Category: Countries
MK – Lake Ohrid
Our distributor in Macedonia took me today to Ohrid, we wanted to conduct a market visit there and we took the opportunity to have a nice lunch at the lake side.
Here are some info about the lake and some pictures i took with my mobile phone.
Enjoy it !!!
Lake Ohrid straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern region of the Republic of Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is one of Europe’s deepest and according to most experts the oldest lake in Europe, preserving a unique aquatic ecosystem with more than 200 endemic species that is of worldwide importance. The importance of the lake was further emphasized when it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979. However, human activity on the lake shores and in its catchment area is resulting in the ecosystem coming under stress.
Lake Ohrid is the deepest lake of the Balkans, with a maximum depth of 288 m (940 ft) and a mean depth of 155 m (508 ft). It covers an area of 358 km² (138 sq mi), containing an estimated 55.4 km³ of water. It is 30.4 km long by 14.8 km wide at its maximum extent with a shoreline length of 87.53 km, shared between the Republic of Macedonia (56.02 km) and Albania (31.51 km).
Source: Wikipedia
CY – 2 Sides For Nicosia
I was in Cyprus on Wednesday and as most of you know, Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus is the last divided capital in the world after the invasion of the Turkish forces for the island in 1974.
At the end of Ledra street in Nicosia, you could for many years, walk and get to the wall that turned into a landmark of the invasion history. In a peaceful step during April 2008, both Cypriot and Turkish authorities decided to break down the wall in order to give a push for their talks in order to unify the island again.
While strolling on Ledra on Wednesday with my Cypriot friend Marios, he proposed talking a walk to the Turkish side, funniest thing happened when at the Turkish police checkpoint, you have to issue a visa, which is a piece of paper, I got a visa valid for 10 days stay, while Marios had his visa for 90 days stay.
Having a Lebanese passport i would 100% understand my need for a “visa”, but how sarcastic it is for a Cypriot to need a visa just walk to the other side of his own country capital.
Holi – the Festival of Colors
Last Wednesday (March 11th), people in India and other countries with large Hindu populations celebrated Holi, the Festival of Colors. Holi is celebrated as a welcoming of Spring, and a celebration of the triumph of good over evil.
MA – Moroccan Tajine
I have been invited to a typical Moroccan restaurant offering the “Tajine“. The below pictures illustrates the food itself, before and after. Luckily I did not participate to this massacre.