After an hours drive we arrive at the tobacco field, where Vlatko and three paid women pickers are already at it. During the next five hours, Finn worked like a real trooper having an amazing experience. I shot around 450 images. The flies were everywhere and they continually bit through our t-shirts. Tobacco is picked early in the money as once the sun hits the plants, they become too sticky to touch.
After we finished, we headed to Ana's fathers place where the picked tobacco was hung. We were fed and watered and whilst this was happening the local priest came to bless the house and family including Finn and I. The food never stopped coming despite the lack of funds. Ana's father is up at 1am every day as his tobacco field is larger so I guess I should count myself lucky with the 3am start. We were asked to return for dinner but again, this just won't happen.
Finally we returned to Sopotnica at 1pm. Mende from next door insisted I come and watch The Godfather but I managed to escape. During the evening we went to a visiting open air cinema that played a documentary and it was in English!
A huge couple of days that leaves me absolutely buggered.
Hi Michael, thank you for all your excellent entries. John and I wait daily for all your updates and enjoy them so much especially having been to the Balkans and fully understand the conditions you describe. We have been to Macedonia but haven't experienced first hand all the daily happenings and economics of the Macedonians. Finn and I are conversing via imessage so apologise for not entering a comment to say thank you so much for the blog. Keep the updates and photos coming we do so much enjoy them. Love to each of you and safe traveling.Looking forward to your entries on Korcula. xxoo Pam and John.
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