The highlight of Christmas day here in Skopje was the Christmas Concert put on in the center. There were new and delightful songs and old ones with jazzy and creative arrangments. So cool! Two of my favorites were "We Three Kings" and "O Come Emanuel". Also there was a delightful dance by a cute little pixie and the sharing of a Christmas message. :) Please enjoy some of the photos and a video clip from the night. Merry Christmas!
I had a really hard time picking just one of these "gems" to share today, so it seemed prudent to simply share them all!
When I first saw this "street" art exhibit it totally creeped me out! Freaky rain-coated children! As I drew closer I thought for sure the faces would be skeleton's or something. Thankfully, they weren't! Then, as I looked more intently, it seems that they could be adults slogging their way through the, er, pavement. Coupled with the sinking car behind them it seems to fit. Maybe they were in the car when it began to sink and they're wading out? What do you think??
This exhibit is just a block or so off the center square and is part of the outdoor display of a funky art gallery... Seriously, that gallery is full of very odd, different and "can't help but gape at" art. Worth a look-see for sure!
This little guy, whom I lovingly refer to as "Sebastian" (my favorite name for a fish), popped up recently near the old train station. One of the gals I was with commented that it would be cool if there was a machine underneath it that blew up bubbles. Now wouldn't that be fun?!?! If you're the artist, take note of a great idea! :)
Finally, this painting on the side of a wall took me by surprise. The ladders looked SO REAL at first glance that I took a double-take (and triple and quadruple). It's really quite simple but there's just something I really like about it. The quote says, "Современа подлога за современи конфликти." Roughly translated as: "Contemporary background for modern-day conflicts." The key words can be translated as: advanced, contemporary, modern-day.... I'd be interested in any insights to this that my Macedonian friends can give... particularly with my very rough translation. :) For those interested, this wall painting is right around the corner from the freaky rain-coated figures (across from Soul-Pub).
With sites like this around town, and new ones popping up all the time, it makes taking a walk through the city center an adventure into what new quirkiness awaits! :) Come visit (hint hint hint) and I'll be happy to show you some of my favorites!
2010. Wow! When I was a teenager I'd wonder what the year 2000 would be like as I listened to Prince's "1999." But 2010? It was so hard to imagine... first, because I'd be 40... yes, I did that F-O-R-T-Y. Funny, though, I'm sitting here on warm and sunny New Years Day 2010 in Skopje and can't help but feel the best years are ahead. Honestly, it kinda boggles my mind what I've seen in the last 40 years.... and I can only imagine what amazing things are ahead. One thing is for sure, though, I'm happily taking each day as they come. So enjoy last night with me as you peruse some of the photos from the celebration in the Плоштад (Skopje's center square).
Well, in the past few months several new statues have been appearing all over Skopje (pics and blogs to come).... and so imagine my joy to see that they replaced my favorite statue with the same basic "Brass Band." It's definitely not exactly the same, but that's OK, because like an old friend it's good to see it and it always brings a smile to my face when I pass by. =)
The other night a colleague/friend and I headed down towards the river for dinner. Upon entering the square we were greeted by a sight of true randomness: A performance curtain set up at the base of the Old Stone Bridge. No signs or anything indicated what on earth it was there for besides just being a testament to the occasional and always entertaining randomness that comes with living in the Balkans. =)
Went to the store tonight to buy some hairspray... well, I ended up asking for whipped cream for my hair instead! You see, the word for hairspray is "Laq" and the way I remember the word is to think about shaLAQ'n my head... but then if you accidentally shorten that word (like I did tonight) you end up asking for "shlak" (шлаг) which is the word for whipped cream. So that's how I ended up asking for whipped cream for my head!
Gotta love language bloopers! They are pure entertainment (especially for my local friends). =)
New Years in Skopje was something I'd been looking forward to this year, as we had such a great time last year hanging out with friends and having dinner, games and then heading downtown to watch the fireworks. This year, however, I was in bed or huddled under a blanket most of the day thanks to dry cold air, asthma and a nasty cough.
That said, I did still bundle up in as many layers as possible to head down to the center with a friend because an ABBA tribute band named "Arrival" was slated to bring in the New Year. Come on, you know you'd be bundling up too for the chance to shiver to the beat of "Dancing Queen" and to see the night sky lit up by sparkly fireworks. ;) It was a fun night and we had a great time (though I am paying for it a bit with a cough that won't quit that is making my voice sound like that of a frog).
