Rained Out...

Our weather has been so absolutely beautiful here during our stay in Macedonia, that I guess it was inevitable that it would change.  So,  the day before yesterday it was a bit rainy, yesterday it was a bit MORE rainy, and today it just decided to rain for almost the whole day. So the trip that Dobrin had planned for us to go first to an ancient observatory, and then later to a winery, were rained out...  total drag.  I was really looking forward to going to both of these places, but who am I to argue with Mother Nature?  So I had a lazy day, and actually got a taste of reality, as I finally checked my home and school email.  I vow NEVER to look at them when I am on vacation, as it is such a "reality check" and when I am on vacation, I am SO not ready for it.  But, with nothing else to do this morning, I caught up on the 60 school emails that awaited me, and some personal ones as well.  With that done, Tanja came home and made me some lunch, and then Niecy, Ana and her 2 kids picked me up to go to the mall and do some final souvenir shopping.  We had a great time at the mall, and I finally found a "high/low dress" as I call it.  It is a beautiful blue and very comfortable and airy light.  (See picture below).  Sarah dubbed this dress, "The Mullet Dress".  lol!
She is so funny.  After the mall, Niecy and I were still in need of some more stuff, and the kids were tired, so we talked Ana
 in to just dropping us off at the open air market/Old Bazaar to continue our shopping.  We spent another couple of hours wandering around the Bazaar and looking for treasures.  I found everything I needed, and Niecy did well, also.  My greatest treasure was a gift for my son in law, an antique book from 1913.  I hope he loves it!  I took a taxi home and Tanja fed me again, and then I took a quick power nap. Tonight is our "girls night out", even though the original

plan was a salsa Latina discotheque, the rain and time washed that out, so we all got dressed up nice and cute and headed for the mall.  We ended up at a nice Italian place where we had a variety of drinks
and appetizers, including caviar on toast (Niecy's first time!), and some flambe (flaming!)  pancakes (crepes).  Since the restaurant could NOT light the crepes on fire at our table, I was invited to join them in their kitchen to take a picture of the happening!  It is so wonderful to be treated like a queen!  :)

 As we sat together and received our first drink, I tried to make a toast, but ended up getting choked up at the thought that our time is almost through. But I pulled it together and we toasted to "New friends, lifelong friends".  We spent the evening reminiscing about our trip and the memories we would be taking back with us.  Then we began to plan ahead for the reunion when Tanja and Ana come to join us in August.  We have so loved our time here and can't wait to reciprocate the pleasure of hosting our wonderful exchange teachers & showing them how amazing Tempe is.