On the road - part 3

Day 2,128, 06:46 Published in Slovenia Slovenia by Ice Killa

While gently sitting on a cozy sofa I ponder how much I have been through during these 3 weeks in Serbia and mainly in Macedonia. It almost feels like I might be becoming someone. Shaping into some form of existential living being. You know, I met friends here. I got to know them really well, had some mad, crazy, unforgettable life experiences. But that is not the main point. Anywhere you go, anything that happens to you. It stays as part of you. I travel, other stay in the same places. I observe and see, and at times live the life a certain few were born into. It is more than just an eye opener. You are given life head on. You are given a pen and it is up to you to write something down, I keep repeating that time and time again. Feels like the main goal is to leave something behind.

Week and a half ago in Ohrid ...

I came to Ohrid with no expectations. Lost and confused, baffled by the beauty of the lake. Surprised by the relative coldness of people.

My first stop there was the bus station. Seemingly in horrible state, with hordes of gypsies around it settled in some kind of slums. I was expecting to meet a chap in the center of Ohrid. Although imagine coming to some unknown unfamiliar city not even knowing which direction centre is.

The taxi drivers are ass wipes and prefer to steal instead of doing their job as it should be done. I have to admit, some are interesting. Some like to steal. But they have one thing in common, excessive euphoria for Slovenia.

"Ohhhh, Slovenia! I heard about that place. Very beautiful. How is it up there?"

or

"I served in the army there. I know some Slovene words. I have a Slovenian wife."

It is fascinating how much people know about Slovenia. You even value us. And everyone in my home country says how unimportant we are and how everyone has completely forgotten about us. Clueless as I am, feels like in Serbia and Macedonia you have the life Slovenians want. While people southern of Slovenia are of the opinion, come to Slovenia and your life shall be perfect.

Fascinating how life differs and how we have different life priorities. Have something, and lack something else.

After drinking coffee at some remote caffee near the bus station, I decided to go to the city centre with a taxi. I have a simple recipe how to pick the most suitable and the most earnest. The one that is quiet and does not bother you is the one you should go for. They usually turn out to be quite interesting. And the older they are, the more vivid their life stories are.

The trip to the center took me no more than 5 minutes. I was there. Near the statue of St. Kliment Ohridski I waited for the Macedonian guy. Just as I was waiting some random couple approaches me offering me a place to stay. With decisive no-es I tell them I am waiting for some friends, that I am supposed to meet at this statue round about now.

"Come and see the apartment", they keep saying. "You will change your mind."

"I cannot, like I said."

And suddenly I get a message from him stating he will be 20 minutes let. I immediately told them I do actually have some spare time. They lead me to this apartment about 3 minutes away from the city centre and around 50 metres away from the lake.

It was in the newly build block of flats. And imagine when I entered the apartment and when the price was spoken out lou😛

"10 Euros per night."

It was like I hit a jackpot. The flat had everything. Wireless, TV, huge bathroom. Huge French bed. Sofa, stove, everything.

You really could not say no to it.

And so here I was brought by randomness of life to this place beating life's laws as I was walking through life.

The couple invited me to drink some coffee with them. Sadly I had to refuse as I was planning to meet the dude that was 20 minutes late. Turns out I did the right thing. The funny thing is. At start they were the ones that were late, but when I was running from my apartment to meet up with them in the city centre I was the one missing the scheduled meeting.

Oh, this silly silly life.

He brought 2 friends with him. And we decided to go to some bar called Aquarius where he knew a guy. Or because he simply liked it. Could be both, I think. There we talked. About Slovenia, about my traveling, about them. Getting to know each other. With some presence of caffeine driven talking from all of us.

The three of them were an interesting bunch. Stevco was kind and open. Communicative and charismatic. Goce seemed decisive and goofy, while the third one was a bit enclosed in his own world, always appeared to be thinking about something. Maybe he just preferred to hang with people and let others do the talking for him. He seemed quite modest and gentle, although one would think the opposite when laying a sight on him.

And me. Simply lost and being plain crazy traveling to Macedonia all by myself. With no plans, nothing. Spreading my horizons and seeing life with both eyes. I think they managed to see that I am not particularly normal. Or that I have potential for that but do not expand it.

Few days later ...

It was one of those cold, almost depressing days with nothing to do. The city seemed half dead, with only poetic beauty present enchanting poets in melancholic spirit causing them to create works of art for others to feast on their sadness.

On that day I received a message from the doctor:

"I know you are in Ohrid, could we meet?"

We agreed we shall meet in the evening and watch the match between Serbia and Macedonia live.

Have you ever watched this movie called One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest? Jack Nicholson plays in it. Terrific actor. Now imagine his predispositions. In that movie he was like the magnet to life. He made everyone see what precisely that word life means.

Extremely communicative, charismatic and well, quite mad.

The moment I saw the doctor for the first time, I was surprised by how much he seems to enjoy living. And being the center of life. Dare I say, he is the Macedonian Jack Nicholson.

While some people master words, others are good at sports. He masters life. And everything that belongs to it.

I immediately saw something in him. A person that binds things together. Makes friends with enemies. Creates love from hate.

Yes, he is absolutely stunning. The doctor and all the traits that go with him. His smile is almost identical to Nicholson's. Some wicked positive energy being transmitted by it.

As we were watching the game, there was this guy close to us that would scream like Tarzan everytime Macedonian players scored against Serbia. He liked to mix football rules with basketball ones and often shoute😛
"Goool. Ofsajd!"

Very often did we giggle when looking at the maniac cheering for Macedonia. Although the truth is he made things interesting and gave everyone a reason to laugh. Relaxed and glad, people were juvelant after Serbia was given a crushing defeat.

After the match was finished we took a stroll around the city. There the doctor asked me with honesty in his words whether I would like to come to his place for lunch the next day. I was of the opinion he would like to show me his life and make his day tomorrow a bit more interesting by hosting a Slovenian in his house.

After all you do not get those in your house every day.