Ancient reflections on the modern world

I’M writing this while sitting by Lake Ohrid in Macedonia.

The lake is bathed in sunshine and Albania can be clearly seen across the water. Lake Ohrid isn’t immediately recognised in Wales as a tourist hotspot, although some of us know of Alexander the Great, who created one of the largest empires in the ancient world. Most people would shy away from venturing to Lake Ohrid, a route less travelled, but “there is nothing impossible to him who will try”, as Alexander said.

A three-hour flight from London Luton Airport to Ohrid brought me here to the lake. It is principally a Dutch resort – one of its famous visitors was Dutch author Cornelius Johannes George Spoelstra, who wrote The Orient Express.

On the shore of Lake Ohrid, medieval churches, monasteries and open-air ruins are to be admired. An ancient fortress dominates the skyline. Lake Ohrid was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1979. Under the red-tiled roofs of Ohrid, old folk customs are still practised. Yet this is not a folk museum. One such custom was displayed by an old man roasting red peppers in his garden. People grow vegetables in their gardens and enjoy the shade under their grapevines.

I’m fortunately staying in an apartment with its balcony overlooking the lake and the mountain hills of Albania. In the distance, the sublime silhouette of Albania’s mountains provides a feast for the eyes from dawn till dusk.

While walking into the town centre I was fascinated to see the European Union flag waving proudly alongside the national flag of Macedonia. Yet Macedonia isn’t a member of the EU.

During this time of rising Euroscepticism, it is interesting to come across a country that apparently would relish being a member of the EU. Indeed, the people who I have spoken to here don’t understand why the UK voted for Brexit.

As an individual with a special interest in politics, I can’t help but mentioning a little more about this subject. Please bear with me!

The people of Macedonia are fed up with a government that may seem to them out of touch with the expectations of the modern age. This is indeed the complete opposite of the beliefs of the people in Wales.

The wish of the people of Wales is to “bring back control” to improve their lot in life, whereas in Macedonia to improve their lot in life is to join the EU. But would it be presumptuous of me to suggest that the grass is always greener and both countries are living in a fool’s paradise?

It is ironic how two small countries, Wales and Macedonia, can have such differing political views. It is also interesting that 21% of the population of Macedonia live below the poverty line while 23% of the population of Wales live below the poverty line.

But with Brexit in mind, the people of Wales voted to leave the EU and, to quote Alexander the Great, “Remember the fate of each depends on the conduct of all”. Aled Thomas

Penarth