Today I was leaving the Macedonian capital Skopje and heading south west to Bitola. This was the provincial capital of the region in Ottoman times so played an important historic role.

I tried to rest in at my comfy Skopje apartment and got to the bus station by 10.15. The next bus wasnt till 11am and the ticket was 480 MK ($7.50). I tried to get some Albanian money for my later stop but they didnt serve that currency at the money exchanges.

I took a corner seat on the bus which became completely full. As we left rains started for most of the journey misting the windows. I'd bought a spinach olive bread from a local bakery to eat for the journey and dozed off.

There was a 15 min stop somewhere and we arrived at Bitola by 2.15, still in the rain. I checked the bus times for Struga and Ohrid the next day as this leg of the journey had sparse information on the internet when researching.

The hotel was easy to find with my map and they provided a complementary drink. With the rain it would be a nice place to hide out but I was on a tight schedule. Luckily they had umbrellas by the front desk so they helped me out with one.

Another guest arrived delighted by his opportunity to use his well researched English. "Where may I disembark my car?" he cheerfully asked the receptionist. I believe had driven from Turkey for the visit.

Close by the bus station I had passed by the Military School Museum but didnt want to go in till I left my bags at the hotel. Entrance was 100 MK ($2).

The ground floor had Greek and other historical artifacts and local folk costumes. It was an interesting museum and a nice place to hide out from the rain.









The upper floor was the Attaturk Museum. This is where the Turkish leader had spent a year for his military training, hence the interest from Turkish tourists.

They had several of his uniforms. I was surprised by this level of interest in Attaturk after his waxwork in the National Independence Museum yesterday and his birth home in Thessaloniki.