“Macedonia in Strumica and Going Down the Donkey Road”

• August 20, 2020
• By Daryl
• 0 Comment

Moving to the commands of the lady of the maps proves to be menopausal. Tiny roads lead to temperamental road changes. Dutifully, we follow every command, inexcusably we arrive at the wrong location. 

An old monastery named Holy Mother of God Eleusa is our destination. When we get close, a spring has sprung in the road. This has turned  a good road into a rutted, water-tortured stream bed.  The road leading up to that point was dug up and filled with rock. Driving was a challenge that lead to parking in a house driveway and a walk. A young girl walks us up to the trail that leads to a masterpiece. 

Walking through the gates was like entering heaven, just past the pit to hell. An oasis, a diamond-in-the-rough is being restored. The trees and landscaping, a little overgrown, but framed the buildings.

We photoed the area and headed to our next destination, a Roman spa.  As we are driving, a stork and it’s nest lie on top of an electrical pole. Baskets are secured to the tops of poles to give storks a nesting spot, and they can be seen all over this region. Old brick and stone buildings with their terra-cotta roofs in the process of decay all around. Many are used till they are too dangerous, then left to crumble into rubble.

We have an abundance of misguided directions again, after many wrong turns we end up near our destination, Banj Sko Roman Bath.  A ten room Roman Bath, heated by a natural hot spring. 

Walking up to the ruins, I am amazed how deep the Archeologists had to dig down to get to ground level, 1500 years ago. An earthquake destroyed the water source for the city and left the spa in shambles. Residents left soon after.