The Samuel Fortress in the old town of Ohrid, North Macedonia. (May 15, 2019)

The dirt walkway to Samuel’s Fortress from the Church of St. John on Ohrid in North Macedonia. (May 15, 2019)

Then up the hill through these gorgeous trees to the Samuel Fortress in Ohrid, North Macedonia. (May 15, 2019)

The front gate to the Samuel Fortress in Ohrid, North Macedonia. It was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire during the rule of Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria at the turn of the 10th century. (May 15, 2019)

The Samuel Fortress in Ohrid, North Macedonia, flying the Macedonian flag. (May 15, 2019)

After our tour group ride along Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia, it was time to explore more of the old town Ohrid. (May 15, 2019)

Views of Lake Ohrid and the Church of St. John at Ohrid in North Macedonia. (May 15, 2019)

The Macedonian flag flying high at the Samuel Fortress in Ohrid, North Macedonia. (May 15, 2019)

Inside the Samuel Fortress in the old town of Ohrid, North Macedonia. (May 15, 2019)

The exterior Upper Gate of the Samuel Fortress in Ohrid, North Macedonia. (May 15, 2019)

The Ancient theatre of Ohrid in North Macedonia was built in 200 BC as a Hellenistic-type theatre from Roman times when the theater was used for gladiator fights. However, since the theater was also a site of executions of Christians by the Romans, it was highly disliked by the locals. As a result the theater was abandoned and buried by the locals after the demise of the Roman Empire. This allowed for most of the structure to be preserved, and only accidentally uncovered in the 1980s during the construction of the houses in the area. Large stone blocks with carvings of the Greek god Dyonisius and the muses were showing up, which led archaeologists to believe that a Greek theater (Dionysus and the muses were related to the performance arts) must have been located nearby. (May 15, 2019)

The Ancient theatre of Ohrid in North Macedonia was built in 200 BC as a Hellenistic-type theatre from Roman times when the theater was used for gladiator fights. (May 15, 2019)