Here are some pics as well as a video... (gotta love the Santa drinking Coke just like the commercial). lol. Happy New Year to you from Skopje, Macedonia!!!!
Thanks to a Dutch friend of mine who recently forwarded me the link to this site! They're in Macedonian with English subtitles and I highly recommend checking them out.
I've always thought that October is the best month in which to have a birthday. The air is crisp but still carries hints of the summer gone by. The trees, parks and wooded paths are colored in various shades of greens, yellows, oranges and browns. Тhen there are the numerous seasonal items like squash, sweet potatoes and, of course, apples. And with apples comes the best game ever for a kid's birthday party: apple dunking (or bobbing)!
For those who aren't familiar with this, imagine a big barrel or ivar-making-tanger (танџер) filled with water and dozens of bright red harvest apples bobbing on the surface. Then the children hold their hands behind their back and try to pick up an apple with just their mouth. :::giggle:::
[Apple-dunking picture source:
http://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/apple_day/ ]
Unless there's a decent stem, the participants will end up dunking their entire heads all the way in to wedge an apple against the bottom and sink their teeth in. Coming up they send splashes of water onto everyone within a 5 foot radius. They are soaking wet from head to torso but with a triumphant apple-filled smile. Ahhh... memories. :) (My Macedonian friends are probably cringing at this moment at the image of children being outside with wet hair in October.)
Now a days I don't go dunking for apples anymore (though the kid in me would love to!) instead I bake. And that's just what I did this weekend with the big bag of organic apples that a friend gave to me on my birthday last week. It's an old family favorite of mine and a gem I thought worth sharing. It's from my Mom's well-worn and loved 1966 copy of the Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery (Vol. 1, Fawcett Publications, Inc., New York, 1966, pg. 102).
Old World Apple Cake
Ingredients for Filling
3 Pounds cooking apples
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 slices of lemon
Ingredients for Pastry
2 Cups sifted all-purpose flour (sift before you measure)
1-1/3 cups sugar (about)
1-1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 egg yolks (room temperature)
Method
Peel and slice apples. Cook with sugar, water and lemon until tender but not mushy. Drain and cool. Remove lemon slices.
Mix flour, 1-1/4 cups sugar and baking powder. Cut in 1/2 cup butter with pastry blender or work in with fingers until mixture is crumbly. Mix in egg yolks. Reserve 1 cup four mixtrue for top. Pat remainder on bottom and sides of greased 9-inch spring-form pan. Fill with apples; sprinkle with reserved topping; dot with 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake in preheated moderate oven (350F) for 1 hour. Serve warm or cold. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
OK, now for my Macedonian friends who have asked me for this recipe...сега ке пробам да ви го кажам рецептот на Македонски (благодарам на моите учителки кои што ме помогнаат со овој рецепт).
за полнење
3 кила јаболка за печење
1/3 шолја шеќер
1/2 шолја обична вода
2 парчиња лимон
Излупете ги и сечете ги јаболката. Ги варете сите парчиња со шеќерот и лимонот ċе додека не омекнат. Исушете ги и се изладете ги. Вадете ги парчињата од лимон.
процедно (за тесто)
2 шолји приближно брашно
1-1/3 шолји шеќер (околу)
1-1/4 мала лажица пециво (прашок за печиво)
2/3 чаша путер или маргарин (околу)
2 жолтчки (соба темпетура)
Загрејте ја рерната на 177°с.
Во среден сад го мешате брашното, 1-1/4 чаши од шеќерот и пецивото. Само 1/2 чаши од путерот го сечете заедно во смесата со вилушка. Додадете ги жолтчките во садот со смесата и мешајте дури не стане хомогена смеса. Ставете една чаша од смесата на страна и ставете го другиот во една тава. Ставете ги јаболките или овошјете од ваш избор и на крајот ставете ја смесата на врвот на обошјето. Сега, со голема лажица, ставете го шеќерот на врвот. Печете ја тортата на 177°с за еден саат.
Prijаtno јадење! And have an enjoyable and color-filled fall season! :)
When I was a little girl my parents used to drag me to the symphony each week... inevitably I'd curl up in my chair and sleep, too young to appreciate the experience. Now almost 30 years later, living in Skopje, I enjoy going to the symphony and I can assure you that there is no sleeping--especially last night.
