INFO SHEET Youth exchange Nature ahead Advance planning visit 14-16 OCTOBER 2014 Youth exchange main event 03 11 NOVEMBER 2014 Bitola, MACEDONIA GENERAL FACTS ABOUT MACEDONIA Official name: Republic of Macedonia Location: Macedonia is situated in Southeastern Europe neighboring Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania. Area: 25 713 sq. km. Population: 2.038.059 (census from 2002) Capital: Skopje, about 700.000 inhabitants The official language: Macedonian (Southern Slavic language) Alphabet: Cyrillic Religions: majority: Orthodox Christians; minorities: Muslim, Roman Catholic and others Political structure: Macedonia is a Parliamentary Republic. Independence day: September, 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites: the town of Ohrid and Ohrid Lake Currency: Denar: 1 Denar = 100 Deni Time: Central European Time (CET) Weather: Summer temperatures: average 26º to 35ºC (40 ºC is not uncommon) Winter temperatures: average -5º to 5ºC Measure units: degree Celsius (ºC), meter (m.), gram (gr.), liter (l.) International telephone prefix of Macedonia - +389 1
Border formalities For entrance in Macedonia, a passport or some other valid identification document is necessary so that a border pass permit can be issued (valid three months). However, if you're not sure if you need a visa, please check at the Macedonian Embassy or Consulate in your country prior to your trip. Customs Tourists can bring in Macedonia all their personal belongings without any limitations. Duty-free allowance is 200 cigarettes, one bottle (1 liter) of alcoholic beverage, 1 kg coffee or tea, parfume for personal use. You should declare: sport/camping-, professional radio-, TV-, HIFI- or photoequipment. Money The Macedonian currency is (Macedonian Denar - MKD). Money should be exchanged in official exchange offices (banks, post offices, hotels, tourist agencies) according to current exchange rates. When leaving Macedonia foreigners can exchange MKDs back into foreign currency (at official places) only after presenting the evidence on exchange for Denars when entering the country. Credit cards Some major credit cards (Diners, American Express, Visa and MasterCard/EuroCard) and eurochecks can be used for payments wherever noticed, as a rule in most hotels, shops, and restaurants. Shopping - Shops in Macedonia offer a great variety of domestic and imported wares. Duty free shops are generally situated in duty free zones at airports. Usual opening hours of shops: Business hours Shops - from Monday to Friday 8.00 am - 9.00 pm Institutions and offices 8.30 am - 4.30 pm Banks: Mon to Fri 8.00 am - 5.00 pm, Sat 8.00 am - Noon, on airports, railway and bus stations prolonged. Climate In the flat regions, continental - hot and dry summers and cold winters; in the highlands, mountainous - cool summers and cold winters with plenty of snow. Please bring warm clothes, because the evenings can be chilly. Health insurance In all bigger towns there are hospitals, infirmatories and pharmacies. The service is good and prices moderate. Foreign tourists do not pay for the health services if their native country signed 2
the Health Insurance Convention with Macedonia (in that case you only need a form from your native country). The ambulance telephone number is 194. Important phone numbers Police 192 Fire brigade 193 Ambulance 194 Road assistance 187 Electricity The electricity power in the country is stabile at 220 - Volts A.C. (50 Hertz). EU type contact/point, wall-plug. About history more info at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/republic_of_macedonia http://macedonia.org http://travel-macedonia.blogspot.com/ http://www.exploringmacedonia.com/ http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/macedonia/ www.discovermacedonia.com.mk The language and the alphabet In Macedonian language you should remember one simple and useful rule: EVERY WRITTEN LETTER IS PRONOUNCED. It will help you to read nameplates and street signs in the cities, read the following dictionary of the most common and the most necessary words and phrases in Macedonian, but also communicate with local people and find your way to the bus station In Skopje. Macedonian-Cyrillic letters are: A (а), Б (b), В (v), Г (g), Д (d), Ѓ (gj), Е (e), Ж (zh,ž), З (z), Ѕ (dz) И (i), Ј (j), К (k), Л (l), Љ (lj) М (m), Н (n), Њ (nj) О (o), П (p), Р (r), С (s), Т (t), Ќ (kj) У (u), Ф (f), Х (h), Ц (tz), Ч (ch,č), Џ (dzh) Ш (sh,š), Here are some of the MOST HELPFUL WORDS and phrases in Macedonian: ENGLISH Macedonian phrases YES/NO DA/NE How much is it? Kolku kosta? Left/Right Levo/Desno No problem Nema Problem Where? Kade? Straight on Pravo Excuse me Se izvinuvam When? Koga? Street Ulica Please Ve molam How? Kako? Ticket for Bitola Karta za Bitola 3
