IN AND AROUND KOCANI
Poured by
Darko Jefremov
You born in one place, peaceful and quiet, clean and warm where all people know each other and smile to greet, place where even the storks are coming back from south to build their nests on the roofs of the old houses of Kocani. Tere you acquire your best friends and you spend the best years of your life and than suddenly life offers you something completely different. Big city, heavy traffic, everyone runs somewhere while the work obligations does not give you much time to rest. Then you realize and ask yourself which way to go. On the one hand is the warm home, and on the other, is the opportunity to educate and build your career.
I’m from Kocani, but studies have brought me to Skopje. I love Skopje, but Kocani is in my heart and therefore I dedicate this article to my hometown.
If you enjoy walking in nature, in motorsports, fishing, I warmly recommend you to visit Kocani and do a walk by foot to the artificial lake Gratce. There, the nature made a great blend of colorful flora and fauna, green space, and the man, using the works of nature made artificial dam near which you will find many places to take a rest.
Last time when I was at home in Kocani it was Thursday, a market day. So when is market day, it is most interesting. Many people come from surrounding areas, towns and villages, exchanging products and goods, but also their own life experiences. City Market is located near the square in Kocani. From here, along the beautiful Kocanska river, with some water at least up to the first water source, the road takes you to a place called Bavcheluk.
On the road, you will see small and large houses, some of them abandoned long time ago, but in front of those in which people still live, you will see old men who have returned from the market and led his friends to “relax” and to exchange two-three words. You will see many cyclists, athletes and walkers.
In, no more than half an hour, you get to Bavcheluk: playground for football, basketball, beach volleyball, restaurant, park for children, a source of clean water, a place designed for all generations.
If you continue down the road you will see holiday homes, farmers who hardly collect the yield of the land, you will hear the loud sound of tractors and livestock. From there up, something entirely different, beautiful scenery. Roadmap to the left takes you to the place that is called Goce’s forest. This place is great for hot summer days, to relax under the tree shades and to drink fresh and cold water.
The fresh air makes you move on. Passing by the pond, in less than ten minutes you arrive at Gratce, having in fornt a beautiful view of the lake. And there, fishermen, young adventurers with paddle boats, parents and children, retired people. All with one goal, to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Only one kilometer to the waterfalls. When you get there like you’ve arrived at a place obsessed with the magical spell of the nature. You forget for a moment on everything and enjoy the view and the power of the beautiful waterfalls. The picture leaves you breathless.
Speaking about the food, hundreds of years Kocani, is known as a city of rice and main dishes are associated with that culture – pot rice with chicken, rice pudding, emery and inevitable specialty you must try and it is characteristic for the region of Kocani is “Kocanska lapa” made from broken rice and mashed afion seeds. When eating “Kocanska lapa” – do not chew, just swallow. Hence comes the name of this dish (😊)). If according to your diet, you want to skip the rice this week, my recommendation definitely is “Ceshinovska pan” with ice cold “Skopsko” at Miki in “Mak Mlin” in Cheshinovo.
People says there is no place like home and I have this feeling as well. So, I often visit my home town Kocani. After a long time spent in the big city and the daily obligations at the faculty Kocani restores my energy and gives me peace.
