Autumn Comes....

Ever since we arrived in Macedonia, we have enjoyed blue skies and very hot, summer like weather.  Even the evenings were warm and balmy...not requiring a jacket or sweater.  Last Monday, we woke up to another nice warm day...went for our morning walk, and returned home.  A few hours later, we heard a huge rush of wind, looked out the window and saw a sky full of clouds and the air filled with dust.  Within minutes the temperatures fell 30 plus degrees and we knew instantly autumn had arrived.  

We were scheduled to leave for Ohrid the following day...so we made sure we packed warm clothes for our trip.  Ohrid is a small resort town located in the southwest corner of Macedonia.  It is about a three hour drive from Skopje.  The town is located on Lake Ohrid, which is one of two large inland lakes.  The country of Albania borders one side of the lake and Macedonia borders the other side.  

The city offers an old town alongside traditional houses with red tile roofs...  

several medieval churches with fresco paintings...  

an ancient Roman theater, where performances still take place during the summer months... 

and open air ruins form Roman times.

One of the local guides who told us about the ruins.

The church in the background is brand new and was built next to the Roman ruins.

It also has a fortress at the top of the hill that can be seen from almost any vantage point.  

Our second day was cloudy, cold and windy...but we didn't let that stop us.  

The parks located near the lake are beautifully landscaped.  

And...there is a wonderful walking path that runs next to the lake and through the woods.     Follow it long enough and it will take you to a small village tucked into the side of one of the mountains. 

We discovered a wonderful coffee house, bar and restaurant named Liquid that had a fantastic view of the lake and surrounding mountains.  

We also found two hip and trendy sea side bar and restaurant where we could sit and watch the sunset with a cocktail or class of wine.  Both places had indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy the beautiful scenery.   

We ate at several nice restaurants that offered delicious food for a reasonable price.  Lance and I both enjoyed stuffed peppers...a local speciality.  This particular restaurant is located in a building that is more than 300 years old.  

Lance and I had a terrific stay at an AirBnB for just $17 a night.  It included a private room and bath, the use of a shared kitchen, and a washing machine.  Nade and her husband, Vladimir were great hosts...very helpful and friendly toward us during our brief three day stay.  If you travel to Macedonia, the town of Ohrid is a must see.  I promise you will not be disappointed.      

We are back in Skopje now...and happily the weather has warmed up a bit.  We are now enjoying pleasant temperatures in the 70's, with beautiful blue skies.  Life is definitely good in the Balkans.