Exploring Macedonia

Skopje - Introduction

In its 2,500 years of existence, Macedonia’s welcoming capital city has had many different incarnations. All of them – from Roman to Byzantine, from Ottoman to Yugoslav – have left indelible traces on the city, as is evidenced by Skopje’s varied architecture and its mix of cultures. Yet in addition to its strong historical associations, Skopje is also a forward-looking city offering an abundance of modern amenities and attractions.

Here one can find sleek modern hotels above cobblestoned Ottoman streets, stately neoclassical homes right around the corner from grand old Yugoslav-era buildings, chic cafes, shopping malls and brightly-colored new offices, red-bricked Byzantine churches and rounded Turkish mosques.

The concentrated complexity of Skopje today entices visitors, offering a great variety of things to see and do and constantly reminding of the city’s storied past. Chief among sights to see are the Stone Bridge crossing the River Vardar, the Ottoman-era Old Town (Stara Charshija), and the Kale Fortress walls. In the meandering narrow streets of Stara Charshija one feels the spirit of the old city, with its little shops, mosques with their ceramic tiled interiors, and the outdoor bazaar and hamam that survive from Turkish times. A short climb up to the Kale Fortress is well rewarded; from this hilltop where Skopje’s masters ruled for centuries one enjoys a commanding view of the city and its environs.

The world’s best cities all contain at least one secluded natural escape. Skopje has two – a long, tree-lined park along the river, and the forested hills of Mt. Vodno, which overlooks the city from the southwest and offers excellent hiking and wilderness serenity within walking distance of downtown Skopje. The summit of Mt. Vodno is also crowned by the enormous Millennium Cross that presides over the city. From here one gets even more magnificent views of Macedonia’s capital.

Macedonia’s capital offers something to satisfy all modern tastes and appetites. It features brand-new cinemas, hotels and restaurants, as well as shopping malls offering all of the latest fashions, and usually at lower prices than in Western countries. The city is a major regional center for concerts, theatrical performances, dance and sporting events, all of which frequently involve well-known stars from abroad, as well as the best in local talent.

Skopje also boasts reliable public transportation and taxis, as well as a plethora of modern internet cafes for keeping in touch with the folks back home. And it is also one of the safest cities in Europe. Hotels operating to the highest standards are centrally located, the water is eminently drinkable and the food hearty and nourishing, with all international tastes represented- in addition to the excellent local cuisine, of course!

Skopje - History of the city

Apart from being the capital of the modern Republic of Macedonia, Skopje has always been a center of power long coveted by various empires.

The city founded by the Dardanians in the 3rd century B.C.E. under the name of ‘Skupi’ was prized for its strategic location, in a long valley between two hills, situated on the banks of the River Vardar, a vital trade route. Under the Romans, Skopje was made administrative center of the Dardanian Province. The city’s prestige grew when the Orthodox Church made it an episcopal seat during the early Byzantine Empire.

The arrival of migrating Slavic tribes from the Carpathians in the 6th century C.E. changed both the city’s name and the composition of its people, as the descendants of the ancient Macedonians were assimilated by the Slavic newcomers.

Throughout the remaining Byzantine centuries, Skopje continued to be an important mercantile center, situated as it was at the crossroads of Balkan trade and communications routes. It was celebrated for its urban life and fortress, and renowned for having the most beautiful church in the region.

At the very end of the 14th century, Skopje and all of Macedonia fell under the sway of the Ottoman Turks. In the ensuing centuries, the look of the town changed with the construction of many mosques, Turkish baths, bridges and other buildings attesting to the new Oriental influence. Today, the Ottoman legacy remains visible in Skopje’s architecture and Islamic minority.

This latter tendency reached its apogee in 1963, when a disastrous earthquake leveled much of the regal old city.

After Macedonia was liberated from the Turks in the early 20th century, it became a republic of the Yugoslav Federation, with Skopje as the capital. At that time, the prosperous city boasted many ornate, Neoclassical buildings laid out harmoniously in a more or less Central European style. However, in 1963 a disastrous earthquake leveled much of the regal old city, and Skopje was reborn in the imaginative, futuristic style in vogue at the time. An international competition to redesign the city was won by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. His creations, such as the National Theater with its sloping roof of concrete, have shaped Skopje’s modern skyline. To this day, the clock on the remaining wall of the old railway station remains stuck at 5:17- the moment when the earthquake hit.

Today, Skopje is a modern city of almost one million, and Macedonia’s major political, economical, educational and cultural center. It continues to attract new residents, economic development, construction and refurbishment. Skopje is also increasingly becoming a vital regional route for international flight operators. Optimism regarding Skopje’s future prospects is proving infectious, as is evidenced by the upsurge of interest from major foreign investors. The city’s growth can only add to its long and illustrious history of culture and commerce.

Tahiti History and Culture

Culture
The Tahitians of the modern era maintain their heritage and traditions of their Maohi ancestors.