Thank you Blagodaram Yesterday Vcera I don t Ne razbiram understand I m sorry Zal mi e Today Denes Good/Bad Dobro/Losho Good morning Dobar den Tomorrow Utre I m getting off at bus station Sleguvam na avtobuska Good evening Dobra vecher Where is the bus station? Kade se naoga avtobuskata stanica? How long? Kolku dolgo? What time is it? Kolku e casot? How far? Kolku daleku Take me to hotel Kapri, please? Where I can find exchange office? To the railway station please Kade mozam da najdam menuvacnica? Do zeleznicka stanica ve molam Where is railway station? To the bus station, please Kade se naoga zeleznickata stanica? Do abtobuska stanica ve molam Where is the bus to Bitola? Where is the train to Bitola? Do Hotel Kapri, ve molam. Kade e abtobusot za Bitola? Kade e vozot za Bitola? ABOUT BITOLA The Area Bitola (90,000 inhabitants) is the second largest city in Republic of Macedonia. It's located at 600 m above sea level, at the foot of the Pelister mountain. It is the regional, economic and academic center of Southwestern Macedonia. The University of St. Kliment Ohridski in Bitola (5,000 students) comprises eight faculties and two colleges. The town is famous with its theater, museum and festivals like "Manaki Brothers" international festival (devoted to the annual achievements in filmmaking, commemorating the work of the first Balkan film makers), 'Small Bitola Monmartre' festival, the Festival of Classical Music and Bitola Open City festival (organized by Youth Cultural Center-Bitola). Heraclea Lyncestis, the antique town, situated in Bitola's vicinity, is a Balkan cultural treasure. 4
The proximity of Bitola to Greece is 15 km and Albania about 80 km. The city has Turkish, Roma, Vlach and Albanian minorities. Local residents pride is connected with the Bitola s heritage and past, Bitola is known as town of Consuls and today it hosts 12 Honorary Consulates of different countries (Great Britain, France, Russia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece among others). More info on: www.bitola.gov.mk www.bitolatourist.info Useful information: As for the money when coming in Macedonia, the best solution is to have Euros or USD (try bringing smaller bank notes) whit you because you change them easily in every exchange office, bank or even at newsagents. 1 EURO is approx. 61,6 denars and 1 USD is approx. 46 denars this exchange rate is the same everywhere. You might have problems with exchanging other currencies, though. Travel directions: BY PLANE: Macedonia has two international airports, so if you come by plane you should arrive in SKOPJE (which is 175 km from Bitola) or OHRID (which is 70 km from Bitola). So you can take a taxi to bus or railway station. (if you arrive in Ohrid airport, from Ohrid you can get just on a bus) here is link for Macedonian airports: http://www.airports.com.mk Skopje Airport http://airports.com.mk/skpap.htm Telephone: ++ 389 91 148300, 148360, 148 333 Fax: ++ 389 91 148300, 148360 E-mail: skpap@airports.com.mk Sita: SKPAPXH Telex: ++389 96 51480 AFTN address: LWSKZPZX Ohrid Airport http://airports.com.mk/ohdap.htm Telephone: ++389 96 34079, 31656, 33656, 262503 Fax: ++389 96 33616, 265212 E-mail: ohdap@airports.com.mk Sita: OHDAPXH Telex: ++389 96 53873 AFTN address: LWOHZPZX 5
