It’s a perfect nature retreat, I only wish I could have stayed longer. Nikola, the local boat-guide at the Saint Naum springs of National Park Galicicia, also gave me a bit of a surprise with his well rehearsed ability to speak and sing Hebrew. He’s quite an adorable gentlemen tour-guide, doing the little he can to introduce tourists to the beautifully clear water springs.
The color of the water says it all, and they’re so fresh you can drink it straight up. Atleast, that’s what I’ve been told :$
As an example, here’s one of the local songs he sang to us, first in Macedonian and then the translated version to Hebrew :
The song (translated from Hebrew, beginning at 0:45, to English):
Pour, pour, pour,
waitress, please pour,
red wine.
Pour, pour, pour,
red wine.
We are the children,
of Macedonia,
and we also have… (I have no idea what’s that)
Pour, pour, pour,
waitress, please pour,
red wine.
Pour, pour, pour,
red wine.
If you want to know more about the springs, the Galicica National Park website has a bit:
On the other hand the foothill of the mountain near the Lake Ohrid is abundant with water springs. Water springs at “St. Naum” monastery are typical example. They are made up of thirty underwater, and fifteen near the shore springs with total water capacity of 7.5 cubic meters per second. These springs form small lake pool of 30ha and maximum depth of 3.5m. There are two small islands in this small lake. Latest surveys performed with a use of natural radioactive isotopes, have confirmed the proposition that some of the water produced by these springs originates form Lake Prespa which is 150m higher than Lake Ohrid. Apart from the geological and hydrological characteristics this area is made even more attractive by having wide variety of plants and animals.
BTW, we weren’t alone there, and the other tourgroups seemed to have a pretty good singing they way around the springs :
If you’re in need of a regional map and an intro :
To get in touch with Nikola Pavleski :
Phone : +38970456057
Email : [email protected]
Website: www.nikoturs.com
Oddly enough, there doesn’t seem to be anyone writing or blogging about this specific location in English. If you know otherwise, do let me know.
And we have( the right to live).
This is the mining of the song.
Nikola Pavleski
Thanks @Nikola, was a good tour.