In September I led my North Macedonia photography tour again. We started in Bitola and then went to the Mariovo region. We visited the ancient site of Heraclea Lyncestis, Lake Ohrid and the mountain villages around it, like Kuratica, a few monasteries and churches, and the Painted Mosque in Tetovo. At the end we crossed into Serbia for the red pepper harvest in Donja Lokošnica.
My group was small this time, only three people from the US and the UK. We had a fabulous time.
A Selection of Photos from North Macedonia
A Selection of Photos from Serbia
Honey and Rakija in Repeš
On our way to Mariovo, we stopped in the valley near the village of Repeš (Repesh) to photograph colorful beehives. We noticed a beekeeper working with his bees, so I suggested we walk closer and talk to him.
When we got to the house, I said a loud hello to see if anyone was home. A lady walked out of the door. Her name was Vesa, and she was the beekeeper’s wife. She invited us in and told us that Simeon, her husband, would join us shortly.
When Simeon arrived, Vesa served us homemade rakija. Strong stuff! I asked Simeon a few questions about his bees. He was happy to talk to us and offered us his finest honey to try. He also showed us how he tests if honey is of good quality. He dipped a spoon into the jar and pulled it out again. If the flow breaks, the honey contains sugar. If the flow is continuous, the honey is real.
After the rakija, we walked into his garden, and he showed us how he works with the bees. He even opened his storage and honey processing house and showed us around.
What a wonderful experience. This is the genuine hospitality of Macedonian people.
One of My Favorite Trips
I have led this trip several times now, and North Macedonia is still one of my favorites. I love coming back. The best things about it are always the same: the people, the wonderful food and wine, and the many different photo opportunities.
If you would like to join me next time, you can find the details here: North Macedonia Photography Tour.
