Macedonia and good company...
Today I started early, as I had to get some cash out and I also wanted to find the place the bus will leave from tomorrow at 8.30am. I have booked a day tour to Albania, it took me ages to find a tour, my lovely host, Maria found a local company. It was 8pm and they closed at 9pm last night, so off I went. My internet is not working on my phone here Macedonia, so I did the GPS, took a screen shot and set off. I finally found the company office about 8.30pm. There was a young dutch man who told me the tour on Saturday was sold out, but I could go on the reserved list in case someone cancelled. I agreed, but I was sad, I really want to see more of Albania and I am leaving Ohrid on Sunday. So it was my last chance. He must have taken pity on me, as he made a phone call and told me I was on the tour he had just ordered a bigger bus. So I am off to Albania tomorrow. So happy. The only downside being the tour guide only speaks Dutch and I am sure you all know how good my Dutch is, non existant, but never mind. I can barely hear half the stuff the english speaking ones say, so no great loss. I will endure...
I then went to the dock area, as I had been given a pamplet yesterday regarding a boat trip to 3 different areas on the lake. I wanted to do that and it left at 10.30. I waited at the billboard for the trip and it took quite a while for anyone to come and address me. I was finally told to follow some bloke. It appears that travelling alone kind of stumps them, me and another passenger, who was also alone, were left waiting there for a good five minutes or so as they tried to find somewhere to put us. Luckily we were put on the same boat and Hampas and I became friends. On the way to the first stop we chatted and also met a couple, Phil was English and Maria was Brazilian, with Hampus being Swedish and me an Aussie we made quite a team.
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Todays team, it was quite windy on the boat..
It was quite cold on the water and I was kicking myself that I didn't bring my cardigan, but never mind. Our first stop was at an ancient village that they have rebuilt in the like of the original, over the water. It was quite interesting, and I explored many of the homes, but I did not go into all of them. There were large cracks in the floor and I was concerned that if I dropped my phone it was never going to be seen again.
There were people scuba diving under the village, it was quite surreal. The whole place was surrounded by a large fishing net. I asked our boat skipper what were they trying to keep out, I knew it wasn't sharks like it would be back home. No it was the boats, so they don't run over the divers, original, but understandable as I saw a guy training them how to do it, so they are not seasoned divers we are talking about here. I assume many of them would end up surfacing under boats if measures where not put in place.
Our next stop was a church, I didn't even leave the boat, I needed a nap, and I have seen thousands of churches in my European adventures and this one just didn't look worth the effort. Unfortunatley I didn't get my nap, but I did lie back and enjoy the quiet.
Next we travelled to a monastery and a spring of some kind, I didn't catch it and I wasn't bothered. We had a nice lunch there, I shared the table with Hampus, Phil and Maria. I don't catch everything Maria says, but that woman has about 5 or 6 languages that she speaks, so I am in awe of her capabilities. She is vey talented. Lucky for her husband Phil, as I think he only has English (like me).
It was really a lovely day and I am very glad they found room for Hampus and I on the boat.
I had an early dinner and got another cab back to Vilasaraj. This cab only cost me 300 mkd, the last 2 have cost me 400 with Dimitri. Dimitri has offered to drive me to Skopje for 100 euros, or to Bulgaria for 300 euros. As the bus is only about 13 euros, I think I will just take the bus... I'm not so green that I'm cabbage looking...
Maria's daughter is buying me a bus ticket and bringing it around later. Maria is amazing the amount of trouble she goes to for her guests is amazing. And her garden is beautiful. Also she is doing my laundry tomorrow.. win win..
Maria's garden
I am really looking forward to the tour tomorrow
Cheers for now. 😁😁
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