Nazdravje! (Cheers!)

After a week of hard work we enjoyed our R&R weekend in Orhid, 3hrs. from Veles on the border of Albania. It all started with a death-defying jaunt up, down, and around hair twisting, spiraling turns, and bouncing over mountains. Our ever-fearless driver Vane, navigated with reckless abandon the local maniac drivers (who in Canada would never, EVER have a liscense. Macedonians seem to think that it is normal to pass on hairpin turns and blind corners against oncoming traffic! The trip was highlighted by our resident snake-lover, Michelle, who needed an emergency pitstop to check out the nearby woodside bathroom facilities. Inspite of the potential ensuing carnage and off road pee breaks, the view was spectacular, only to get better.

We finally arrived in Orhid. We pulled up to the Hotel Riveria, checked in, cleaned up (THERE WAS A SHOWER CURTAIN!) and headed off to dinner at 'Le Bed' on the boardwalk to celebrate Shelly's birthday! After a fabulous dinner, complete with a fruit trifle cake, we headed back to the hotel for our nightly wine debriefing... :)

On Saturday morning we trekked up the cobblestone streets of Orhid to the an old fortress, past the ruins of an old gladiator ring and on to an archeological dig of a church on Lake Orhid's cliff. We were treated to beautiful views and great company. Then it was off to lunch at St. Naum, near the Albainian border where we visited a former monastery/hotel and swam. Then we were off to eat, yet again, at the hotel where we managed without our favourite translator Milan, and were entertained by tradional Macedonian music and dancing. The wine continued to flow as did many other concoctions at... Liquid, Mojitos, Nemos and the Hemingway where we danced to old school music such as "You Can't Touch This," "Push It" and "Superfreak." After leaving the bar, some members bypassed the hotel and sleep in favour of learning how to shoot a bow and arrow... obviously not the best choice after a night out... but it all worked out fine!

Sunday morning... let the bling hunt begin...our queen bee, Sherri, had her mind set on Orhid's claim to fame, freshwater pearls. We all spent the morning browsing the marble streets and boardwalk searching for bling of all shapes and sizes... considering the overwhelming number of females on the trip... you might have guessed, we were successful! After a quick stop for pizza and milkshakes we met Captain Bobby for a ride on the rough seas.

The chaotic seas of the lake were tempered by eight beautiful ladies and equally stunning panaramas of the entire area. After traversing from the lake, through the reeds and past numerous rustic watercraft, we found the true lifeblood of the city in the source waters which feed the lake. The trip became just over an hour of great times, pleasant surprises and wonderful company, a theme that has pervaded throughout the trip. (Last paragraph written by our resident American Dude)