Sofia Bulgaria 2014

Sofia 17-24 Nov 2014

Sredets Sofia Bulgaria 17 Nov 2014

17 Nov Monday_ grabbed a taxi at Skopje on a wet morning to catch Bulgaria bus. After 6+ hours, arrived to a dreary busy Sofia. Dinnered at soup shop and chatted with William from Canada. Market are still opened and tried baked pumpkin topped with walnuts. Walked around the hood, trams running, locals busied with daily chores. Bureks and huge pizzas are common here.

Walking tour group Sofia Bulgaria_18 Nov 2014

Changing of Guard Sofia Bulgaria _18 Nov 2014

Palace of Justice Sofia Bulgaria_18 Nov 2014

Nov 1 8 Tuesday_Assembled at the Palace of Justice, Sylvan the guide turned up and with a diversed international group, we walked 2 hours around the city with interesting and cheery guide. Highly recommended for newbie. The tourist info lady was very helpful and showed us common local Boza drink and paid for it. Impressed!

Blvd Evlogi Hristo Georgiev Sofia Bulgaria _19 Nov 2014

View from Crystal Park, Sofia Bulgaria_19 Nov 2014

Apt close to here, Serdets Sofia Bulgaria_19 Nov 2014

Nov 19 Wednesday_ Another grey day walking to National Assembly hall, National Art gallery, Alexander Nevsky cathedral church, Church of St Sophia, saw the statue of Sofia, most of Sofia’s to see stuff are in the heart of it . At Billa for the day to day necessities. Into a more familiar and bright MacDonald for  coffee, croissant and wifi, the siren went off but no one budged.

 

Nov 20 Thursday_strong bitterly winds, streets are quieter. Fish, pork and shopska lunches opposite the market. At  Photosynthesis  for local flowers tea and coffee. downstair is the camera accessories shop. A bit surprise to see South East Asian photos on the wall.

Squat shop Sofia Bulgaria_21 Nov 2014

Happy Grill Sofia Bulgaria_21 Nov 2014

Nov 21 Friday_Spotted Bulgarian squat shops all over. In the 80s when the govt. allowed private owned legalised shops which are on ground level through the cellar window   City Center Sofia mall has MD, KFC, Subway and DDonut on one section.  R opted for a Bulgaria set lunch, potatoes, meat and salad at the CCSofia all. At Happy Grill, I ate sea bass on top of a bed of steamed spinach with saffron sauce and house wine, Bulgarian eggplant fetta goat salad. R had pork, potatoes and brûlée blueberries. Good vibes and price for a night out.

Ivan Vazov National Theatre Sofia Bulgaria_22 Nov 2014

Sofia University Bulgaria_22 Nov 2014

Transformer into street art Sofia Bulgaria_22 Nov 2014

Ivan Vazov National Theatre Sofia Bulgaria_22 Nov 2014

Dancing lady statue Sofia Bulgaria_22 Nov 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov 22 Saturday_ Follow this link for more transformers. One of the beautiful buildings is the Ivan Vazov National Theatre. Stumbled upon a German sponsored Weinacht markt. Days are getting shorter and lights are decked up for Christmas as early as 3pm. At the Crystal park for mint tea, coffee and smooth internet jazz music.

Nov 23 Sunday_Chillax inside while R gets take away dinner from Farmer’s. The sky has not opened up the whole day. Leaves are almost gone and cold and bitter winds are coming this way. Time to move down South.

Nov 24 Monday_ 8am bus at Serdika station to Thessaloniki, Greece.  See you there!

Struga/Skopje Macedonia 2014

Struga10-13 Nov 2014/Skopje Nov 13-17

Museum of Natural Science Struga Macedonia_11 Nov 2014

Lake Ohrid Struga Macedonia_11 Nov 2014

Struga Macedonia 11Nov 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov 10 Monday_  Boarded 9am bus at Tirana for Struga Macedonia. Long wait at Albania and Macedonia checkpoints. The bus went uphill along narrow and twisty road before straightening out the last part of the journey.  Met some Korean tourists. At the Coma Mall, a local shop owner recommended Wimpy burger below, a tad salty and okay in taste. Feeling lousy, caught some bug.

Nov 11 Tuesday_a young boy unexpectedly greeted us, “See you later, alligator” in a least English spoken region while on our way to Lake Ohrid under a sunny sky, 5 mins walk from apartment to the lake. Circled the city, spent some time at the really old but good collection of specimen at the Museum of Natural Science.

