In September, we did a hiking vacation in northern Macedonia. It was a really fun trip!
From the airport near Ohrid, we were taken to the only hotel in Lazaropole. A small village in the mountains where time seems to have stood still for several years.
On Saturday night, the whole village gathers in the square in front of the small supermarket and hotel. Someone with a car provides the musical accompaniment by opening their door. Young and old together, very cozy.

Beautiful walks in the pristine forests on the mountain slopes. For us ( one not athletic, the other a little athletic) the hike was tough at times. By taking enough time for it, it was still manageable.
The area was very green and there were still many flowers, trees full of apples that were golden in the sun and hops full of bells.

In Vevcani, our next stop, there are more people and more amenities. On our walks, we -apart from the shepherd with sheep- again encountered hardly anyone. The traditional wedding was fun to watch. Again beautiful walks in green surroundings with lots of butterflies.

We ended up in Ohrid. A very nice old town with cozy terraces and restaurants. Unfortunately, the old buildings are not always maintained. Like abandoned cars, they become overgrown with greenery. Nice swim in Lake Ohrid.

All in all, an enjoyable and excellent trip with beautiful walks. Thanks to the GPX, finding the route was no problem. The people we met were nice and helpful. We hope to go to Northern Macedonia again.

Wessel and Caroline