The tectonic lakes of Macedonia, Ohrid and Prespa, are among he most ancient and enthralling in the world, abundant in rare wildlife and the seat of mediaeval kingdoms, richly endowed with sacred shrines, mysteries and watery legends. In this unprecedented account of a circular summertime journey tracing the lakeshore through three countries, Greece, Albania and the Republic of Macedonia, the author seeks out the spirit of the lakes through encounters with fishermen, philosophers, archaeologists and snakes. Penetrating the surface of everyday life and also revealing the deep historical wounds and controversies that still manifest in this long-coveted land, this heartfelt travelogue is also an evocative and at times riotously funny chronicle of travels in one of the most stunning and historically significant areas in Europe- one that remains, however, still largely to be discovered.
Chris Deliso (www.chrisdeliso.com) is an American writer with long experience in Mediterranean Europe and the Balkans. He has written about numerous facets of the region- everything from tourism to terrorism, including politics, travel, culture, history and security issues. He is equally comfortable writing about accommodation in luxury hotels as he is with recounting the austerity of monastic lodgings, and spends much of his time on the road, getting a good sense of the local realities that make this such a fascinating part of the world.
In his career, Chris has been published in numerous and far-ranging media, including several Lonely Planet travel guides, the Economist Intelligence Unit, the Financial Times, Jane's Intelligence Digest, National Geographic Traveller, and many other newspapers. magazines and websites. He is the author or co-author of over a dozen books, and owes his original interest in the region to his time studying for an MPhil in Byzantine Studies at Oxford University in England.
In addition to his personal authoring work, Chris Deliso is also the director of a well-read independent website covering the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean, www.balkanalysis.com, which utilizes a network of authors and researchers from around the region, and appeals generally to a high-level specialist audience of persons with a professional interest in the region.
