Montenegro, Whats The address?
September 27 to october 4, 2015
Montenegro provided some stunning views and great weather but man, oh man, was it hard to find anything! 'What's the address?' and 'Where are we?' were repeated way too many times while here. This stunning country is on the Adriatic Sea and an overlooked gem in the Balkans. Many people are heading to Croatia right now for waterfront vacations but I could argue you'd find similar experiences for less here. The main thing if you are looking for a beach getaway is to go during the high tourist season because in the off season, towns like Bar were eerily empty.
Podgorica
September 27 to 28, 2015
We had planned on spending more time in Podgorica but, after arrival I realized there really wasn't much for tourists there. We arrived really late at night on the bus and tried to find the hostel we had booked but even with an address, a photo and Google Maps we couldn't find the building! It was insanely frustrating. We had to go to a cafe to get wifi to find another hostel because not many people spoke English or knew where a hostel was. When we did find another one it came with bedbugs and an odd scent.
A few hours the next day on a self-guided tour was all we needed and then we headed straight out. Possibly we just weren't aware of things to do or had just started off on the wrong foot but, even so, I'd recommend it just as a transportation hub.
A few hours the next day on a self-guided tour was all we needed and then we headed straight out. Possibly we just weren't aware of things to do or had just started off on the wrong foot but, even so, I'd recommend it just as a transportation hub.
An article about the protests can be found HERE
Bar
September 29 to 30, 2015
A shockingly empty vacation ghost town. Though bustling in the tourism season, in the off season this little slice of beachside paradise was deserted! Wide pedestrian streets made for vendours and strolling bathing suit-clad visitors were virtually bare. Restaurants, bars, hostels, and beachside stands were still open so the visit was still worthwhile, it was just a little eerie to be somewhere obviously designed for more visitors yet be almost alone.
The city center has a more metropolitan feel, though small, and the old town up in the hillside has a much older and cute set-up. I'd recommend walking up to the old town as the climb through residential streets and olive groves was a nice introduction to Montenegro style.
Once again, however, like in Podgorica, we struggled to find our hostel. There were no street names or house numbers and our hostel ended up being in a residential neighbourhood with no sign and it was only by chance we stumbled across it.
Don't miss seeing the oldest olive tree in the world if you get to Bar! Over 2000 years old!
The city center has a more metropolitan feel, though small, and the old town up in the hillside has a much older and cute set-up. I'd recommend walking up to the old town as the climb through residential streets and olive groves was a nice introduction to Montenegro style.
Once again, however, like in Podgorica, we struggled to find our hostel. There were no street names or house numbers and our hostel ended up being in a residential neighbourhood with no sign and it was only by chance we stumbled across it.
Don't miss seeing the oldest olive tree in the world if you get to Bar! Over 2000 years old!
Kotor
September 30 to october 1, 2015
Kotor was the true highlight of Montenegro for me. The old town within the city walls is fairly large and bustling with a lot of shops, restaurants, and places to stay. The alleys are cute and the buildings well cared for.
The city is arguably situated along the largest fjord in the world and the views from the mountainside fortress are breathtaking! The water is crystal clear and the mountains are seemingly perfect examples of Balkan geography.
Take the long zig-zag trail up the mountainside and enter the fortress from a window at the back. You will want to leave early in the morning before the sun gets to hot and bring a lot of water because the climb is quite long but is totally worth it. One, this avoids you paying entrance fees, but also, Two, there are small homesteads, a church, and a scattering of animals along the way. You can walk down the main route on the steps to the town and get the best of both worlds in a sense.
The city is arguably situated along the largest fjord in the world and the views from the mountainside fortress are breathtaking! The water is crystal clear and the mountains are seemingly perfect examples of Balkan geography.
Take the long zig-zag trail up the mountainside and enter the fortress from a window at the back. You will want to leave early in the morning before the sun gets to hot and bring a lot of water because the climb is quite long but is totally worth it. One, this avoids you paying entrance fees, but also, Two, there are small homesteads, a church, and a scattering of animals along the way. You can walk down the main route on the steps to the town and get the best of both worlds in a sense.
Perast
October 2 to 3, 2015
Perast is a quick ride from Kotor, maybe 40 minutes, by local bus. The town is known for one sight, Our Lady of the Rocks Catholic Church which is located on a small island beside the town. The town itself has a population of less than 400 people so its not that large and has a couple museums and cafes. The walk along the waterfront is a nice, but there's not much more to do there. Definitly a great way to spend an afternoon though and escape the cruise ship crowd.
Country Summary
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