The Macedonia Philharmonic opened the season with a night of Beethoven's Fives: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 and, my all-time favorite, the famous Symphony No. 5 in C-Minor (aka. Dah dah dah daaaaahhh.... or "fate knocking at the door."). It was a wonderful concert! Of course it was even more fun because one of my friends is one of the musicians (though I confess I'm a little envious that she gets to be literally in the middle of the music.) :)
The pianist featured for the Concerto was Tzimon Barto of the US. He didn't look like a typical pianist... in fact we thought he looked a bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger... and the way he played! He was on fire pounding away at the ivories with such force that I thoroughly expected to see strings fly! (And apparently they did in practice!) Yet at the times his touch was so light and flowing it was as if the piano whispered... amazing. Bravo.
And as far as Beethoven's Symphony No. 5?? Words escape me. Bravo seems too inadequate. The conductor, Janush Pshibilski of Poland, was quite enjoyable and did a wonderful job. And what a joy it was to finally hear my favorite symphony live! I got chills and caught my breath several times!! And by the final movement I wanted to jump to my feet and cheer! Alas, I held back my ovation until the end, joining many others. :)
After the concert some friends and I went to the local Mexican restaurant, Amigo's, and enjoyed a great meal with great company. :) Ah, such was a wonderful night spent with friends at the symphony.
Last night we has worship practice for the International Church. It's so neat how everyone works as part of the team, even trying new things... like the gal who tried the drums on a song and as a result we all encouraged her that she should play on Sunday! What a great group of people and we have so much fun together. Especially lots of laughs as we started singing the wrong verse to a song or forgot a transition or missed an entry or ending.
Wednesdays are practice, so it's exactly that. There's a lot of detail involved in working out flow, transitions, what instruments to use, rhythm to play and what harmonies work best. Yet amazingly, there comes that moment when all the details seem to fade away and we simply play and sing our best for the Audience of One. Truly preparing ourselves for Sunday in the best of ways. :) Then as practice time closes we gather together to pray, for one another as well as for the congregation and for Sunday.
After practice, it's not uncommon for a couple, several or even all of us to head out for coffee (or ice cream as it's summer time). We just enjoy each others company and inevitably as we fellowship together we encourage one another in our lives and in our walk of faith. We also enjoy a lot of laughter together. Last night one of the gals and I we went to Stella's and enjoyed some yummy dessert while having great conversation and amusement over the fish in the fish-tank.
Please remember us in your prayers as we practice on Wednesday's and as we lead the congregation on Sundays. Thank you so much!
Being a true California-girl I adore Mexican food, but since there's not much here I've had to learn to make things from scratch like tortillas, guacamole and salsa. And since I mentioned "salsa ingredients" yesterday, I thought it would be fun to share my personal Balkan-adapted recipe for homemade chunky salsa. 
Carolyn's Balkanite Salsa
Proportions are general, flexible and a guesstimate of what I actually use. Basically I throw stuff in that I think will be good and adjust quantities for flavor and heat. :)
3 large, ripe tomatoes, finely diced
2 med, hot onions, finely diced
1 large, sweet onion
3 med sweet peppers (long and skinny are the type we get here instead of bell peppers. see pic)
1 hot pepper, finely diced or,
3 T jalapenos, finely diced & crushed
2 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of 1 lime and 1 lemon
2 T cilantro
Salt & pepper to taste
Chop tomatoes, onions and peppers as fine or as chunky as you prefer. Or, if you like, you can do what I do and chop them into chunks and place into a spin-chopper (pictured above). When mixed well to preferred blend or chunkiness, add minced onions, lime and lemon juice, cilantro and hot peppers (or jalapenos). Important: add hot peppers a little bit at a time to control level of heat and to not end up with salsa so spicy that it could rival Thai-food.
Taste test (it's just a good excuse to dip a tortilla chip to test the combined flavor.) You may need to test it a few times just to be sure. ;)
Add salt and pepper to taste. Taste test again with the helpful hand of another tortilla chip and adjust ingredients if necessary. If the salsa is a little hot, you can always add a sugar cube, a little more lemon and a little tomato juice (or paste) to help offset. Otherwise, be prepared to drink a lot of milk (water only makes it hotter). Or, if you're allergic to milk like I am, the only recourse is to go to a mirror and watch the steam escape from your ears and pray the tingling sensation in your lips goes away and your taste buds recover. ;)
Place in air-tight container and chill for at least 2 hours for best first-use flavor. Enjoy!
