Across the Globe

Insider Tour: The Balkans

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A hidden benefit to having over 400 staff located in 30+ countries—and more than 75,000 alumni in 80+ countries—is always having plenty of insider tips when it comes to travel. 

A hidden benefit to having over 400 staff located in 30+ countries and more than 75,000 alumni in 80+ countries is always having plenty of insider tips when it comes to travel. That's why we knew our guests of the 10-day, two country Insider Tour of the Balkans were in great hands namely, our very own staff from the region and a few YES alumni along the way!

Starting from Sofia, Bulgaria, with a warm welcome from the US Embassy in Bulgaria, the group of Insider travellers made their way to Nessebar and Varna on the Black Sea and back into the heart of the Balkan Peninsula by way of Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, a meeting point for ancient Greek, Byzantine, Albanian, Slavic, and Ottoman cultures.

In both Bulgaria and Macedonia, the Insiders were able to enjoy local hospitality in the homes of YES alumni and program participants. YES exchange alumni and YES Abroad participants also served as local guides at nearly every destination, sharing their perspectives on local culture as well as their exchange experiences.

During the trip, the group took on a sweet-tooth challenge: comparing the banitsa of Bulgaria with the gibanica of Macedonia savory pastries in the hotly-contested Balkan "pie" category alongside the shared, but disputed sweet pastry, baklava. And, of course, each stop offered up its best wines and fruit brandies (rakija) as well.

Insiders also experienced the patchwork of diverse languages and cuisines sewn together by Turko-Ottoman influence and encountered the idiosyncrasies of religious and ethnic minorities. They contemplated the glocalism of the street art in Sofia. In Kurdzhali, Bulgaria, they had a chance to learn about the Alevi Turks, an almost unknown so-called "double minority" (a minority within a minority group).

In Krushevo, Macedonia, a traveler used her knowledge of Romanian to exchange greetings with an Aromanian speaker; in Tetovo, the group felt lucky to have met a Shi'a Albanian dervish who introduced the tekke (Bektashi shrine).
The Insiders observed a Christianized pagan practice of nestinarstvo (barefoot walking on live coals) in the hills above Sofia, heard the myth of the death of Orpheus at his symbolic grave at Tatul in Southeast Bulgaria, and listened to the mysteries of St. John of Rila in Bulgaria and St. Naum of Ohrid, Macedonia.

Wrapping up the tour, Skopje's new abundance of statuary, fountains, bridges, museums, and other structures defined the changing national identity. The Insiders traversed time across the 15th-century Kameni Most (Stone Bridge), which led them directly from the hub of new construction into the old Turkish bazaar and site of a farewell dinner joined by our colleagues from US Embassy in Macedonia.

Like a Balkan table crowded with food and drink, the Insider Tour was packed with all manner of sights, experiences, knowledge, and friendships, making for an inspiring trip for staff and participants alike. As one Insider said, "The Balkan Insider Tour was a unique opportunity to experience spectacular scenery and architecture, delicious cuisine, amazing culture, and fascinating history."

About the Balkan Insider Tour: Bulgaria and Macedonia
On this tailored, 10-day, two-country tour, American Councils' staff, current program participants, and program alumni led travelers through the intertwining stories of current-day Bulgaria and Macedonia. Insiders traveled from the coast of the Black Sea into the heart of the Balkan Peninsula by way of Ohrid, one of Europe's deepest and oldest lakes. View more photos on Facebook.

Contact Elena Romanova for more information about joining us for the next Insider Tour.

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