Oral history recounts the adventures of gods and warriors in
colorful legends where javelin throwing was the sport of the gods,
surf riding was favored by the kings, and Aito strongmen
competed in outrigger canoe races and stone lifting as a show
of pure strength.

Marae
The open-air sanctuaries called marae were once the center
of power in ancient Polynesia. These large, stone structures,
akin to temples, hosted the important events of the times
including the worship of the gods, peace treaties, celebrations of war,
and the launch of voyages to colonize distant lands.

Heiva i Tahiti
In celebration of ancient traditions and competitions, the annual
Heiva festival has been the most important event in Tahiti for
the past 122 years. For visitors, there is no better place in the
world to be during July than surrounded by this pure display
of Polynesian festivity. Tahitians gather in Papeete from many
islands to display their crafts, compete in ancient sporting events,
and recreate traditional and elaborate dance performances.


Marae

Heiva i Tahiti
Tattoo
The word tattoo originated in Tahiti. The legend of Tohu,
the god of tattoo, describes painting all the oceans’ fish in
beautiful colors and patterns. In Polynesian culture,
tattoos have long been considered signs of beauty,
and in earlier times were ceremoniously applied when reaching adolescence.

Music and Dance
The beauty, drama, and power of today’s Tahitian
dance testify to its resilience in Polynesian culture.
In ancient times, dances were directly linked with
all aspects of life. One would dance for joy, to welcome a visitor,
to pray to a god, to challenge an enemy, and to seduce a mate.
Dance is still accompanied by traditional musical instruments
such as thunderous drums, conch shells, and harmonic nasal flutes.
Modern Tahitian music is enjoyable as well, with a sound that
often blends Polynesian rhythm and Western melody.

Handcrafts
The skills of the ancestors’ artistry are kept sacred and
passed on by both the “mamas,” the guardians of tradition
and the matriarchs of Tahitian society as well as by skilled
craftsmen. Items include weaving, quilting, wooden sculptures
and bowls, drums, tapa, carvings, and hand-dyed pareu.


Tahiti Handcraft


Tahiti Music and Dance

Canoes
Centuries before the Europeans concluded that the earth was round,
the great voyagers of Polynesia had already mastered the Pacific Ocean.
Aboard massive, double-hulled outrigger canoes called tipairua,
they navigated by stars and winds. Today, the canoe still plays
a role in everyday Tahitian life and is honored in colorful races
and festivals throughout the islands.

Flowers
Tropical flowers seem to be everywhere on the islands,
particularly in the hair of Tahitians. Hibiscus blossoms are
worn behind the ear or braided with palm fronds into floral crowns.
The Tiare Tahiti flower is used in leis for greeting arriving
visitors and returning family. Tradition holds that, if taken,
women and men wear a flower behind their left ear.


Tahiti Canoe


Tahiti Pareu

History
Around 4000 BC, a great migration began from Southeast Asia
across open ocean to settle the Pacific Islands. Many researchers
conclude that Tonga and Samoa were settled around 1300 BC
and from here colonization voyages were launched to the
Marquesas Islands in about 200 BC. Over the next several centuries,
great migrations to colonize all the Tahitian islands and virtually
the entire South Pacific took place.

This area of the Pacific ocean is now called the “Polynesian Triangle”
and includes Hawaii to the north, Easter Island to the southeast,
and New Zealand to the southwest. As a result of these migrations,
the native Hawaiians and the Maoris of New Zealand all originate
from common ancestors and speak a similar language collectively
known as Maohi.

Discover Tahiti

If you were here you’d be you again…

Maeva! Welcome!

Tahiti – Moorea – Bora Bora – island names that evoke a wonderful state of mind, seducing honeymooners, romantics, adventurers, and vacationers looking for escape.


Le Meridien Tahiti

Here, around these South Seas isles, a romantic sunset sea
sends giant curls of turquoise breaking onto the colorful
reefs that protect the tranquil lagoons of warm,
bright-emerald waters and white coral-sand beaches.

Intercontinental Bora Bora


Sofitel Moorea Beach

Closer Than You Think

Easier to travel to than you might imagine,
Tahiti's Faa'a Airport is under 8 hours by air from
Los Angeles LAX airport, with daily nonstop flights
and starting in the summer of 2005 – 3 non-stop
flights a week from New York’s JFK airport.
As far south of the equator as Hawaii is north,
Tahiti is halfway between California and Australia,
on the same side of the International Date Line as
North America, and in the same time zone as
Hawaii - (only three hours behind California April-October
and two hours behind California November-March).


Intercontinental Rersorts


Intercontinental Resort

Speak Tahitian

Learn a few useful words and phrases

Even though English is spoken and understood in most hotels, restaurants, and shops, learning a few Tahitian words and phrases is encouraged and appreciated.

It can also be helpful, but not mandatory, to brush up on a few basic French phrases as French and Tahitian are the official languages and both are commonly used.

