Thickly-forested mountains, deep caves, Communist-era military tunnels and an ammo factory all conspire to make Brod an offbeat and interesting region. Makedonski Brod (population 3,500), officially Macedonia’s smallest town, is a sleepy place but not bereft of character. It is the central hub for a number of smaller villages in the Brod municipality. Along with […]

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By Chris Deliso for Travel Intelligence (2006) Unless you take the other one, in the dead of night, the train arrives in late afternoon and by that time you just want to sit down and sleep against the window. But usually the press of people, all pushing and clamoring to board (grandmothers with glass jars […]

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By Chris Deliso Moment Magazine (2006) Once a year, in March, Moritz Romano returns to his hometown of Bitola in southern Macedonia. There he walks up the Sirok Sokak, the old Turkish name for the grand pedestrian avenue lined with open-air cafés and neoclassical edifices. At 84, his hearing is weak and his gait slow, […]

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By Chris Deliso for Travel Intelligence (2004) “You guys are sitting on a gold mine here,” rasped the jovial American, clad in a Dallas Cowboys football shirt and marked by his unmistakable New England accent. “This country is incredible.” A bit past middle age and just returned from the Athens Olympics, the New Hampshire man […]

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By Chris Deliso May 26, 2006 (Balkanalysis.com) On Easter, the apple trees were blossoming in Staro Nagoricane, along the lower part of the village near the river, birds singing in the treetops and crickets buzzing in the fields. The little river marks the southern border of the village, separating it from Trnovac and surrounded by […]

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By Chris Deliso, Lonely Planet Travel Writer Denver Post (Dec. 10, 2006) Despite its partially Mediterranean climate, Macedonia in winter can be snowy and cold. No surprise then that the country’s hospitable inhabitants keep warm with copious amounts of food and grog, along with carnivals marked by costumed tomfoolery. Luckily, those traveling through southeastern Europe […]

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By CHRISTOPHER DELISO SKOPJE, Macedonia, July 30, 2003 (UPI) — Macedonia’s tourism industry faces formidable obstacles. Low international visibility and security qualms, as well as infrastructure, transport and financing problems continue to plague. Nevertheless, the largely undeveloped country has potential. Worldwide, industry sub-sectors such as eco-tourism, cultural tours, and mind/body tourism are growing rapidly. Here, […]

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By CHRISTOPHER DELISO SKOPJE, Macedonia, July 29, 2003 (UPI) — One anecdote says it all: a German journalist came to Macedonia, and was overwhelmed with the country’s natural beauty and hospitality. He enthusiastically fired off seven articles, but was dismayed to hear his editor say, “nice articles — but I’m not printing anything good about […]

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