Watch as Eva visits Ohrid in North Macedonia and tries to uncover the secrets of how to make pearls out of fish skin.
ADVERTISEMENTWelcome to our latest video series, Rerouted: The Balkans, which sees social media influencer and YouTuber Eva zu Beck discover the cultures, customs and traditions of Eastern Europe. Eva takes us off-the-beaten-track on a road trip through Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania. We meet the wonderful Balkan people bringing a modern twist to ancient traditions and travel through pristine, untouched landscapes. You might not have planned to visit these countries before but one thing’s for sure - they’re about to become top of your travel bucket list.
In this episode, Eva continues her journey through landlocked North Macedonia. A country she calls The Balkans’ best kept secret.
She visits the city of Ohrid, unsurprisingly perched on the shores of Lake Ohrid. It is known for once having 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and has been referred to as the ‘Jerusalem of the Balkans.’
Eva wanders the Old Town’s cobbled streets before going to meet two families who have been creating crafts in the city for decades.
In a coppersmith shop, she watches as a piece of copper is turned into a ring. She then learns to make a bracelet herself.
Next she moves on to a shop where jewellery is made from the scales of fish in Lake Ohrid.
In both places, she is struck by the passion these families put into keeping traditional techniques alive.
Watch the video above to see Ohrid's traditional craftspeople at work.
Previous episodes of Rerouted: The Balkans
What is Kukeri? Explore the amazing Bulgarian tradition that scares bad spirits away
**Bagpiping in Bulgaria and how to make the most of a trip to the mountainous Smolyan region**
This is the world's most expensive cheese and you won't believe what it's made from
Welcome to the family vineyard that survived two world wars
What is horinca? Learning to make the drink that doubles up as money
Meet the Romanian carpenter who turned heads at the White House
‘The lake is life to us’: Learning to fish on one of Europe’s deepest and oldest lakes
