The time has come to start home.....

NS and I looked at maps last night, and looked at turn around points for us.  We felt like this was it.  Based on potential routes home, the number of border crossings each would require, the condition of such roads (we can actually take 4-lane highways most of they way, certainly once we make it to Serbia or Croatia), and the fact that I'll be the lone driver, we decided it was time.

S2 looked at our proposed route and decided on his drop off point.  it will be in Croatia.  Thus, we were up (early) and on our way.  It wasn't too far, an hour or two, to the Macedonia border.  We left  Bulgaria with no problems, but Macedonia wanted proof of insurance.  that is the elusive green card for the automobile.  Having none, they offered to sell us 15 days of insurance for 50 euros, or suggested we go back to Bulgaria and drive through Greece to get to Albania.  We opted for the insurance.

Our first meal in Macedonia

So, into they country formally known as The Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM, if that is too much of a mouthful.  It all has to do with Greek objections to the claim on the name Macedonia.

It has a very Mediterranean look and feel, dry, hot, red tile roofs, plenty of flowers growing wild, and ones tended to as well.  We noted lots of water springs by the road.

FYROM is one of the 7 countries in the world that uses the Cyrillic alphabet.

We had a bit of a bad day with Carmen.  The satellites appeared to spend a lot of time asking, "where in the world are you, Carmen San Diego?"  Between the satellites losing her, and her not recogniIng most of the roads we were on, she spent a lot of time telling us to make a U turn.  Even as we knew we were getting closer and closer to Lake Ohrid, our destination, she kept telling us to turn around.  I think we were on a LOT of new roads.

I don't know what to tell you about Ohrid, other than if anyone ever asks you if you would like to go there, say YES!  We're staying in the old city, about a minute walk from the lake (yes, we took a dip I. It this afternoon).  It must be a HUGE vacation destination for people from all over the area, because it is HOPPING.

NS announced today that she reckons part of why we have managed to stay married so long is because we don't own a car.  She thinks we are at our worst when we are driving in cities, or narrow places.  Out of the mouths of babes!

We're going to attempt 3, possibly 4, border crossings tomorrow!  Wish us luck!