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Cross Country Skiing, North Macedonia
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Being in Macedonia in the middle of winter, I thought it would be a good time to try cross-country skiing. Little did I know that my instructor would be a national sporting legend.
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The Trabant, Germany
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It’s easy to stand back and criticise the Trabant for all the things it isn’t, but I reckon it’s important to remember all the things it is.
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Machern Stasi Bunker Museum, Germany
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Tucked away near the small village of Machern is a Stasi bunker that remained a secret until the end of the German Democratic Republic in 1989.
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Paddling Matka Canyon, North Macedonia
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There’s nothing like getting out into the natural world to turn a grumpy day into a peaceful one.
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Climbing Mount Vodno, North Macedonia
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Although North Macedonia’s capital Skopje has a population of over 600,000, you can still find some peace and quiet close to the city.
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The Statues of Skopje, North Macedonia
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Whoever was in charge of Skopje’s Statue Department clearly took the ‘more is more’ approach to their portfolio. The Macedonian capital has a lot of statues. And when I sat a lot, I mean heaps. Literally hundreds.
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North Macedonian Cuisine
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I’ve always liked getting my head in the trough, and discovering new cuisine has been one of the joys of my Odyssey. When I reached Skopje in North Macedonia I was in good hands, with a friend – a local resident and foodie – there to guide me.
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Vodici Ceremony, North Macedonia
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When I checked in to my apartment in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, the landlord mentioned that the following day was a public holiday. He explained that a ceremony, involving hardy souls plunging into the freezing Vardar River, would be taking place in the city, and that it’s something…
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The Kindness of Strangers III, Ukraine
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Although we didn’t seek recognition for our work in Ukraine, we were grateful and humbled to receive the kindness of strangers.
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Midnight Run, Ukraine
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A night run of medical aid into a Ukrainian front-line city gave us an insight into the sharp end of Putin’s war.