“Macedonia Then on to Kosovo”

• July 19, 2020
• By Daryl
• 2 Comments

After arriving in Macedonia and getting a “freedom” car; at least that is what a rental car feels like. We get a hotel, but had a hard time finding a reasonable priced one, as many hotels are out of business. We seem to have a problem with the bigger, nicer hotels being unable, or unwilling to provide air conditioning that works. We have negotiated a lower price to what we think is reasonable. If they don’t go for it, we walk. 

While in Skopje, Macedonia, we got our VW rental car. It’s a TDI diesel. We found where a lot of cars that VW was supposed to have destroyed from the recall efforts ended up!  We got extra insurance in the vehicle, so we could cross borders to other countries. 

Taking full advantage, we headed to Kosovo right away, after viewing Skopje Fortress and a Macedonia Square. They had many with strong women in the forefront. The Performing Art center had dramatic statues and classic ones on the roofline. The statues in the square with fountains and huge beasts and oversized people were well done. The scene was very impressive with very few people were milking around like us, as usual.

We crossed over the mountains, which can be a normal division between countries, and we see Kosovo come in to view. After climbing in elevation the scenery became so beautiful. Unlike soviet-era Albania, Kosovo was spared from the Russians burning down all the trees during the war to see their enemies. Pines mixed with birch and beeches trees gave a rainbow of greens filling the mountains. After driving on Kosovo for a bit, we saw many cars stopping along the road with picnics and small fires for cooking. Locals were having a Sunday outing with the family in the mountains.

We breached the ridge and a festive air exploded with people everywhere. Little stands selling fruit and berries. These were the best tasting raspberries ever! There was honey of every color, herbs for tea, cheese in jars; floating in liquid. I think we spent 30 euros on delicious treats. Our bellies fat with berries, we took in the scenery. 

Descending the pass, we then went deep into a dramatic canyon, passing  some ancient strongholds with old stone footbridges. Little villages are passed and admired. Soon our destination comes to view, another castle town with cobblestone streets, still in use in the old areas. Restaurants, bars and coffee shops line the streets, next to the stone-lined river, fighting to get downstream. We secure a newly built hotel room. A short walk to the pedestrian streets revealed a horse drawn carriage that gave us a slow tour around the village center. The hard part was picking a restaurant, because there were many. We ended up in one next to the stream. The waters serenaded us with its constant babble. 

We have totally blown our budget today, with the goodie purchases in the mountains, plus a tasty dinner, but it was such a nice experience. As we walked back to the hotel, two policemen called us over. He said to us; “do you see anybody here not wearing a mask?” We looked around us and like magic, all of a sudden, everyone WAS wearing their masks, in this small section of the village. Apparently, it is a five hundred euro fine for not wearing one. 

We haven’t worn a mask in public, yet; actually only on bus, since leaving Greece, after the lockdown. (May) So this rule was our first time to experience the government imposed requirement. But, we shook our heads about this scenario, all the way back to our hotel, because while we did not know the rule in Kosovo, about wearing masks in public, apparently this rule only applies when cops are present. This cleared up the mystery for us, as to why everyone around us did have a mask, but were wearing them on their chin, wrapped on their forearms, or hanging from one ear. This was for when they came close to a policeman; then on goes the mask. Knowing the rules helps out a lot. 

Tomorrow the streets will be void of people, following our fun Sunday in the Alp, once again. We will take photos without other travelers, as the locals go back home. The tourist are not coming yet and the season is short, due to the harsh winter months which claim the Alps. People are so hurt by the pandemic, especially a small country like Kosovo.