Elshani, a traditional Macedonian village, nestled between the mountains and Lake Ohrid.

We visited a local school in the village of Elshani. There were no students present on a Sunday, but the wife of the school's custodian came to let us into the 1st through 5th grade school. There was a large center room with two adjacent classrooms, a small staff room, a recently modernized restroom, and a room with a wood-burming furnace and stacked wood. The school accomodates three teachers and 26 students.

Parisa… the name of the donkey I rode in the village. We had come to interact with some villagers to help them prepare a meal made from locally grown vegetables and a chicken from a nearby coop. Some of us noticed the feathers on the chopping block and drops of blood leading to the house. While the food was being cooked, four of the villagers took four of us for a donkey ride with handmade wooden saddles in the local woods, while others walked. The weather was cool, with clear skies and a stellar view of Lake Ohrid 1,000 feet below. Although we did not speak a mutual language, our interaction with the people of the village was warm and friendly.

Quick Photo Links: Elshani School | Village of Elshani | Elshani Family Visit | Final Shots