Stories You Can Taste — That’s Why We Succeed

The success Kajak.mk achieved in 2021, reaching four million pages read, depended on how we tell stories to people eager to travel.

The new era of tourism in Macedonia that we promote isn’t based on the usual journeys we constantly take, but rather on what people hear from the locals — stories they can almost smell when stepping into the space where Kajak thrives. This space inspires them to embrace the true meaning of tourism.

We celebrate 2021 through the stories of local residents vital to tourism, and our hope for 2022 is to discover as many local heroes as possible — eager to share their story and the story of the place they have lived their entire lives.

For us, this is the most important reason we exist.

We know that we always need strong motivators—people who fight to prove that Macedonia is a land where a blend of cultures, traditions, food, and stories creates the perfect recipe for sustainable tourism.

This year, we will close with another inspiring story about a group of local women from Kruševo who found the courage to unite and share their Kruševo story—a story that will become a reason for tourists to visit Kruševo.

This group of Kruševo women consists of 30 local ladies who know each other well. They are local heroines doing small things with a huge impact on the development of tourism in Macedonia.

Today’s story will be shared with you together with Lefkija Gažoska, coordinator of the FeelKrusevo Platform and the initiator of uniting the three associations. She is also one of the best hosts during our team-building trips organized in Kruševo.

The sunny weekend in Kruševo gave us the chance to enjoy coffee in the courtyard of the old school building, which their association, with the help of the city, has successfully renovated and repurposed for groups of tourists curious to explore the details of Vlach life in Kruševo.

Lefkija told us about the beginnings of their organization. All the women who are part of this association have individual experience in various fields, but three years ago they joined forces to start a new project aimed at promoting Kruševo in a unique way.

Proud of what they have achieved during the pandemic and happy that more and more tourists are interested in getting to know the traditions of the Vlach community in Kruševo — to listen to Vlach music, taste Vlach cuisine, and of course, learn a few words of the Vlach language.

What we noticed while tasting the rich table prepared by the skilled hands of these women was their happiness and fulfillment in what they do, always keeping an eye to make sure the tables are full. The food prepared by these Kruševo hostesses depends on the guests’ requests but mostly features traditional Kruševo and Vlach dishes.

Lefkija says they have organized numerous gastronomic experiences, which can range from a classic snack or tasting to a full lunch or dinner, depending on the guests’ requests.

If a holiday is being celebrated, such as St. Nicholas, the table can be prepared as a fasting meal, but if the guests are not fasting, then a hunter’s feast with game meat can be served, complemented by Vlach pie, Vlach bread, sheep or goat cheese, fried dough with cottage cheese or garlic, chomlek, beans with sausages, and country-style meat with mushrooms.

Of course, homemade rakija and cherry or walnut liqueurs are never missing, along with lokum, kisses (celuvki), and the famous Kruševo guraabii cookies, enjoyed with wine or plum jam.

For these women, it’s normal to have spicy ajvar and lutenica, pepper-based makalo or pindjur on the table, and depending on the season, roasted pumpkin with honey can also be found on the feast.

If you talk to the women of Krushevo, you will notice that each of them has her own unique talents. Some prepare traditional recipes, healthy and homemade medicinal syrups, while others will tell you they produce liqueurs, and some have experience in making ointments from medicinal herbs, as well as marmalades, wild fruit preserves, and a variety of other products that you can find in their cellars.

In this story, food is not the only important element — it is also about the lifestyle and mindset of these Krushevo women. For them, food has its own story; the tools they use to prepare it have their own stories, as do the vessels in which the food is cooked. Each woman in the organization has her own story, and so does the place where guests get the chance to taste the food — a place with its own unique history.

Lefkija says they always work on promoting significant figures from Krushevo’s history, such as the Macedonian Shakespeare — Vasil Iljoski, who was born in Krushevo. His memorial room, containing his personal belongings, awards, and recognitions, will be opened in 2022, which marks the 120th anniversary of his birth.

This women's association began operating just before the start of the pandemic. They recall several beautiful moments when all their previous activities were organized in the yard of a typical Vlach house and inside it. However, due to the new circumstances, they moved their activities to the renovated space of the old school building, which also has characteristics of an old Krushevo structure. With the help they received from the municipality, they decorated it with traditional elements from an old 19th-century Krushevo house.

The women’s association today collaborates with the “Center for Human Relations,” which mainly includes young high school and university students dedicated to the inclusion of people with disabilities, as well as their biological or foster families. Together, they all contribute by participating in activities such as gathering medicinal herbs and teas, labeling, and packaging the products.

For these heroines, the impressions of their guests are the most important. The greatest gift they can receive is the smiles and satisfied faces of their visitors. Sincerity, openness, and hospitality are their main guiding principles for the new year. The openness of the people of Krushevo is the key reason why a story like "FeelKrushevo" is growing in scale.

Most importantly, the story of the "Krushevo Women" continues to thrive because these local heroines share stories that can truly be experienced.