Macedonia and Albania might not necessarily be on many people's list of European holiday destinations but these two small countries have a lot to offer: rich culture, intriguing history, ancient monasteries, beautiful scenery, delicious food. Traveling here is at the same time, affordable and rewarding.
Nu multa lume are in plan o vizita in Macedonia si / sau Albania, dar aceste tari balcanice au multe de oferit: cultura, istorie, manastiri stravechi, peisaje spectaculoase, mancaruri traditionale delicioase. Preturile sunt destul de mici si se poate ajunge relativ usor din Romania cu masina.
Before telling you how was our trip to Macedonia and Albania, here are a few interesting facts:
MACEDONIA
- of all the ex-Yugoslavia territories Macedonia was the only one that gained independence peacefully
- Macedonia is the birth land of Mother Theresa
- the name of Macedonia salad (mixed fruit salad) was inspired by the diverse ethnicity in Macedonia during Alexander the Great (and after)
- the first Slavic school was established in Macedonia by Saint Clements of Ohrid
ALBANIA
- Albania National Anthem, Himni i Flamurit was composed by the Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu who also composed Tricolorul, the Romanian National Anthem until 1989
- while sharing little vocabulary, Albanian and Romanian grammars have, surprisingly, quite a few similarities (cases, conjugation)
- more Albanians live abroad than in Albania
- there are around 750,000 concrete bunkers scattered around Albania that were built during Enver Hoxha's dictatorship to protect the country from an invasion that never happened
- although born in Skopje, Macedonia, Mother Theresa was Albanian by blood
- the parents of actor brothers, Jim and John Belushi are of Albanian origin
Stiati ca...
- Macedonia este singura tara din fosta Yugoslavie care si-a castigat independenta in mod pasnic?
- Maica Tereza s-a nascut la Skopje, capitala Macedoniei?
- numele salatei mixte de fructe Macedonia ii are originea in diversitatea populatiei Maedoniei de-a lungul istoriei (incepand cu epoca lui Alexandru cel Mare)?
- prima scoala de limba slavica a fost infiintata in Macedonia de catre Sf Clement de Ohrid?
- imnul Albaniei a fost compus de Ciprian Porumbescu si este de fapt cantecul "E scris pe tricolor unire"?
- intre gramatica limbii albaneze si romana exista destul de multe asemanari (declinare, cazuri, conjugare)?
- mai multi albanezi traiesc in afara Albaniei decat in Albania?
- in jur de 750.000 buncare de beton au fost construite pe vremea dictatorului albanez Enver Hoxha pentru a proteja Abania de o invazie care nu s-a intamplat niciodata?
- desi s-a nascut in Macedonia, Maica Tereza este de origine albaneza?
- fratii Jim si John Belushi, cunoscuti actori americani au de fapt parinti de origine albaneza?
Nu multa lume are in plan o vizita in Macedonia si / sau Albania, dar aceste tari balcanice au multe de oferit: cultura, istorie, manastiri stravechi, peisaje spectaculoase, mancaruri traditionale delicioase. Preturile sunt destul de mici si se poate ajunge relativ usor din Romania cu masina.
Before telling you how was our trip to Macedonia and Albania, here are a few interesting facts:
MACEDONIA
- of all the ex-Yugoslavia territories Macedonia was the only one that gained independence peacefully
- Macedonia is the birth land of Mother Theresa
- the name of Macedonia salad (mixed fruit salad) was inspired by the diverse ethnicity in Macedonia during Alexander the Great (and after)
- the first Slavic school was established in Macedonia by Saint Clements of Ohrid
ALBANIA
- Albania National Anthem, Himni i Flamurit was composed by the Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu who also composed Tricolorul, the Romanian National Anthem until 1989
- while sharing little vocabulary, Albanian and Romanian grammars have, surprisingly, quite a few similarities (cases, conjugation)
- more Albanians live abroad than in Albania
- there are around 750,000 concrete bunkers scattered around Albania that were built during Enver Hoxha's dictatorship to protect the country from an invasion that never happened
- although born in Skopje, Macedonia, Mother Theresa was Albanian by blood
- the parents of actor brothers, Jim and John Belushi are of Albanian origin
Stiati ca...
- Macedonia este singura tara din fosta Yugoslavie care si-a castigat independenta in mod pasnic?
- Maica Tereza s-a nascut la Skopje, capitala Macedoniei?
- numele salatei mixte de fructe Macedonia ii are originea in diversitatea populatiei Maedoniei de-a lungul istoriei (incepand cu epoca lui Alexandru cel Mare)?
- prima scoala de limba slavica a fost infiintata in Macedonia de catre Sf Clement de Ohrid?
