Daily Archives: June 6, 2011

Baba Mountains near Bitola, Macedonia

Did you know Macedonia was one of CNBC’s top 10 destinations for 2011?

Or, that in 2010 the New York Times selected Macedonia as the #21 of 31 places to go?

I will be heading back to Macedonia in May and June. In 2010, I was lucky enough to return for two months while hosting Americans for three and four weeks as part of my first cultural tour.

“The three weeks went too fast, we don’t want to leave! And, we all want to come back. V & J, J.Q, J.C.”

This year, my guests will be touring Macedonia and perhaps northern Greece. I invite you to join us on our amazing journey of personal and cultural discovery. To learn more about these inexpensive, two to four-week visits, contact me at wishfulthinkingworks@gmail.com. Here is what 2010’s travelers had to say:

“Home – safe and sound – trip went smoothly . . . miss Macedonia . . . Saying ‘thank you’ is not enough to express our gratitude for the difference you made for us. For a friendship, so quickly made – and travel half way around the world – we could never have anticipated the difference it has made for us.You are a delight to be with . . . Hugs to you and all of our new friends in Macedonia. Big hug, V & J”

“I have traveled often and far and this has been the best food, ever. J.Q.”

“Traveling with Patrice in Macedonia was simply a fantastic experience. She is full of information on the country and knows people in all walks of life. Macedonian’s history leaves much to explore, and the food is so delicious. For me, a month in Bitola was not enough time to take in the whole country and to explore a bit of Bulgaria and Greece. I want to return. P.B.” 

Click Macedonia 2010 to enjoy some of the sites and moments we experienced. Below are a few of my Peace Corps (PC) photo memories I haven’t shared, as yet.

  I hope you can join us in Macedonia this fall.

This post was originally written on September 22, 2010 from Macedonia.

I am back in a land I love.      

Sometimes we walk to our dreams, sometimes we run. I flew! No matter how we travel to find them – inside ourselves or in the world,  I do believe the road we choose rises to meet us.      

I am in Macedonia, land of Phillip of Macedonia the II, the father of Alexander the Great.  The land that experienced 500 years of Ottoman-Turk domination that ended oh, so recently in the early 1900’s; a land where leisure is not a dirty world, were men and women hug openly and often, where “slow food“ is what everyone eats, slowly. Where a mountain is seen at every turn, where wine flows as easily as opinions, where strolling is an art form, hiking is the order of the day, and where living rooms are small and an appreciation of being outdoors is huge.      

The wonderful and very proud people of this beautiful little country opened their arms to me when I served here as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer from 2006-2009. They then stretched their arms across a continent and an ocean to embrace my desire to return for work and play by opening their hearts and their homes to me as easily as we Americans open our car doors.      

I’m back!      

Fort Myers, Florida to Atlanta, to Rome to Thessaloniki the second largest city in Greece with a very small and easily manageable airport.  The city is only two and a half hours from Bitola, the second largest city in Macedonia.  These very different towns each played important cultural and political roles in ancient world history. The Via Egnatia, the Roman road of commerce, passed through both towns accelerating their growth and their value to the region.      

Now, political quarrels over national names keep them separated by more than miles, but doesn’t stop the adventurous traveler from enjoying both.  Their borders are open and easily passed.      

We crossed those borders into Macedonia on Friday, September 9.  I am living here for two months, five other American wanderlusts are joining me for three to four weeks.      

We are exploring Macedonia and ourselves. You see, I believe that all successful  journeys – big or small, lead us not only to new places, but to new observations and awareness of living, life and ourselves.      

Within hours of my arrival, an American-Macedonian friend reminded me to slow-down. So, I did.       

I breathe slowly and deeply. Taking it all in, one drop at a time. Ecstatic at the life changes that have brought me to this moment and to being able to share it with my Macedonian friends, my fellow travelers, family and friends back home and you the reader. At this moment my connection is closest to you the reader, the curious, interested person taking time from your day to explore the world of another. Thank you for being here.   

Here are a few of the sights, food and people we are enjoying.    

Stuffed peppers from heaven.

 

Light bean salad – fresh picked!

 

Macedonian-style moussaka, amazingly simple and delicious.

 

Grape leave “sarmi” rice and meat rolled delights!

 

“Chorba” – light, delicate fish soup from the city of Struga.

 

 

Tradition, Tradition

Beautiful Vevchani Baba

 

Vevchani view

 

A lacy view

 

Church by springs in Vevchani

 

St. Nikola, Vevchani

 

Lacy screen door with blessing and luck above it. 

Until we meet again . . . Sreken pat.  Happy travels.   

 

 

From 2006-2009, Patrice Koerper lived in Macedonia as one of only 425 volunteers over the age of 50 serving worldwide in the United States Peace Corps. In 2010 Patrice Koerper returned to Macedonia with American guests for a special cultural tourism program she developed, “Experience Macedonia: Enjoy Europe as it used to be”. 

Patrice is returning to Macedonia again in 2011 for six weeks – September through October. She is offering her unique 2 to 4 weeks cultural tours to a small group of friendly, flexible, adventurous travelers. In 2012 Patrice is planning life coaching retreats in Macedonia and Greece.

For more information on these exciting travel and life-changing opportunities, please email her at patricekoerper@gmail.com or call her at 813-719-0679.

This post was originally written in the spring of 2011.

I love the houses and the streets of the village of Dihovo.

The colors and textures of the homes are so rich. They way these homes hug the road makes me wonder which came first!

 

Antique wagon at Villa Patrice; looks just like Ohio in the fall. Villa Patrice was the second B & B to open in Dihovo. It is not mine, but was named in my honor; Saso and Nevenka the owners are kind and generous people.

 

 

 

Pears from the tree at Villa Patrice. The fresh fruit and vegetables in Macedonia are delicious.

 

 

Pears at night in Chaska, my first home in Macedonia. Photo courtesy of my wonderful friend, Malinda Antonik.  Bear with me, I am a foodie and these photos touch my soul!

 

 

 

Cabbage, the lettuce of Macedonia, is eaten daily even though lettuce is available.  Fresh cabbage soon became my salad of choice.  It is mild flavored, almost sweet, and, of course, has tons of vitamins! 

 

 

 And, what you cannot pick, you can easily buy at the “pazzar” (market).

Tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions and white salty, sharp cheese cut into chunks and drizzled with light oil and vinegar with a sprinkling of salt and pepper easy and delicious Macedonian salad.

Ruby red, and oh so sweet. About this time, I have to remind myself I am planning to walk home, hmm, maybe a taxi is in order.

 

Flowers in every market and every yard! Always my last stop on market day.

 

From 2006-2009, Patrice Koerper lived in Macedonia as one of only 425 volunteers over the age of 50 serving worldwide in the United States Peace Corps. In 2010 Patrice Koerper returned to Macedonia with American guests for a special cultural tourism program she developed, “Experience Macedonia: Enjoy Europe as it used to be”. 

Patrice is returning to Macedonia again in 2011 for six weeks – September through October. She is offering her unique 2 to 4 weeks cultural tours to a small group of friendly, flexible, adventurous travelers. In 2012 Patrice is planning life coaching retreats in Macedonia and Greece.

For more information on these exciting travel and life-changing opportunities, please email her at patricekoerper@gmail.com or call her at 813-719-0679.