Demir Kapija: Popova Kula Winery

On our way back from the archeological site Stobi, we stopped at the Popova Kula winery (the self-proclaimed "Temple of Wine").

It was an overcast (and drizzly) day, but still the views of the vineyards in the mountains were spectacular.  We enjoyed a tasting on the (covered) patio, overlooking the grounds (and the events that were taking place that day).  We sampled the Altan, Stanushina Rose, Prokupec, Vranec, and Muscat Ottonel.

Our server told us that there is a Museum of Wine in Demir Kapja. I found the website, here -- http://www.museumdk.mk/index.php/en/about-us/about-museum 
 
We were not able to add that museum to our itinerary on this excursion, but, would be fun to do on a return trip.

About the location, from the Popova Kula website:

"The Popova Kula Winery and vineyards are located on the south slopes of the Grand Hill (Veliko Brdo) west of the lovely town of Demir Kapija and close to the highway E-75.

Demir Kapija valley lays on the southeast part of the Tikveshiya  grape growing sub-region that is a part of the Povardarie region.

The oldest archeological findings proving that people in this area have grown vineyards and have made wine date 13 century b.c.

It is a location with excellent climate and perfect soil for grape growing.

King Aleksander Karadjordjevic had a kingdom that stretched across present day Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia,Bosnia and Slovenia, including the Adriatic coast and Panonian Valley. He had vast possibilities to choose from for the location of his vineyard.  However, following the advice of trusted consultants King Aleksander chose wisely and planted his first vines in the micro region of Demir Kapija on exactly the same location where we have our vineyards today."

The website also explains the origin of their name:

"To remain faithful to the people and historical fabric of the region, our winery was named after an important tower, the Popova Kula (Priest’s Tower) which once served as an important checkpoint on the old Roman road that passes next to our location.

The Popova Kula served as important markers of the region but has since been destroyed.  In tribute we have erected a new 17m high tower and named the winery Popova Kula."

Here is the Popova Kula website:  http://popovakula.com.mk/

and the Popoval Kula facebook page:
 https://www.facebook.com/Popova-Kula-Winery-301452074622/

I note on their website a link to how to buy the Popova Kula wines in the US -- and it looks like they can be shipped to Florida. So we will be able to enjoy a Macedonian Vranec after we return home.

 

 

my daughter enjoyed playing soccer with other kids while we enjoyed the wine and cheese

 

Skopje: Museum of Contemporary Art

We visited the Museum of Contemporary Art.  It has nice views overlooking Skopje. (It was just up the road from the Kale Fortress and the Bushi Resort and Spa)

According to my Skopje Museum Tour guide book, the museum was established by the city in 1964, and the current building opened in 1970.  The second floor was closed, so we did not see the permanent exhibit that we were expecting to see (with the work pictured in the guide book) but we DID get to see the one painting we went to see -- which was by my daughter's art teacher at her school here in Skopje: Kristina Bozhurska. And the current exhibit: Mihajlo Arsovski posters.

Ms. Kristina's work on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art!

my daughter's art teacher!

Here is Kristina Bozurska's website:  http://kristinabozurska.mk/

and she has a blog about her art classes at QSI:  http://mskristinasartclass.blogspot.mk/2017/

record players with flags of the different Balkan nations, all spinning in different directions (or not at all)

this one is a cracked wall, and a picture in shattered glass on the floor - with reference to the devastating earthquake in 1963

beautiful views of the city from the Museum

when we arrived I got nervous (about crowds) when I saw all the tour buses....as it turned out, we were the only guests at the time - so, I am not sure about the buses

a sign for the poster exhibition

From the Exploring Macedonia website, a more dramatic photo of the museum. There is a terrace her that would be (must be?) great for receptions

QSI Skopje: Yard Sale!

QSI opened the grounds for the US Embassy's (and others from QSI community) annual Yard Sale.

Truthfully I was going to avoid the yard sale, as I did not want to be tempted to come home with any stuff we didn't need and couldn't pack to go home -- but we found a few special treats.  A "Roadtrip" board game.  A vintage shirt from DDR/GDR/East Germany (that was a gift to the seller's mother that was like new).  A Vera Bradley make-up case (that was 20 MKD35 cents?!).  And the book Who Are the Macedonians?  

After we shopped, my daughter played with some of her friends from school on the playground while I enjoyed a macchiatto in the Community Room (and read the section on "The Albanian Question" in the chapter on "Independent Macedonia" - Who Are the Macedonians? which was written in 1995 and this second edition is from 2000 - it was interesting to read this perspective, from before 2001 and the current political crisis)

Then we were off to find the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Macedonia...

 

Family Bazaar at Nova International School Skopje

Last weekend we enjoyed attending the Family Bazaar at Nova International School in Skopje. Children performed, there was a petting zoo, a craft bazaar, a book fair, a raffle, and, my favorite, the international food festival.

Here is a video of the event from Nova:  Family Bazaar 2017 Nova video

Here is the Nova school website:  http://nova.edu.mk/
and the Nova school facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nova.schools

the most popular booth was this one - set up by a bright young entrepreneur named Olimpia - who - after many experiments - came up with her own recipe for slime - I think they sold out by lunchtime! My favorites were the glitter slime - and the kit - that had the ingredients to make the slime (without giving away the recipe)

and such cool packaging!

and a great logo!

my favorite booth was Hungary - enjoyed a glass of Tokaij while meandering around the event

 

we bought some of this shampoo from a Polish company...too bad they didn't have these cute t-shirts in adult sizes

tiramisu at the Italian booth

so many lovely crafts made by Macedonian artists - we are going to special order a felt book from this artist - for me to bring back for my nephew who lives in Colorado

watched several groups of students perform

 

we enjoyed the walk back to our apartment, under this lovely canopy of trees

some of the treats we brought home - slime, candy from Poland, earrings, felt crafts, tour info about Greece, cookies fro Hungary, a book from the book fair, and our raffle tickets

Yay! We got a call on Monday that one of our tickets was pulled after we left the event -- a gift bag from Alkaloid -- so we got a taxi back to Nova after Peggy got home from school to collect our goodies