We had a wonderful time in Kavala, Greece, but after a month it was time to move on. We decided to head to Ohrid, a small town on the shores of Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia. We chose it for two main reasons: we needed to leave the Schengen zone to comply with the 90/180 day rule, and we were keen to explore more of North Macedonia.

The journey from Kavala wasn’t direct. We took a bus to Thessaloniki, changed bus stations, then continued to Skopje. The border crossing took hours, and by the time we arrived in Skopje it was late, hot, and we were exhausted. We checked into a hotel on Alexander Square and had a fantastic dinner at Bocata, overlooking the huge statue of Alexander the Great. The food, wine, and service were excellent — highly recommended.

The next morning we caught the bus to Ohrid. The journey wound through mountains and countryside and felt very long, especially as it was a busy long weekend. Finally we arrived and took a taxi to our apartment.

The apartment was brand new, beautifully equipped, and had a lovely balcony overlooking fields toward Lake Ohrid with the mountains of Albania in the distance.

Ohrid (and North Macedonia in general) reminded me of Turkey with touches of Southeast Asia — in terms of development and atmosphere. I liked it very much. The town was low-key and popular mainly with local families who come for summer holidays by the lake.

The heat was intense, with most days above 35°C. We spent a relaxed month visiting the old town, the hilltop fortress, and the famous Church of St. John at Kaneo. We lounged by the lake, strolled the waterfront, and enjoyed the peaceful local vibe. We barely heard any native English speakers — exactly how we like it.

Macedonian food is mostly grilled meats, kebabs, and salads, but the local wines (both red and rosé) were exceptional. We also used the time to work on some personal projects.