North Macedonia, one of the countries mentioned in the Bible, is located in the heart of the Balkan peninsula. It is a small country with extraordinary beauty and this land of hidden treasures holds the biggest jewel of them all in the form of the lake & the city of Ohrid.
A local legend says that the city got its name when Tsar Samoil (creator of first medieval Macedonian empire) and his army were returning from an exhausting battle. On their way home, they needed to climb a hill which took away all their power and they sighed "Oh Ride" (Oh this Hill) and by linking these two words, Ohrid was born !
The cold water of the lake provides welcome respite from the summer heat. There are people who like to fish in the designated fishing spots while others enjoy the different water sports options available here. Many boats are parked in the bay, some are privately owned and the rest are owned by companies who take people for a tour around the bay (for €10-€20).
In the ancient traditions, lakes were regarded as the eyes of the earth. If so, I am pretty sure that the earth has been looking through the eyes of Lake Ohrid for a long time. It sure hypnotized me time and again during my stay here.
The narrow streets of the Old Town are lined with restaurants and cafés that are perfect for relaxing in the hot afternoons and in the cool summer evenings. One can watch an endless stream of people going about their jobs (people watching is a Balkan past time, I guess). All the city's attractions are located within walking distance.
The ancient theater of Ohrid (built in 200 BC) has a perfect location as the two hills that surround it keep it protected from winds that could interfere with acoustics during performances. During Roman times, the theater was used for gladiator fights and it was also a site of executions of Christians by the Romans. The theater was later abandoned and buried by the locals which allowed for most of the structure to be well preserved. It was uncovered accidentally in the 1980s and nowadays, it is the site of various public performances.
There are numerous churches alongside the lake's shores which make for fascinating side trips and walks.
And there is the Samuel's fortress, which was the capital of the first Bulgarian empire in the 10th century. Looking over the entire town, it is a reminder of the olden days.
This pretty little town still retains a lot of its medieval charm despite the tourist magnet it has become in the last few years.
Ohrid is known as the Balkan Jerusalem. The map of the old town is like the holy city of Jerusalem and many believe that events in Bible are connected to Ohrid, including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I don't know if it is true, but it lends a whole different meaning to this town.
The evenings are special and the lake waters look so serene that I can gaze at them for hours on end.
When you come to Ohrid, your soul finds the rest that it has been yearning for. The mountain peaks ensure that your spirits soar while the depths of the lake make you contemplate and reflect. After a hectic few days in Greece & Albania, Ohrid was the perfect spot for me to relax and unwind. There was no schedule or plan - I had a lot of time to put my feet up and reflect on life and world, in general. Without a shadow of a doubt, it is one of my favourite places on earth.
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