Alternative Preparations:
Option #1: Roast all vegetables on a grill (including garlic) before blending together in the spin-chopper. This adds a different dimension to the flavor and is especially nice on fajitas or Spanish omelet.
Option #2 (pictured): Finely chop 2 tomatoes, 2 hot onions, 2 sweet peppers, 1 hot pepper (or 1 T jalapenos), 1 garlic clove, lemon juice and a dash of salt. Add all ingredients to a skillet. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1/2 hour. Finely chop remaining fresh tomato, onion, pepper (sweet and hot) and garlic. Combine fresh items with the stewed portion in large airtight container with lime juice. Add cilantro, salt and pepper to taste. Chill at least 2 hours before use for full flavor.
Option #3: substitute 1 cup stewed tomatoes and 1/2 cup tomato juice for fresh tomatoes. I use this option usually in the winter when fresh tomatoes are in short supply.
As you can see, ingredients are adapted to what's available here and items you can't get here (like jalapenos) were wonderful gifts from friends. :) Fresh cilantro, a must-have ingredient for salsa, is something that has only recently shown up in the produce section of Ramstore (local supermarket) in the last year. Sadly, they were out when I made this recipe, but thanks to the generosity of a friend in the US I had that big bottle available.
Many thanks to those who sent care packages with the above specialty items as well as for the many packets of taco seasoning. They will come in quite handy for my next girl's night out: "Taco Night." At the last one I had the salsa was a big hit--some gals just chose to fore-go the tortilla chips and to just eat the salsa straight! :) As I have a couple jars of jalapenos now, I'm thinking of trying my hand at a green salsa as well for the party. (I've tried making it with the local hot peppers, but it's just not the same.) My brother showed me a quick recipe he learned when he was in Mexico last year, but if you know any recipe's I'd love to hear them! It's always fun sharing these different things with my Macedonian friends--especially since many love spicy food! Though I suppose I should offer some milder options too. :)
Lord of the Dance (LORD) came to Macedonia this past weekend. It was held before a 6000+ audience in the newly inagurated sports hall named after the former President of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski, who was killed in a plane crash several years ago. (Incidentally, the first event held in the center was the Harlem Globetrotters... sadly it was VIP-invitation only. Maybe they'll come back.) Our seats were the "cheap" ones but as we were just 10 rows back from the front they seemed pretty primo to me--especially for taking photos (see collage above). As always, the Lord of the Dance troup was amazing and deservedly received a full Standing-O (rare here) by the appreciative Macedonians who were rewarded with 3 encores!
Here's a sampling:
This past Saturday several local friends and I got together for a BBQ "EuroVision" party, complete with voting for a winner amongst ourselves. What? Not heard of EuroVision? Have you heard of ABBA and Celine Dion? Well, winning this contest is what sent their careers skyrocketing.
For the uninitiated, EuroVision is like a beauty pageant for a song and has been a European tradition since 1956. As mentioned, this contest has boosted the careers for winners ABBA ("Waterloo" 1974) and Celine Dion ("Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi" 1988). There are now 43 participating countries with only 25 making it to the final. All 43 participants get to vote, though none can vote for their own country. Each country gives sets of points to their 10 favorites, from 12, 10, 8 and on down. The song with the most points after all the voting is the winner.
At our party we also gave out points from 1-5 to our favorites on a tally sheet so wonderfully prepared by our Swedish friend (who was incidentally ecstatic that she could vote for her country this year as she was in Macedonia). The result of our vote was SO DIFFERENT from the results on the show and likely represents that 80% of the people at the party were from the US and have much different tastes than Europeans. Just for fun, here's our top 10 as compared to the actual show.
1. Denmark "All Night Long" vs. Russia "Believe"
2. Iceland "This is My Life" vs. Ukraine "Shady Lady"
3. Sweden "Hero" vs. Greece "Secret Combination"
4. Latvia "Wolves of the Sea" vs. Armenia "Qele, Qele"
5. Croatia "Romanca" vs. Norway "Hold on be Strong"
6. Russia "Believe" vs. Serbia "Oro"
7. Norway "Hold on be Strong" vs. Turkey "Deli"
8. Turkey "Deli" vs. Azerbaijan "Day After Day"
9. Portugal "Senhora Do Mar" vs. Israel "The Fire in Your Eyes"
10. Ukraine "Shady Lady" vs. Bosnia-Hercegovina "Pokusaj"
Here's the clip of our favorite (which, incidentally, we thought would be great for sports games in the US).
