By Dijana Semovska-Kozarova
Last October, I headed to southeast Europe for my destination wedding in Macedonia—a republic once part of Yugoslavia. In between my wedding planning and organizing, I managed to sneak in some exploring of the country.
Although only the size of the state of Virginia, Macedonia is known as, “The Pearl of the Balkans,” as it is a landlocked country boasting great historical figures such as Alexander the Great and Mother Teresa. While we can trace its origins long before Christ walked the earth, modernly, Macedonia is known for its political struggle with its former republic: it broke free peacefully from Yugoslavia when the Yugoslavian civil war broke out in the early 90’s.
Macedonia is rich in history and culture which can take up an entire book to explain, so I will get right to my experience in Macedonia and its wonderful features so you can explore the country for yourself one day.
My wedding was in the city of Strumica, pronounced Stroom-itsa. With its proximity to Bulgaria and Greece, the region has a mild climate, producing a variety of exotic fruits and vegetables. One of the major lakes in Macedonia resides in Strumica, Lake Dorjan, pronounced Dor-yan. It’s a beach resort for many tourists in the summertime. You will also find pomegranate trees, banana plants, kiwi, and figs in Lake Dorjan, making you feel like you’re on a tropical island; it’s the only region of the country where such plants grow and thrive.
Because of the mild climate and plant life in Strumica, you’ll also find many farmers markets, including a huge one in the city’s new mall, “Global." You can get anything from honey to pistachios to bananas to peppers. You will be amazed at the food here—the country has a lot of eating spots that serve great delights such as, “Tost”(toast), a fun entrée made with flat bread, ham, cheese, mushrooms, stuffed with fries, then pressed in a flat grill and served with mayo. The country is also known for their great Burek (boorek), shops that are open 24 hours a day. A burek is a salty pastry made of layered dough (think filo dough except the dough is made from scratch). It’s stuffed with either feta cheese, meat, or pizza sauce (pizza burek).
If you’re hungry and eat a lot like my wedding party, you’ll be happy to know that the exchange rate in Macedonia for U.S. dollars is great, making the food very inexpensive; you can get a huge slice of burek for only 10 cents in US dollars!
When not at the farmers markets, you’ll want to do what the locals do and head to“Kafice” (kafeechi), also known as “coffeebars.” It’s a popular concept here. A Kafice is a lounge with couches and DJ music open all day and night and serves a variety of cocktails as well as “Nescafe.” And don’t worry, cocktails are inexpensive too! Mixed cocktails go for about $3.50-$4.00 USD. I would love this concept to come to the States one day, especially since there’s no drinking age limit. A Kafic is not quite a bar and it’s not quite a coffee shop, but a blend of both.
Once you’re done lounging on the lake and beach, you’ll want to end your visit with a trek through the outdoors. Macedonia is mountainous, especially Strumica, where Smolare Falls, a forest preserve, features many waterfalls and streams. It’s a great spot for hiking and being at one with nature. For additional cities to visit, check out Bitola and Ohrid (details below). Macedonia may be a small country, but it’s full of rich history and culture, a definite gem in the Balkans.