PLEASE, INFORM ORGANIZERS A.S.A.P on your exact time of arrival at the airport. NEW!!! Have in mind that there is a new airport bus to the city of Skopje that costs 150 MKD (2,5 EUR) single ride. You have transport usually every half an hour directly to the bus/train station in Skopje. We will NOT reimburse receipts from so called wild taxis that charge over 50 EUR or regular taxi costs. PICK UP FROM SKOPJE AIRPORT CAN BE ARRANGED UPON REQUEST! TRANSFER COST IS 80 EUR (single ride, if shared the price will be half less). If you come from Thessaloniki, Greece you should take bus/train to Florina (Northern Greece about 30 km from Bitola). Unfortunately, there are no connections from Florina to Bitola. Taxi is the only option. The price is about 40-50 EUR. Ask in advance again. We can organize pick up from Florina, Greece upon request for 30 EUR. Let us know in advance! PICK UP FROM THESSALONIKI AIRPORT (GREECE) CAN BE ARRANGED UPON REQUEST! TRANSFER COST IS 100 EUR (single ride, if shared the price will be half less). BY BUS OR TRAIN: Both main bus and railway station (in Bitola) are in the same area. Here is link for international railway connections: http://www.eurorailways.com/infoeng/timetable/time_index.htm From SKOPJE to BITOLA You have trains at (by Macedonian time) 06:48 am, 02:30 pm (14:30), 05:10 pm (17:10) and 07:30 pm (19:30) AND buses (by Macedonian time) 06:00 am, 09:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 01:30 pm (13:30), 03:00 pm (15:00), 03.30 pm (15:30), 04.30 pm (16:30), 05:00 pm (17:00), 07:00 pm (19:00), 09:00 pm (21:00) FROM OHRID to BITOLA You have bus to Bitola on every hour from 06:00 am to 18:00 (06:00 pm) There are also direct bus lines from Belgrade (Serbia) and Sofia (Bulgaria) to Bitola. Please check your local bus station for details about the schedule. From Bitola bus/railway station you can take any city yellow taxi that will take you to Villa Dihovo for around 4 EUR (250 MKD). Please ask for receipt from the taxi driver!!! 6
ELIGIBLE TRAVEL COSTS: We will reimburse 100% of the travel costs for Advanced planning visit and 70% of the travel costs for the Youth Exchange, according to Erasmus+ funding rules: 10-99 KM eligible travel costs up to 20 EUR 100 499 KM eligible travel costs up to 80 EUR 500 1999 KM eligible travel costs up to 170 EUR 2000 2999 KM eligible travel costs up to 270 EUR Please use the official Distance calculator: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmusplus/tools/distance_en.htm Eligible costs include bus or train, low fare air travel economy class. Taxi costs without prior permission from YIDC - Bitola will NOT be reimbursed. The reimbursement will be done, after you send us all original tickets and receipts by post within 2 weeks after the meeting/exchange, on your personal or organizational bank account. 7
LOCATION OF THE YOUTH EXCHANGE Villa Dihovo village Dihovo Pelister 7000 Bitola Macedonia, Phone No +389 47 293040 http://villadihovo.com/ Accommodation: Located in Dihovo, a relaxing village in the foothills of National Park Pelister, Villa Dihovo is a friendly, family-run guesthouse serving homemade traditional food and drink, and offering plenty of outdoor activities for those wishing to explore the forested mountains, lakes and river immediately accessible from the village. Participants will be accommodated in 2-3 bed rooms. Three meals per day are served in the restaurant. Please be informed that al extra costs such as external calls, consumption of alcohol and soft drinks, room service, laundry service or extra food in the Villa will NOT be reimbursed by. 8
IMPORTANT: all leaders for the Advance Planning Visit are expected to arrive on Tuesday morning October 14, 2014 or before lunch at 1 p.m. The APV program officially starts on Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. Departure is on Thursday, October 16, 2014 in the afternoon. Any early comers or late departures costs will NOT be covered by. IMPORTANT: all participants are expected to arrive for YE on Monday morning November 3, 2014 or before lunch at 1 p.m. The youth exchange program officially starts on Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. Departure is on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 in the afternoon. Any early comers or late departures costs will NOT be covered by. Please bring traditional food and drinks for intercultural evening as well as promo materials and movies from your organization. Contact Information: Youth Initiatives for Dialogue and Cooperation Bitola ul. Dimitar Vlahov 56, Bitola 7000 Macedonia Phone no: +389 75 367 957 E-mail: midsbitola@yahoo.com Have a nice trip and see you in BITOLA!!! 9