The Tahitian alphabet contains only thirteen letters.
Vowels: a as in car, e as in may, i as in machine, o as in cold, and u as in salute.
Consonants: f,h,m,n,p,r,t,v pronounced as in English with the exceptions of the
h pronounced sh when preceded by i or followed by o and the r sometimes having a trill sound.

hello, good day, friendly greeting – ia orana
goodbye – nana
welcome – maeva
thank you – mauru'uru
no problem!, no worries! – aita pe'ape'a
how are you? – eaha te huru?
good! – maita'i
to your health, toast – manuia

house – fare
bank – fare moni
church – fare pure
post office – fare rata
hospital – fare ma’i
store – fare toa

doctor – taote
police – muto’i

man – tane
woman – vahine
child – tamarii

yes – e, oia
no – aita

small – iti
big, large – nui

islet in the lagoon – motu
ancient temple – marae
traditional quilts – tifaifai
traditional dance – tamurei
fenua – land
flower – tiare
ocean – moana
sun – mahana
moon – avae
star – fetia
earth oven – himaa
feast – tamaaraa

morning – poipoi
evening – ahiahi

Tahiti Inter-Island Travel

Travel between Tahiti Islands

Travel to the neighboring islands is short, convenient, and easily arranged.

The domestic airlines, Air Tahiti and Air Moorea, are located at Tahiti Faa’a Airport.


Air Tahiti

Air Tahiti
As the major inter-island airline, Air Tahiti serves 40 islands with newer,
twin-engine, jet-prop aircraft. Flights to the neighboring islands depart from
Tahiti Faa’a Airport with frequent daily service between the most visited islands.

Air Moorea
Air Moorea is the quickest way to Moorea.
These shuttle flights of less than 10 minutes are considered
to be one of the shortest commercial flights in the world.
Air Moorea departs every 30- to 60-minutes from Tahiti Faa’a International
Airport and also serves the island of Tetiaroa.
The airline operates both scheduled flights
with reservations and shuttle flights for walk ups.
Air Moorea

Aremiti

Aremiti, Tahiti-Moorea-Tahiti
Between Tahiti and Moorea, Aremiti operates the
high-speed Aremiti Catamaran 4 which seats 495 passengers
for a 30-minute one-way crossing. For transport of autos and passengers,
the Aremiti Ferry crosses in
1 hour. Both have frequent daily schedules from the waterfront in
Papeete to Vaiare, Moorea.

Moorea Express, Tahiti-Moorea-Tahiti
Between Tahiti and Vaiare, Moorea, the Moorea Express catamaran seats
306 passengers for frequent 30-minute crossings and the Moorea Ferry
seats 300 passengers plus autos for 1 hour crossings.

Other Ferry Transportation
Other infrequent inter-island ferries are available but are not recommended
as a transportation option for visitors.

Tahiti Island

Everything you want to know about the islands of Tahiti including Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, Taha'a and the other exquisite islands of French Polynesia.

Search Tahiti vacation deals, plan your Bora Bora honeymoon, or find a local travel agent who can create the perfect trip to paradise. The Islands of Tahiti have something for every traveler - sugary white - sand beaches, vibrant marine life, rugged mountains, and colorful history.
Whether you want a private island picnic near Bora Bora or a canoe delivered breakfast in your overwater bungalow, Tahiti is the ultimate South Pacific island paradise. Let us be your portal into the magic of the Tahitian islands - we promise you'll want to come back.

Mauru'uru Roa!

Tahiti Spas

Polynesian Spas - Designed by Mother Nature

All the natural ingredients for the world's perfect spa are here on Tahiti: Soothing lagoon waters; air scented of vanilla and flowers; tranquility of the quiet islands, and the scenic wonders that surround each spa.

Some call it a "spa within a spa" experience, one found nowhere else on earth. With the addition of spa facilities within the luxury resorts and cruise ships, Tahiti has quickly become one of the world's leading spa destinations.


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Tahiti Spa Locations | Honeymoon and Romance in Tahiti and her islands


St Regis Resort Bora Bora

Most spas are open-air and located in garden areas facing the blue lagoons.


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Tahiti Treatments
Featuring the bounty of Polynesian oils, flowers, and plants grown in Tahiti, each spa has a full menu of treatments for individuals or for couples. Listed below is a sample of some of the most popular treatments.

- Fresh-flower Bath for two.
- Body wrap in fresh banana tree leaves
- Body scrub with sand and rice, grated coconuts or sea salt
- Body wash with vanilla
- Mask with fresh fruit and plants
- Flower Remedies & Aromatherapy
- Aromaspa Body Treatments
- Thalassotheraphy & Reflexology
- Heated-Stone Massage
- Rain Showers (photo at top: Hélène Spa)
- River Baths
- Full beauty care and facials


Intercontinental Resorts


Intercontinental Resorts