My trip to Croatia marked the 27thcountry I have been to. While I was there, though, why not make it 28? The Balkan countries are quite small, so it’s super easy to travel within them. So, I decided to take a day trip to Montenegro.
I originally planned to rent a car and drive there myself, but I got a little anxiety about driving there about a week before the trip. Instead, I decided to book a tour and went by bus. The bus was full of people from all over the world, but it was still a great way to see a new country. Our guide told us information about the different places we would see and some of the history of the country.
Before going to Montenegro, I had no idea how new the country is. Montenegro only became an independent state back in 2006, gaining its independence from Serbia. Additionally, the country has a population of less than 700,000. Only Vermont and Wyoming have smaller populations. The name Montenegro also derives its name from the black mountains around the country. Montenegro doesn’t sound very Slavic, though, does it? No, it was named by Italians.
Our Lady of the Rocks
Our first stop on the tour was to the only artificial island in Montenegro. Many people died in the harbor where this island is located due to shipwrecks. One day, two Venetian men found a portrait of Virgin Mary floating in the water. In that spot, they decided to build an island dedicated to her. The island took 200 years to build. They then named it Our Lady of the Rocks.
The island itself is very small. The only way to get there is by taking a boat from the shore. There is a church, a gift shop, and a bathroom. That’s it. Apparently, the church is spectacular and filled with some beautiful tapestries, but because we had a limited time and there were a thousand tour groups there, I wasn’t able to go inside.
Kotor
Very close to Our Lady of the Rocks is the city is Kotor. During the spring and summer, many cruises pull into the harbor. It’s a medieval city, often compared to Dubrovnik. City walls surround and protect the city. Unlike in Dubrovnik, they are free to walk around. Inside the city walls, there are many narrow and winding streets full of shops and restaurants.
We only have two hours to spend in Kotor, so I decided to do something grand. Rather than walk around the streets, being tempted to spend money, I decided to climb the mountain. Behind the city, there is a mountain with a fortress at the top. I was told it takes 30 minutes to climb up, and another 30 minutes to climb down. Well … it took me 35 to go up, and 30 to go down. I think I walked pretty fast, too.
If you’re interested in climbing the mountain, it costs €8. There are small sets of steps on the side, but I found myself walking on the rocks and gravel on the way up. The steps were usually used by the people coming back down. Halfway through the hike, there is a small chapel called Church of Our Lady of Remedy. It’s pretty small, but it can provide a good rest if you need it while climbing.
After the church, I continued to climb up to the top. At the top, there is a fortress, Fort Giovanni, or St. George. Once, the Venetians sat at the top, keeping an eye out for the people that may try to invade the city. Nowadays, it is abandoned, but it provides some amazing views over the city. There are many little nooks and crannies to explore and get a unique view.
Although I started sweating almost immediately and my legs felt like jelly after, if you have the time and energy to do it, I recommend climbing this mountain. It offers some really great views over the city and the harbor. I was pretty amazed at the number of small children just hopping around the stairs. However, it’s important to be careful. There are many rocks, so I saw several people slip and fall. I even twisted my ankle stepping down the stairs myself.
Budva
Our final stop on our day in Montenegro was to the city of Budva. Budva is a hot vacation spot. There are many clubs in this city, so it’s a big party destination. All around the town, you can city advertisements for the clubs. Many celebrities even come to them.
Aside from being a party destination, Budva also has sandy beaches. In the summer, tourists flock to the beaches. In the middle of the Old Town, there is a hole in the wall that takes you to a beach. It’s definitely a weird site to see.
Budva is a pretty small city, but it still has some life. It also has city walls around the Old Town, as well as both Catholic and Orthodox churches. I spent most of my time in Budva trying to find food and ATM, so I didn’t see too much of the city. However, I did find Harry Potter in Serbian. I was hoping to find a Cyrillic version, but I was only able to find the Latin version … and they didn’t have the first book, either. Well, I still have another version of Harry Potter!
Do Something Different
If you have some time to spare while in Dubrovnik or Croatia, Montenegro is definitely a good place to see. It’s not a country that many people have seen or even know much about.
My one word of warning: neither Croatia or Montenegro are part of the Schengen area, so you have to do a border crossing to get into the country. On our way into Montenegro, we were waiting for at least 30 minutes, and the way back, we were waiting for over an hour. There’s also an interesting space called “No Man’s Land” between the borders for Croatia and Montenegro, so you have to go through two border crossings, technically.
However, like I said, if you have some time, it is definitely a good experience to learn about a different country and culture!
1 Comment
Thanks, again! Love the little country!