German cat from Macedonia

Big thank you to Martina for always remembering me when it comes to cats haha

She definitely knows of my strange predilection of chasing stray cats for a picture.

This stray cat she got from Germany and sent from MAcedonia. Love the fossil stamp!

Received: 15 February 2016

Tobacco ironing

Tobacco "ironing" at family Manevci in Prilep

Martina sent a huge surprise envelope filled with goodies and in it was this 

vintage photo reprint. I love getting old black white photo cards. They are like a blast from
the past. It makes me curious about the story in this card, is this the end of a good day's work?
If I remember correctly, this tobacco plant is no longer in operation but the
building still stands. Thank you so much Martina for this piece of history.
Received: 21 May 2015

Bitola

Bitola is located in the southwestern part of Macedonia. The Dragor River flows through the city. Bitola lies at an elevation of 615 meters above sea level, at the foot of Baba Mountain. Its magnificent Pelister mountain (2601 m) is a national park with exquisite flora and fauna, among which the rarest species of pine, known as Macedonian pine or pinus peuce, as well as a well-known ski resort.

Another lovely surprise from dear Martina for this postcard

Sent: 16 June 2014   Received: 8 July 2014   Travelled: 22 days

Prilep map

Prilep is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia. It has a population of 66,246 and is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of Prince Marko.

Thanks to my dear friend Martina who sent this card and showed me around

Prilep while I was waiting for a new tooth in Macedonia :D

Sent: 5 January 2015   Received: 4 February 2015   Travelled: 30 days

Struga,Macedonia

Struga's location on Lake Ohrid makes it a slightly quieter and more peaceful experience than the more bustling Ohrid.
There are several cultural monuments in Struga and in its vicinity such as the Monastery of Kališta, a few kilometers away from the town center, lying on the shore of Lake Ohrid. It is believed that it dates from the 16th century, with frescoes from the 14th and the 15th centuries. Another rock church is present in the neighbouring village of Radožda with frescoes from the 13th and 14th centuries. The Church of Sveta Bogorodica (St Mary) in Vraništa, is believed to be where Tsar Samuel was crowned.

A card from the little town of Struga, a place that I visited briefly. 

I remember walking on the bridge pictured in the aerial view.

Thank you Martina for a trip down memory lane :D

Sent:30 October 2014   Received: 11 November 2014   Travelled: 12 days

Bitola angel

A monument of an angel to the defenders of Macedonia

Photo: Zarko Durlanov

Thanks to my lovely friend Martina for this

night shot of the Angel monument. Love the

stamp featuring my favourite vegetable :D

Sent: 20 August 2014   Received: 11 September 2014   Travelled: 21 days

Prilep, Macedonia

Excerpt on back: The monastery complex Treskavec with the Church

"Assumption of the Mother of God" is built on the older cult place.

The church was built in XIII century.

Yay another monastery card! I was on another hill and could only see this place in the far distance. Did not have the time to visit as I was only in Prilep for a brief visit. Thank you Martina for the

beautiful card :)

Sent: 29 March 2014   Received: 11 April 2014   Travelled: 13 days

Heraclea Luncestis

Heraclea was a strategically important town during the Hellenistic period, as it was at the edge of Macedon's border with Epirus to the west, and to the non-Greek world to the north, until the middle of the 2nd century BC, when the Romans conquered Macedon and destroyed its political power. The Romans divided Macedonia into 4 regions and Heraclea was in the fourth region. The main Roman road in the area, Via Egnatia went through Heraclea, and Heraclea was an important stop. The prosperity of the city was maintained mainly due to this road. Objects discovered from the time of Roman rule in Heraclea are: Votive monuments, a portico, thermae (baths), a theatre and town walls. In the early Christian period, Heraclea was an important Episcopal seat. Some of its bishops are mentioned in synods in Serdica and other nearby towns. From this period are the ensembles of the Small and Great (Large, Big) basilica. The Grave (Funeral) basilica with a necropolis is located east of the theatre.
After a heavy earthquake struck the city in the early 6th. century AD, its inhabitants gradually abandoned it. Circa 585 the devastated area was finally captured by the Slavs.

I visited this place when I was in Bitola, it was too bad that I couldn't take pictures
like I did in Pompeii but getting a postcard from a place I've been is just awesome!
Thank you Martina for this card! 

Sent: 30 January 2014
Received: 11 February 2014
Travelled: 12 days

Macedonian map

 

Thank you Predrag for this beautiful map of Macedonia! Brings back memories of my amazing time spent there and I'll always remember the land of the sunbeam on a red flag,and also special thanks to you for the heads up on my broken tooth :p

 

Sent: 22 January 2014

Received: 6 February 2014

Travelled: 15 days

Skopje

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skopje

 

Ah what can I say, I have a special love affair with Alexander the Great, after all the biggest statue of him can be found here in the city.Sadly I only spent 2 hours here and zip through the central park to the market before running back to catch my bus to Bulgaria. Hopefully I get a chance to come back, after all my adopted family has a wedding to celebrate soon ;)

 

Thank you to Elena, Ivica and Ognen for this beautiful card, my visit was too short so I hope we meet someday!

 

Sent: 23 January 2014

Received: 4 February 2014

Travelled: 12 days

Ohrid,Macedonia

Ohrid is notable for once having had 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and has been referred to as a "Jerusalem (of the Balkans)". The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. It is located southwest of Skopje, west of Resen and Bitola, close to the border with Albania. In 1979 and in 1980, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In fact, Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are both Cultural and Natural sites.

Thank you Ivana C. for this beautiful card from Ohrid, I was very fortunate to have been able to come visit and walk around the lake and historical center. Truly one of the most amazing places I've ever seen!

Bitola,Macedonia

 

Bitola is the second largest city in the country. Bitola is one of the oldest cities on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia. It was founded as Heraclea Lyncestis in the middle of the 4th century BC by Philip II of Macedon. During the Ottoman rule the city was the last capital of Ottoman Rumelia.

Thank you Martina for the lovely card from Macedonia :)

Sent: 7 March 2013
Received: 21 March 2013
Travelled: 14 days