“Macedonia 🇲🇰 ~Banjsko Roman Bath Ruins and Holy Mother of God Monastery near Strumica”

By staying two nights in Strumica, we had a much more relaxed day, today, sightseeing. The roads, the heat, the hard miles driven with lack of proper directions, wear us out. After we were done for the day, including an early supper, we were actually back in our A/C hotel room by 5PM. That is a record for us, on any given day of touring.

Many viewers ask about how the food is, in the places where we travel. Here is what I can say. Vacationing in countries is quite different then living full-time out in the world in various countries. We are not staying in resort, or spa situations; all inclusive or otherwise. We do not take tours very often, so we have to figure out where and when we eat, everyday. I try to get a hotel that includes breakfast, as Daryl is a morning eater. (I’m not). Food, for the most part is not that exciting on the regular, so in reality, living as we do, it is not to be romanticised in our opinion. If we stay for a month, anyplace, we are usually absolutely over the food choices. We hit that wall for sure. Here in the Balkans, we keep hoping each country will have something a little different from the other, but we are finding very little change in cuisine. To make the situation more difficult, there are many closed restaurants, that may otherwise be, if not for COIVD. We may get a more home cook style dinner, with traditional dishes, but no way of knowing this for sure. Fortunately, every now and again, we do find a restaurant where somebody can really cook, and we are ever so grateful! We have the best fun when we are in a place long enough to get a kitchenette and cook for ourselves.

Truth, I’ve been craving guacamole and chips for about 2.5 years, now. The same for a juicy Prime Rib. Craving foods we can easily get back home, NEVER goes away.

I look online, to see reviews of restaurants. We avoid the ones that spill the beans. Like: Don’t come here, as this restaurant is no good. Canned vegetables stink, and of course; French fries with every meal, really? Tomato sauce made with Ketchup, and Ketchup poured over the Pizza is not okay. Oh, and the velveta-tasting cheese on Pizza is really bad, etc (we can relate)

Here, in the Balkans, consistently, the plates are heavy on meats, which are usually overcooked, dry and too salty. There are no vegetables, and french fries are on the side. If we try a pasta dish (pasta gets real old, too, unless we are in Italy), the tomato paste is made from ketchup for the Pizza and Bolognese, etc. The good news is, the food is not overpriced.

Anywho, back to our day.

This afternoon, after our coffee time, writing, posting and then a nap, we made our way out and about. We saw the Castle, yesterday, so today we focused on an old Monastery and the Roman Bath ruins; all within the Strumica area.

Banjsko Roman Bath ruins
About six miles from the town of Strumica, at the northern foot of Mount Belasitza, are natural hot springs. The Roman Bath house used the thermal mineral water of the spring called Parilo, which still has a temperature of 161 degrees Fahrenheit; year around. 

The source is located in the village of Banjsko, which is how it came to be called the same.
The Roman Bath in Banjsko is one of only a few preserved Roman monuments of its kind, in Europe.
The Roman Bath which was built in the 2nd century AD, right next to the source, and it is one of the largest Baths in the Balkans.
The site was discovered in 1978 during the construction of the Czar Samuil Hotel, which is on the same property. So far, 11 rooms of the spa have been discovered. Most of the 11 rooms had different functions and were mainly built of brick and stone, combined with mortar. Heating inside was designed and constructed with a special system, in which hot water was used to heat the floors and walls.
The bathroom is designed like most Roman buildings and was in the spirit for the health needs of the Roman culture. The Roman Bath also had a dressing room “apoditerium” for the clothes, and in the area called “dipterium,” the sick were massaged with healing oils. The room “tepidarium” was located among the hot baths (sauna) and cold baths (frigidarium). 
The main place was occupied by the baths and tub pool which had a depth of about five feet. The pool was postponed, for it to be reached by stairs. The sunlight entered through the windows, which made for a private and intimate atmosphere.

The thermal sources are around five in in numbers, but only one, is the largest contained. It flowed into the main bath called the “Turkish Bath” (a Hammam) and the four others freely flowed, with no particular catchments, with only one part flowing into the bathroom “Salandzha.”
Destruction of this original Roman sanatorium happened in the 6th century AD. It would appear the rebuild happened after the Turks put their Turkish Bath influence into it, as the Hammam is not what Romans called their Baths.
The water temperature source does not change during the year, which proves that it comes from a great depth.
This view from from up above, looking down, shot just how many feet of earth build up over the hundreds of years, after a stone structure becomes obsolete. The excavation would take a long while, and as you can see, the rebuild, even longer
This dome is an indication of Turkish influence. (Hammam). We wanted to get into that area to explore, but everything leading to it was locked. We have experienced the traditional Turkish Bath, and it wonderful! We look forward to getting more, when we return to Turkey in the near future. We hope COVID will lessen. for many reasons, but until that time comes, the Hammans will remain closed to the public.
Very common sight. Tractor and trailers, Horse and cart, or donkeys
The road going up to the Monastery looked a bit bad, with a spring running down the center of it, and did not want to take any chances. We parked and hiked up, but in this case, (unlike our adventures of yesterday) we actually found the Monastery.
Where we parked our car, we knew it was somebody driveway. We looked around to get permission, when all of a sudden, a young girl appeared. She wanted to help us find the Monastery without a problem. We asked if it was okay to park, where our car was. She said it was fine. She walked up with us, and was such a kind soul. So young, and l so caring. Hardly any English, but we managed. We are enjoying the friendliness of the locals, very much in this southern part of Macedonia
This is a grape and tobacco growing country
Mother of God Eleusa Monastery
Also known as the Veljusa Monastery, it is located in the village having the same name.. It is about a fifteen minute drive from the city of Strumica.
This holy site is one of the most valuable symbols of the orthodoxy in the Republic of Macedonia. The exceptional church is dedicated to the Holy Mother of God Eleusa; meaning “showing mercy.”
Many centuries of existence of the Monastery, makes it one of the most significant ecclesiastical and cultural centers, not only in the country, but also on the Balkans.
At one time, it used to be a home for monks, but since 1996, and with the renewal of the monastic life, it became a female Monastery. Today, there is a sisterhood of around ten nuns whose day starts and ends with a prayer. 
The grounds of this place was lovely. The grape arbors added shade and offered up a serene calm to this Holy location. It is quite obvious this Monastery is well loved on. Inside there was scaffolding, for some repairs, so photo taking was limited.
This is for you, Judy T.
Entering The Church
This ancient church abounds with remarkable frescos, originating from two periods. One is from the original founding of the church; in 1080, and the other, from the 12th century.
Among them, the one-of-a-kind fresco is showing Jesus Christ Emanuel as a twelve-year-old child.
I have never seen one of these carved of stone. I have seen them as carved wood chairs
Living quarters of the Nuns
The Nun housing rooms were locked, but I bet they are cute on the inside
Overlooking The city of Strumica

Tomorrow, we will be on the road for about four hours, so we will see more countryside, going from the Southeast, to the West. We must check out Ohrid, before we leave the country. We were at Ohrid Lake, but without a car, as yet, so we did not get to go around the area to what they call “The Jerusalem of Macedonia.”

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Hello and Welcome to our Travel Blog Website, We enjoy writing about our experiences and taking photos of our adventuring along the way. Our names are: Daryl and Pen, but Daryl calls me “Bunny.” We met, quite randomly, whilst both… Read More