Update-the Sv. Bogorodica to Sv. Spas official trail

   Man, couldn't do too much yesterday, there is snow everywhere, but had to get out in view of the weather forecast which was predicting more of the white stuff, so I thought why not go out and find the correct route for Sv. Spas? The last time I was there, I missed the trail and ended up improvising with my compass. It got me to where I was going of course, but it wasn't the official route.
  I did not include the route to Sv. Nedela in this entry, because as mentioned previously, there is only one way there and you can't miss it. Also, I chose not to go up there because it would of been rather unsound in these conditions. 

  So why do so many people miss part of the trail the first time? 
  Simply because you have to take a sharp left at one point to take the correct way up, but the red markings are nowhere to be seen .
   Or maybe it's just me. 
   I just used  Bing maps to figure this out and once there, I found it and eventually the red markings, which are plentiful after. 
  But if you miss it, you end up near or in Gorna Matka (from which you can take the main dirt road to the monastery), or you'll have to improvise in the woods.

In purple is the trail from Sv. Bogorodica, it continues in the direction of Gorna Matka. In red is the trail going up towards Sv. Spas

  You start at Sv. Bogorodica, you have to follow the trail up for about 950 meters, until you get to the point in the picture above. Then you're ok.
  It does seem a bit odd, because you are going back in the same direction you came from, but this trail has some added benefits; it is fairly easy and you get some great views of the valley, the Treska and Matka lake.

The trail going up

A view of the cross, which you can see from Sv. Bogorodica, visible at the bottom

View of Matka canyon and dam. On the right bank of the Treska river, you can see the trail to Sv. Nikola at the bottom and the one to Vodno above it

   You continue the trail until you reach the dirt road that goes from Sv. Spas to Gorna Matka. You can see the Monastery from there. 
  Well, the dirt road was actually the snow road on that day, immaculate as can be. 

The place where the trail connects with the dirt road. If you look closely, you can see the dude and his son, the donkey's, mine and some screwy rabbit's treks in the snow

   I saw no one except for a local dude and his young son cutting and loading some firewood on their donkey. You still see a lot of that here, and I have to say that I like this, because it is an eco-freindly way of working, the donkeys go to places that machines don't (surprising sometimes), they are still useful for agricultural and forestry work, and it's easier to bond with one than a peice of machinery (apart from an occasional bad temperament and a little bit of doo-doo, which has it's use too), and axes make no noise, always work and don't burn petrol.
  Of course, I am not sure if the dude cutting the wood would share my opinion about all this, because it is hard work and it was somewhat cold, about -20° when I got to Matka. It's quite possible that a ATV and a chainsaw (instead of his axe) would of been preferable for him. 
  As for the donkey, he seemed fine.  
  For those interested in visualizing the route in GPS form, I can give you the links and information (GPS or Google Earth), just contact me through the "comments" section at the end of this entry.

  
  There are other ways to get to Sv. Spas of course, but no more messing around, here is the official route, period.  It is about three kilometres long and great fun.

  Hope you like it.