Hidden Macedonia (Armchair Traveler) (Armchair Traveller) (Hardcover)

by Christopher Deliso (Author)
Key Phrases: Dolno Dupeni, Golem Grad, Tsar Samuel (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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.

About the Author
Christopher Deliso is an American travel writer and journalist based in Skopje, Macedonia, who has been exploring and living in the Balkans and Mediterranean Europe for almost a decade. He has published numerous travel articles in newspapers, magazines and web sites around the world and also writes for Lonely Planet on the Balkans and Greece. He also directs the Balkan-interest online magazine. He holds an MPhil with Honours in Byzantine Studies from Oxford University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Haus Publishers Ltd. (July 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905791046
• ISBN-13: 978-1905791040
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #884,707 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hidden Jewel, August 28, 2007

By	Sonja B (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

It was such a pleasant surprise to discover that someone was bold enough to write about the ineffable beauty and spirit that is Macedonia, and particularly its lakes - and succeed in it. As soon as I received my copy of Deliso's Hidden Macedonia, I wasted no time getting into it, and found that I couldn't stop reading it until I finished it. Poetic, vivid, anecdotal and factual - truly a book I recommend to anyone who dares risk or cares to know or is curious, inclined for whatever reason, to ponder (and wonder) over a bit of land in Europe deeply steeped in history, and so naturally almost forgotten - hidden - but for Deliso's careful archaeological, historical eye for things mystical. Deliso's circular journey through three countries in the name of two lakes, Ohrid and Prespa, is one you won't forget. I'll go as far as saying that you should judge this book by its cover.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Splendid Little Journey, August 6, 2007

By	Jason B. Miko (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While many vacationers are jetting off to the likes of London, Paris or the Caribbean, Chris Deliso opens the window on a small, relatively undiscovered part of Europe, and reveals a delightful region of beauty, charm, culture, history and warmth. The lake region of Macedonia, which includes the enchanting lakes of Ohrid and Prespa, is made available to us through this brief travelogue in which Deliso travels with both companions and his family, stopping in little out-of-the-way villages and hamlets in Greece, Albania and Macedonia. Written in an easy, almost laidback style, Deliso throws in archeology, history, art, flora, fauna, geography, gastronomy, culture and a host of other subjects as he takes his readers on bumpy roads and across the placid lakes, spending time with the hospitable and warm folks who live there. Before you're halfway through the book, you might find yourself booking a trip to Macedonia to discover for yourself a unique and unspoiled part of Europe still unknown to most Westerners.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must in your private library, May 31, 2008

By	Gjorgi Trajcov (Bratislava, SVK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I own this book in Macedonian language and I have to say I read it in one pace. some of the previous readers already wrote the "about" part so Im just going to add that it is a must for everyone interested in the Balkan history, the people and the lakes.