- imnul Albaniei a fost compus de Ciprian Porumbescu si este de fapt cantecul "E scris pe tricolor unire"?
- intre gramatica limbii albaneze si romana exista destul de multe asemanari (declinare, cazuri, conjugare)?
- mai multi albanezi traiesc in afara Albaniei decat in Albania?
- in jur de 750.000 buncare de beton au fost construite pe vremea dictatorului albanez Enver Hoxha pentru a proteja Abania de o invazie care nu s-a intamplat niciodata?
- desi s-a nascut in Macedonia, Maica Tereza este de origine albaneza?
- fratii Jim si John Belushi, cunoscuti actori americani au de fapt parinti de origine albaneza?
And now, the story +pictures of our Macedonian / Albanian experience...
When / Cand? September 2014
How long / Cat timp? 5 days / 5 zile
Why Macedonia & Albania / De ce?
Tasty and simple food, fresh, locally produced ingredients - you can't get wrong with Mediterranean cuisine + a Turkish influence (not a big surprise considering that the Ottoman occupation lasted hundreds of years). Lamb is available in most restaurants, Macedonia and Albania. Grilled trout from the Ohrid lake, roasted pepper salad with garlic in Macedonia and the octopus salad + lamb in yoghurt sauce (Albania) were delicious. My favourite was the roated lamb we had at a restaurant in Galicica National Park (tiny village) after the horse riding trip.
Am mancat mult, bine si ieftin - combinatie perfecta. Ingrediente proaspate, produe local, mult miel, dar si pui si peste, mai putin porc. Salada de ardei copti cu usturoi (inclusiv la micul dejun), pastravul din lacul Ohrid si salata de caracatita de la hotelul din Durres (Albania) + mielul in sos de iaurt (Kruja) au fost delicioase, dar mielul la cuptor din parcul national Galicica - (restaurant intr-un sat cu cateva case) e pe primul loc - yummy!!
Strange food / Mai ciudat?
- Grilled lung (pork or beef, not sure) - Skopje, restaurant on the Turkish side. We ordered it because it was unusual and we ended up ordering another portion - very tasty :)
To try next time: goat head on a spit
- Plaman la gratar - am luat de curiozitate in Skopje, restaurant in partea turceasca, dar am sfarsit prin a mai comanda o portie pentru ca era foarte gustos. Pentru data viitoare ramane de incercat cap de capra/oaie la un fel de rotisor.
Drinks / Bauturi?
- Macedonia: drinking coffee, especially Turkish Coffee, is very popular. Wines from Macedonia are little known outside of the former Yugoslavia territory even though Macedonia is the fourth largest supplier of bulk wine to Germany and supplies a fair portion of wine to the UK too. Macedonian wines are unique amongst European wines for being made with very little, if any, additional sugar or sulphite preservatives. Beer: Skopsko (subsidiary of Heineken) and others. National alcoholic drink: Mastika. Rakija also popular.
- Albania: Turkish tee served in small glasses. 'Cognac' Skanderberg.
- Macedonia: cafeaua turceasca e la mare pret. Vinurile macedonene nu sunt aproape deoc cunoscute in afara spatiului ex-yugoslav, dar sunt unice in Europa (nu zahar / conservanti) si se exporta masiv ca vin de masa (Germania, UK). Bautura nationala: mastika, rakie.
- Albania: ceai turcesc si celebrul 'cognac' albanez Skanderberg
Activities / Activitati?
- We did scuba diving in the Ohrid Lake and horse riding in the Galicica National Park
- Scufundari in lacul Ohrid, calaria in parcul national Galicica
Driving through Macedonia +Albania / Cu masina prin Macedonia + Albania
- no special problems, petrol stations in Albania accept only cash (euros included), chaotic traffic in Durres, Albania
- nu am avut probleme deosebite, benzinariile din Albania accepta doar cash (inclusive euro), in Durres se circula cam haotic motiv pentru care am renuntat la vizitarea Tiranei (nu aveam prea mult timp la dispozitie)
For next visit / Pentru vizita urmatoare in zona:
- to visit Shkodra + Komani boat trip (both in Albania). To try more local dishes...
- de vizitat Shkodra (capital culturala a Albaniei - partea de nord) + cu barca la Komani (ambele in Albania). De incercat si alte specialitati culinare locale...
PICTURES:
https://goo.gl/photos/5fHVbFt8rBeQW1so7
- click first picture and info for captions
- click pe prima poza si apoi pe info pentru comentarii
PRIJATNO! / MIRUPAFSHIM! / GOOD BYE!
When / Cand? September 2014
How long / Cat timp? 5 days / 5 zile
Why Macedonia & Albania / De ce?
- Why not? Celebrating your birthday in Albania sounds brilliant :) At least for me....
