Unexpected

On Monday I bought what I thought was a fitted sheet for our bed but it was a duvet cover. I'm sure I should have looked up the words before I left the house but I just didn't think of it. I had measured the bed so I knew the right size to buy. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to take it back or not. Daniel said he'd go with me to the store today to see if we could return it. He did the talking and we were told that we couldn't get a refund but we could exchange for something else. The worker helped us find something that might work for a bottom sheet. The one we have seems to be made from terry cloth and personally I don't like sleeping on a towel. I was really glad that Daniel was there doing the talking because I'm sure it would have been a difficult exchange otherwise. I have found a lot of people speak English but quite often it's basic English and words like sheet probably wouldn't have been one they knew.

After Vero Center we went to Old Town. I needed to find a gift to send to my cousin that won my giveaway a couple of weeks ago. It's been present in my mind but the time to go just hasn't happened so I had to make it happen.

We parked near Kale and walked past Sveti Spas and a fountain. Aidan wanted to have a look at the fountain and then go in the church. We let him look at the water but skipped the church. Aidan has an odd fascination with the churches. He's always asking to go in them.

Jeanae had told me about a jewelry shop that I thought might have something for my cousin. We went looking for it. Before we found the shop, we found a barber. Daniel's fascinated with the barbers here and wanted to get Aidan's hair cut. It was time for it to be cut but I was quite hesitant. The first barber we saw had people waiting. We didn't want to. The second one said no but we still aren't sure why. The last one said yes and had no one waiting so we went in.

Aidan was not thrilled with the situation and took some convincing to sit down.

He needed some help to hold still.

The barber shop was quite interesting. The man had been smoking before we went in and left his cigarette lit. He had a wood burning stove in the corner and a bunch of old photos on the walls. I wanted to take photos of them but thought that would be too personal.

Eliana was quite fascinated by Aidan's haircut. I think she wanted her's done as she kept pointing to her own hair. Sorry, Eliana, it's not long enough.

I did not enjoy watching. The barber first cut the bangs a bit too short and left the sides quite long. He kept getting it shorter in the back and about half of the sides. In the end, we asked to trim the sides to match up with the bangs. It's a bit shorter than I'd like it but it will grow. Aidan likes it and was trying to see himself in one of the shop windows as we walked through Old Town.

Daniel said that he was a bit sad that he had just gotten his hair cut. He wanted to get his done by an old Turkish man in Old Town. Perhaps next time, Daniel. The prices are really good though. Aidan's haircut was 120 denars (less than $3).

We continued to walk through Old Town. Daniel found a jacket that he liked and bought it. We then found the jewelry store, Balkan Corner. I think I would like one of everything in the store. I'm slightly tempted to go back for a bracelet I really liked. I ended up picking some small butterfly earrings that are handmade and some fun larger earrings. I hope you like them Katie. Now I just have to get to the Post Office tomorrow to mail them.

We also bought something for Daniel's mam for her birthday. Shh! Don't tell her.

After shopping, we went back to the car to load up. Daniel asked if we could go for a drive. It was 4:30 and getting dark. I just wanted to go home and go to bed but we went for a drive and ended up in...

Куманово (Kumanovo)

Don't know where that is? I didn't either. It's 40some kilometers outside of Skopje (kind of northeast).

We drove to the town center and parked. Some of the city parking is paid through a mobile (cell phone). You text your license plate to the number and they take the money that way. Convenient if you have your phone and money on said phone. We are learning though and we were able to pay without trouble this time.

Daniel fell in love with the town and was asking if we could move there but gave up the idea when he realised we would lose the car.

We walked towards the plateia, had to correct myself and call it a plostad. Plateia is the Greek word while Plostad is the Macedonian word for Square. The language is frustrating me. I could barely speak Greek when I was in Greece but now it's all that wants to come out when I try to speak Macedonian. In the square was a statue of a man. It was too dark.

We'll have to go back during the day to see the city and get some better photos. I don't like visiting places if I can't take photos. There was some pretty old buildings. I don't think Kumanovo was as effected by the earthquake in the 60s as Skopje was.

We went to find a place to eat and after wandering around for a while found this restaurant, Алекцандрија (Alexandria).

Daniel ordered tripe chorba (stew) at least that's what he thought it was. It turned out to be a Kumanovo delicacy and is actually called Mezal'k. It is made out of tripe (intestines), lung and liver. He claims it was excellent but I wouldn't even bother finding the recipe as that is one dish I will never make. He managed to eat it all before I took a photo.

I do like the earthenware dish though and need to find a larger one for our tavche gravche.

With Kumanovo only being about 25 minutes away (and two tolls = 80 denars), I'm sure we will be headed back there but not to live.