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Welcome to Macedonia
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM, in short
Macedonia) has long been a nation suffering from identity
crises. Neighboring Bulgaria recognizes Macedonians as Bulgarians
and Macedonia was once divided among three of its neighbors
- Greece, Bulgaria and the then Serbia. In 1992 ex-Yugoslav
Macedonia became fully independent and that without being
drawn into the bloody wars, which have terrorized the other
former Yugoslav regions.
For travelers, Macedonia is an impressive place to visit
where east meets west. From Skopje's colorful Turkish bazaar,
Orthodox churches, mosques, ancient Roman ruins to the mouthwatering
Balkan cheesecakes - Macedonia is a gateway between Europe
and Asia. Besides the lively bazaar, the capital of Skopje
features a thriving restaurant and nightlife scene. Also
be sure to drive up the Vodno Mountain and visit the Panteleimon
monastery. From here you have a breathtaking view over the
city.
Macedonia's most popular tourist destination is the town
of Ohrid, which boasts some 30 cultural monuments that'll
keep you busy for days. Walk along the steep, cobbled streets
of the old town, enjoy a cup of coffee in a cafe on the
lakeside promenade, or visit the ancient Roman amphitheater
and Byzantine churches, which have been nicely restored.
To top it all off, there is Lake Ohrid, a natural tectonic
lake, which is the deepest in Europe (964 ft/294 m). It
is also one of the world's oldest lakes and offers visitors
stunning views of the surrounding hills and mountains.
Pelister, Mavrovo and Galicica are the country's three national
parks where you can get to know the countryside on foot.
Pelister is the oldest one and features the five-needle
pine (Pelister), which is the only such variety on Earth.
Galicica is home to 19 different forest communities and
several very rare types of plants. Mavrovo national park
is also very fertile as there are dozens of plants, which
are endemic to the Balkans.
Security
The northern and western part of Macedonia is still plagued
by unexploded ordnance, so it is recommended to stay on
the main roads and restrict travel to daylight hours. The
border with Serbia and Montenegro is still a military zone
and ethnic tensions on the border to Kosovo are still prevalent.
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