Skopje Macedonia_13 Nov 2014

Skopje fort, Macedonia_13 Nov 2014

Apartment view, facing the Millenium Cross(south)_14 Nov 2014

One of the hundreds of statues scattered across Skopje_14 Nov 2014

Hungry? Hamza doner Skopje Macedonia_15 Nov 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

Busy Old Bazaar Skopje Macedonia_15 Nov 2014

Skopje National Gallery housed inside Turkish bath, Macedonia_15 Nov 2014

15th century Turkish bath still in magnificient condition in the heart of Skopje Macedonia_15 Nov 2014

Shot from the Stone Bridge, late autumish afiternoon when lights are turned on_Skopje Macedonia_15 Nov 2014

Nov 12 Wednesday_grabbed at taxi to Struga bus station. On the 10:30 bus to Skopje, Taolant talked to R the whole way covering all topics one can thinks of. Arriving Skopje almost 2pm, no sign of Goran, called and was picked up, the apartment is centrally located next to a casino. We had pizza and tagliatelle at the corner place packed with locals.

Nov 13 Thursday_ short walk to Macedonia square, lots of statues, a wounded soldier hanged around us and talking politics which we are not so interested in. Aiming towards the fort, we passed the busy bazaar, market, mosque and climbed up the unattended fort. At the highest tower, Skopje was brightened by the sun.

Nov 14 Friday _Here, you need to show passport to get bus tickets which I find it a little backward thinking. After securing tickets for Sofia, we sat down at the cafe before browsingat Vero mall. We have eaten Balkan foods entirely from the start of the journey, to break it I chose a North Indian cafe called Peacock. Foods were mediocre but service was good. We have the whole restuarant to ourselves and the owner and waitress have time to talk to us.

Nov 15 Saturday_Up we climbed the hills leading to the fort but this time to the Comtemporary museum. We were the only visitors before a few came in. Exhibits are quite interesting but the art I beg to differ. I leaned an inch over the red rope blocking the Picasso’s piece but was loudly reprimanded. For a 1usd entrance fee, just the box building donated by the Polish government is worth it. Comig back, we happened into Hamza Doner and turned out to be the best kebab and delicious yogurt drink came with a German speaking waiter. The Slovakians football fans are gearing themselves up for tonight match against Macedonians for 2016 European Cup. Slovakian won the match.

Nov 16 Sunday_R bought $5 buck cluck for lunch. Rainy day, stay home day

Nov 17 Monday_ See you in Sofia Bulgaria

Tirana Albania 2014

Tirana Albania 3-9 Nov 2014

Taxied Uljinc-Skoder, bus to Tirana Albania_3 Nov 2014

Balkan Mountains Skoder-Tirana _3 Nov 2014

Pyramid Tirana Albania 5 Nov 2014

Apt view Tirana Albania 4 Nov 2014

Skanderbeg Square_Tirana Albania_6 Nov 2014

Tirana Lek_6 Nov 2014

Et Hem Bey Mosque Tirana Albania_9 Nov 2014

Part of the labor camp and bunker Tirana Albania _9 Nov 2014

Cheers! Grandpark on Tirana Lake_9 Nov 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov 3 Monday_ Manor talked us into taking his cab from Uljinc to Tirana and transferred to bus to Tirana. A newly capitalistic country  after toppling the commnist rule. A lot of catch up, Tiranians are hardy and friendly despite all they been through. Selvia, name of the tree is the apartment location. Building number is not used, the driver dreopped us by the roadside and two police contacted George who led us to his apt. Busy centrally located which all the survival thingy. Dinner from Carrefour.

Nov 4 Tuesday_  A busy Skanderbeg square, opera, Et hem Bey mosque, three blocks is the Orthodox Cathedral. Daily walks through the  fresh open air market, tobacco sold in block. Tasty chicken salad and beer. Got a few produce for dinner.

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Nov 5 Wednesday_Under the grey drizzling sky we went to the unmanned Pyramid. It was built as a museum for the  late communist leader by his daughter and son-in-law. So much disagreements the pyramid now housed a TV station and the youngs climb and slide down from the top.

Nov 6 Thursday_ 20th wedding anniversary lunch at Oda restuarant. Located on a tiny alley, we ordered stuffed eggplant, white beans, and veal tripe. Beer, Turkish coffee and quince honey walnut dessert. Noticed grandparents caring grandchildren.

Nov 7 Friday_overcast skies, out to open market and ate with locals by the market square. Sky opened  and coffee at Stephen center. Drizzling. Persimmon and pomegranate season here. Taiwan mall is where to see and be seen in Tirana. Locals like the lighted fountain nearby.

Nov 8 Saturday_feeling lousy,  got my hair goomed and R  rented a bike. Driving and roaming in Tirana is not for the faint hearted.

Nov 9 Sunday_ Fragment of Berlin Wall, bunker  and the labor camp are  exhibited at Bllok . at the artificial lake/Tirana lake. Nice day locals are fishing, making music, games and walked around with their family. A man with a key opened Et hem Bey mosque for us and invited me to go upstair which is for women only. Nice Mother Theresa square, and the guard shooed us down the steps.

Nov 10 Monday_ Tirana to Struga at 9am