- De cativa ani buni ziua de nastere se sarbatoreste pe meleaguri necalcate inca... Cu cat mai bizare, cu atat mai bine.. Albania sta bine la capitolul asta :)
- By plane - Wizzair from London Luton to Skopje (capital of Macedonia) where we met friends who travelled by car from Bucharest (through Bulgaria)
- jonctiune la aeroportul Alexendru cel Mare din Skopje unde am ajuns, care cu avionul (London Luton, Wizzair), care cu masina (din Bucuresti, prin Bulgaria)
- 2 nights in Skopje (first and last night), 2 nights in Ohrid (Macedonia) and one night in a hotel in Durres, (Albania) by the sea.
- cazare in Skopje 2 nopti (prima si ultima), 2 nopti in Ohrid - la Chardak (numele a contat cand am facut rezervarea :) Camerele nu erau cine stie ce, dar terasa cu vedere la lac si amabilitatea gazdelor au compensat din plin, o noapte in Albania, la un hotel pe malul marii in Durres.
Tasty and simple food, fresh, locally produced ingredients - you can't get wrong with Mediterranean cuisine + a Turkish influence (not a big surprise considering that the Ottoman occupation lasted hundreds of years). Lamb is available in most restaurants, Macedonia and Albania. Grilled trout from the Ohrid lake, roasted pepper salad with garlic in Macedonia and the octopus salad + lamb in yoghurt sauce (Albania) were delicious. My favourite was the roated lamb we had at a restaurant in Galicica National Park (tiny village) after the horse riding trip.
Am mancat mult, bine si ieftin - combinatie perfecta. Ingrediente proaspate, produe local, mult miel, dar si pui si peste, mai putin porc. Salada de ardei copti cu usturoi (inclusiv la micul dejun), pastravul din lacul Ohrid si salata de caracatita de la hotelul din Durres (Albania) + mielul in sos de iaurt (Kruja) au fost delicioase, dar mielul la cuptor din parcul national Galicica - (restaurant intr-un sat cu cateva case) e pe primul loc - yummy!!
Strange food / Mai ciudat?
- Grilled lung (pork or beef, not sure) - Skopje, restaurant on the Turkish side. We ordered it because it was unusual and we ended up ordering another portion - very tasty :)
To try next time: goat head on a spit
- Plaman la gratar - am luat de curiozitate in Skopje, restaurant in partea turceasca, dar am sfarsit prin a mai comanda o portie pentru ca era foarte gustos. Pentru data viitoare ramane de incercat cap de capra/oaie la un fel de rotisor.
Drinks / Bauturi?
- Macedonia: drinking coffee, especially Turkish Coffee, is very popular. Wines from Macedonia are little known outside of the former Yugoslavia territory even though Macedonia is the fourth largest supplier of bulk wine to Germany and supplies a fair portion of wine to the UK too. Macedonian wines are unique amongst European wines for being made with very little, if any, additional sugar or sulphite preservatives. Beer: Skopsko (subsidiary of Heineken) and others. National alcoholic drink: Mastika. Rakija also popular.
- Albania: Turkish tee served in small glasses. 'Cognac' Skanderberg.
- Macedonia: cafeaua turceasca e la mare pret. Vinurile macedonene nu sunt aproape deoc cunoscute in afara spatiului ex-yugoslav, dar sunt unice in Europa (nu zahar / conservanti) si se exporta masiv ca vin de masa (Germania, UK). Bautura nationala: mastika, rakie.
- Albania: ceai turcesc si celebrul 'cognac' albanez Skanderberg
Activities / Activitati?
- We did scuba diving in the Ohrid Lake and horse riding in the Galicica National Park
- Scufundari in lacul Ohrid, calaria in parcul national Galicica
Driving through Macedonia +Albania / Cu masina prin Macedonia + Albania
- no special problems, petrol stations in Albania accept only cash (euros included), chaotic traffic in Durres, Albania
- nu am avut probleme deosebite, benzinariile din Albania accepta doar cash (inclusive euro), in Durres se circula cam haotic motiv pentru care am renuntat la vizitarea Tiranei (nu aveam prea mult timp la dispozitie)
For next visit / Pentru vizita urmatoare in zona:
- to visit Shkodra + Komani boat trip (both in Albania). To try more local dishes...
- de vizitat Shkodra (capital culturala a Albaniei - partea de nord) + cu barca la Komani (ambele in Albania). De incercat si alte specialitati culinare locale...
PICTURES:
https://goo.gl/photos/5fHVbFt8rBeQW1so7
- click first picture and info for captions
- click pe prima poza si apoi pe info pentru comentarii
PRIJATNO! / MIRUPAFSHIM! / GOOD BYE!
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