but before that he offered us a multitude of beer and food to appease us.
Next day we explored the city of Sofia and saw the highlights. We started at Alexander Nevski Memorial. It was a also a cathedral. It was filled with people lighting candles and kissing the icons.
We then went to a gallery of frescoes that had been rescued from many of the churches in Bulgaria. Some were wonderful and others not so good. Many were infested with what looked like woodworm.
W.e then went o the Ethnographic Museum. This was not as good as the one in Budapest and did not have the same number of exhibits. This was in the same bulding as the National Art Gallery. As the toilets were attachhed toi the Art Gallery we managed to get in there for nothing.
It was then off to the National Parliament to see the changing of the guard. Apparently this is a must see thing so we saw the men with the fesathers in their caps marching their peculiar march. While you cannot go into parliament you can walk through the grounds and see a very old church ruin called St Nicholas Church. This was from the 4th Century.
It then started to rain so we were forced to go to the Archeological museum. This was chock full of treasures and artefacts from back to 1500BC. It was a great look at devlopment of a civilisation.
When we came out it was pouring rain, We sheltereed in the Sheraton and tried to get back to our hotel. The driver could not speak english and of course my Bulgarian is not so strong and it was one of the few times I lost it with someone and almost caused a diplomatic incident! When it was sorted that he was not trying to take us down but really was very confused we parted friends!
Sofia was a really interesting place but not one set up for tourists. We arrived after the flight from Budapest to our hotel after negotiating a taxi. When we arrived the manager of the hotel told us there was a problem with the room and he had booked us into a four star hotel for the night until the electricity in our room was sorted. He drove us there but before that he offered us a multitude of beer and food to appease us.
Next day we explored the city of Sofia and saw the highlights. We started at Alexander Nevski Memorial. It was a also a cathedral. It was filled with people lighting candles and kissing the icons.
We then went to a gallery of frescoes that had been rescued from many of the churches in Bulgaria. Some were wonderful and others not so good. Many were infested with what looked like woodworm.
W.e then went o the Ethnographic Museum. This was not as good as the one in Budapest and did not have the same number of exhibits. This was in the same bulding as the National Art Gallery. As the toilets were attachhed toi the Art Gallery we managed to get in there for nothing.
It was then off to the National Parliament to see the changing of the guard. Apparently this is a must see thing so we saw the men with the fesathers in their caps marching their peculiar march. While you cannot go into parliament you can walk through the grounds and see a very old church ruin called St Nicholas Church. This was from the 4th Century.
It then started to rain so we were forced to go to the Archeological museum. This was chock full of treasures and artefacts from back to 1500BC. It was a great look at devlopment of a civilisation.
When we came out it was pouring rain, We sheltereed in the Sheraton and tried to get back to our hotel. The driver could not speak english and of course my Bulgarian is not so strong and it was one of the few times I lost it with someone and almost caused a diplomatic incident! When it was sorted that he was not trying to take us down but really was very confused we parted friends!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Budapest Day 4
Today was a bit of a battle as we were both sore and tired from our non-stop marathon walks and sight-seeing. However, we pushed through the pain barrier. We visited the National Museum. This had a really comprehensive display of Hungarian history. Explained lots so that we now have a better understanding of the country. Also had a display of treasures from the Steppe Horseman...from up around Mongolia. I have never seen so much gold!! The workers at the museum seemed to left overs from the communists. They ran the place with an iron fist....and had guns! We were not game to touch anything.
Again we were starving and looked for a cafe for a meal....could find nothing decent so decided to head to the Zoo for the famous Gundel Restuarant...very highly rated and exxy. Even I could not come at those prices ...Michelin hats or not! So crossed the road and had a magnificant meal at an equally good restaurant. i had tagliatelle with slices of duck liver, truffles and asparagus. Ken had Veal paprika with egg noodles. Yum!
Returned home to find AFL on TV. Wow! Another great day!
Again we were starving and looked for a cafe for a meal....could find nothing decent so decided to head to the Zoo for the famous Gundel Restuarant...very highly rated and exxy. Even I could not come at those prices ...Michelin hats or not! So crossed the road and had a magnificant meal at an equally good restaurant. i had tagliatelle with slices of duck liver, truffles and asparagus. Ken had Veal paprika with egg noodles. Yum!
Returned home to find AFL on TV. Wow! Another great day!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Budapest Day 2 and 3
Busy days in Budapest. It is a really interesting city. We have done lots of sight-seeing and museum visiting. And lots of walking!!
Over the past few dayswe have visited the Momento Park. This is where the old statues from the communist era have been taken and are on display. A little bit ordinary but worth it for the Spy traing film that they show...shades of Maxwell Smart and the Shoe Phone. Apparently Washing Machines can be disguised as photocopiers! Be Alert!!!
We visited a Synagogue and were taken around by a Guide whose father was a hero who rescued hundreds of Jews from the Nazis. We then walked the hunderds of kilometers (or so it seemed) back to the hotel.
Today we visited the Holocaust Memorial. It was very sad and informative. One of the best I have seen without going over the top.
Then it was off to the Ethnographic Museum. We saw lots of different
regional costumes and lots of stuff about life in the villages.
we tried to go to Parliament but all the tickets for the day had gone. So it was off to the House of Terror to see about life during the Communist era. It was very scary and confronting.
Trying to find a restaurant that was a satisfactory price was a challenge...my blood sugar was dropping to dangerous levels ...we eventually found an Italian place ....best beer ever!!
One more day....lots more to see.
Over the past few dayswe have visited the Momento Park. This is where the old statues from the communist era have been taken and are on display. A little bit ordinary but worth it for the Spy traing film that they show...shades of Maxwell Smart and the Shoe Phone. Apparently Washing Machines can be disguised as photocopiers! Be Alert!!!
We visited a Synagogue and were taken around by a Guide whose father was a hero who rescued hundreds of Jews from the Nazis. We then walked the hunderds of kilometers (or so it seemed) back to the hotel.
Today we visited the Holocaust Memorial. It was very sad and informative. One of the best I have seen without going over the top.
Then it was off to the Ethnographic Museum. We saw lots of different
regional costumes and lots of stuff about life in the villages.
we tried to go to Parliament but all the tickets for the day had gone. So it was off to the House of Terror to see about life during the Communist era. It was very scary and confronting.
Trying to find a restaurant that was a satisfactory price was a challenge...my blood sugar was dropping to dangerous levels ...we eventually found an Italian place ....best beer ever!!
One more day....lots more to see.
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