2/15/2007 - Strumica - Macedonia

STRUMICA - MACEDONIA The capital of the southeast is a remarkably fun place. Strumica transforms itself into a carnival town near the end of each winter, and even throughout the year is renowned throughout Macedonia for its vibrant nightlife.   The Strumica area is full of things to see. Aside from hiking the nearby Mt. Belasica and waterfalls of Smolare and Kolesino, visitors shouldn’t leave without experiencing the exquisite solitude of Vodoca and Veljusa, two nearby Byzantine monasteries still inhabited by monks and nuns and known for their fresco paintings, mosaics and general tranquility. Strumica is most famous as a producer of high quality vegetables, including peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers, in addition to watermelons, cotton, sunflowers and other agricultural products. A leisurely drive through the many villages of this area is sure to be rewarded by sights of farmers on horse-drawn carts and women hanging peppers and tobacco leaves for drying from the sides of traditional homes.