Macedonia

The map above arrived a few weeks ago from Predrag. It's a lovely map of Macedonia with colours of Macedonian flag in the background. Macedonia comprises 25,713 km2 and has more than 50 lakes and sixteen mountains higher than 2,000 m. Three large lakes — Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa and Dojran Lake — lie on the southern borders, bisected by the frontiers with Albania and Greece. Ohrid is considered to be one of the oldest lakes and biotopes in the world. 

Macedonia

Predrag sent me a wonderful postcard with a photo of the celebration of the 20-year anniversary of Macedonia's independence referendum from Yugoslavia (8 September 2011) on Macedonia Square, Skopje. The independence of Macedonia from Yugoslavia was also declared here by the country's first president, Kiro Gligorov.  The Centar Municipality built a high monument of fountain with Alexander the Great on Bucephalus, which was unveiled on 8 September 2011, so there was a reason more to be there that night. 

What amazing stamps! Thank you, Predrag!

Macedonia

Markets have always been one of the liveliest places of a town, I guess it's the same with the Old Bazaar in Skopje. The Old Bazaar is the biggest bazaar in the Balkans outside Istanbul (which surely makes it worth being in my market collection!). It is a quite old market-place as well, the earliest known documented sources that point out to the existence of a merchant quarter on the bazaar's territory date back to the 12th century. The bazaar was heavily damaged by the earthquakes in 1555 and 1963, and the destructions caused during the First and the Second World War. It was reconstructed on several occasions later and nowadays it's a a cultural heritage of particular importance for the country with a permanent protection (the Macedonian Parliament adopted a low that recognizes it as such in 2008), testifying the multicultural  heritage of different civilizations. 

I have to thank to Predrag for this multiview with wonderful stamps on the back :) The left one was issued in 2006, showing the well-known (at least here) Nikola Tesla. The right one is an Eastern stamp from 2001. 

Macedonia

The flag of the Republic of Macedonia depicts a stylised yellow sun on a red field, with eight broadening rays extending from the centre to the edge of the field. It was created by Pr. Miroslav Grčev and was adopted on 5 October 1995 after a one-year economic blockade imposed by Greece in order to force the Republic of Macedonia to remove the ancient Macedonian Kutlesh Sun from the flag. 

Red and yellow have always been considered the main colours representing Macedonia, probably because of the colours of the historical coat of arms of Macedonia. The new sun represents "the new sun of Liberty" referred to in the national anthem of the Republic of Macedonia, Denes nad Makedonija ("Today over Macedonia").

Many thanks to Predrag!

Macedonia

Ana sent this relaxing Radika River view my way on March 18 and I got it today, March 22. I wish all the mail travels that fast. Mentioned Radika River flows through southern Kosovo and westernMacedonia, a 70 km-long right tributary to the Black Drin river. Ana writes that the Radika River valley is, in her opinion, one of the most beautiful landscapes in the whole Macedonia. So, from what I've read and seen, I should definitely add Radika Rive to the Macedonia must-see list ;)

Ana used butterfly issued in 2011. Could it get any any better?! Thanks a lot, Ana!

Macedonia

I have been busier than usual these days, but I had to share some of the extraordinary beautiful postcards that have reached me. For example, this magnificent waterfall view from Macedonia! If you want the more exact, it shows waterfall Smolare. 

Many,many thanks to dear Ana for using such nice stamps (fitting my stamps wishlist as well ), and such a great addition to my waterfall collection ;)

Macedonia

Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, Europe It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country.  Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has been referred to as a "Jerusalem of the Balkans". The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. It is located southwest of Skopje, close to the border with Albania. In 1979 and in 1980, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as a Cultural and NaturalWorld Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In fact, Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are both Cultural and Natural sites.

Many thanks to Anita!

Macedonia

 Thanks to many kind people that I meet on Postcrossing every day, my list of missing countries is getting shorter every day, especially talking about the European countries. Ana, also a big card collector and blogger, sent me wonderful waterfall card shown above. 

Located in south-east of Macedonia, Kolešino Waterfall is flows from the Baba River, at an elevation of 610 meters on the Mount Belasic,. and gently falls over the stone cliffs nestled in the forest of Mount Belasica at a height of 19 metres. Kolešino Falls is a major tourist attraction for the Municipality of Novo Selo.

Ana says the Kolešino Falls is an absolute must-see in Macedonia, and with all that I've read about these falls she can't be wrong :)

Ana even used a waterfall stamp. I  really don't know which waterfall does the stamp represent, but it's so nice to see a waterfall card with a waterfall stamp. Hvala, Ana :)