A SMALL, BALKAN country that fell out of the former Yugoslavia, apparently we can’t call it Macedonia. Greece insists the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia be called Northern Macedonia.
The histories of Macedonia (oops, sorry) and ancient Greece are intertwined and overlapping. Kingdoms, city states, tyrannical rulers, Ottomans, uprising, all that stuff.
21st century Macedonia is a pretty good place to visit. Scenic, friendly, mountain towns and lakeside monsateries, and good tucker. Greece without the pickpockets.
SKOPJE: The weird capital, with more statues than the rest of the world put together.
PRILEP & KRUSEVO: Two of the best bits of the country.
SOUTHERN STARS: Ohrid and Bitola