Mapping the Gap

After five weeks in North Macedonia, we are all sad to go.  I’m tempted to articulate a lot of unsaid observations, but we’re short on time.  Getting every little bit of us extracted from this three-storey house and packed for airplane-mode is a tricky task that is mine to slay this day.  We are also hoping to slip in some final paddle-boarding and another doner kebab. We have tortoises to bid farewell, too.

I want to write about our AirB&B, about the absent host who lives in Ohio, the cleaning lady who mopped the carpet, and the Christmas and Valentine’s decorations in living room. (Holiday anachronisms really get my goat.)  I want to tell you about the perplexing cultural stonewall we hit when a waiter refused to box up our salad leftovers.  I want to give some thought to the Albanian down-and-out population we have observed here in the streets of Ohrid. I’d like to write about the earthquake that woke us early one morning, and I’d love to explore ideas related to homing pigeons, broomsticks, baklava, nail polish, miracle-working saints, and UNESCO, but there isn’t time.  Instead, I’ll leave you with this funny little list and a few photos to finish off this happy chapter.  

I’m thinking women’s t-shirts can say a lot about a culture.  Here are a few I’ve been collecting over the past weeks.  I feel like they capture the chill North Macedonian vibe we have fallen in love with.

• Not Sorry
• The future is female.
• Try again.
• Sorry. I wasn’t listening.
• I used to like that.
• The Queen
• Seriously. I’m feeling good.
• Worthy Female

Overall, the vibe of North Macedonia is untroubled and confident. The people are sly with a smile, generous with their time, and welcoming to even the wildest of boys. They seem to nod to say “no” and shake their heads to say “yes”- gestures that convey a gentleness and agreeability that’s hard to explain. We are totally smitten.

But, the road calls. Dubrovnik and Split are our next ports.  We’ve got a week in each, and I’ve been doing my homework… which means rewatching Games of Thrones episodes filmed in Croatia.  Cue the stirring drumbeats and haunting cello.  Send forth the ravens… King’s Landing, here we come! 

Blagodarum (thank you), North Macedonia, from your newest family of fans. We’ll be back one day. You can bet on it… We almost didn’t leave, actually…