June 30 - July 2
Hotel: Apartments S&P 40 euro per night. The unit is great! The owners are extremely nice and welcomed us with juice and fresh fruit. It is a short walk to the city walls and is very dog friendly. Free parking and WiFi.
Currency: Euro
Currency: Euro
Dog friendliness: High. We didn't have any issues walking or eating outside with her. People enjoyed walking over and petting her as well.
Montenegro, Crna Gora, was first mentioned in 1276. The name originated from the forest that covered Mount Lovcen and the surrounding areas, known to be very dark, hence Montenegro = black Mountain. The country declared independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro on 3 June 2006 and it applied for EU membership in 2008.
We enjoyed driving through Montenegro and watching the landscape vary between beautiful mountains, sapphire beaches to elegant towns. We crossed the border at Vraćenovići Border Crossing and drove straight to the Bay of Kotor. I would advise getting gas before crossing because there is practically nothing for a decent amount of time after that check point.
Kotor City
Kotor is set between dramatic mountains and the bay. The city was built between the 12th and 14th centuries and it is filled with medieval architecture, narrow streets and squares, and a beautiful waterfront. One of the most prominent features of the city are the ancient walls which cascade down the mountain to the lower area. The walls almost blend into the surroundings while still standing strong where they once protected the Kotor from invading armies. The walls are more than 4 km long [2.5 miles] and 360 meters [850 ft] high. Visitors can climb along the walls for stunning views of the bay and the city.
Kotor is also where PJ first fell in love with Ajvar, a spicy spread of fried red peppers and eggplant, seasoned with garlic, salt, vinegar and oil.
Old City
Waterfront
Budva Riviera
While reading about the beaches of Montenegro I came across a website which stated that prior to the war, Montenegro was quite the destination for Hollywood stars such as Sophia Lorena, Kirk Douglass and Sylvester Stallone.
Becici beach is located in the Budva area along the Adriatic and is only a thirty minute drive from Kotor. Most of the beach is sandy, while a few areas are filled with colorful pebbles. It is not for the beach-goer looking for solitude, but it is a great beach. PJ let out his inner child when he saw the inflated slides and swam out to jump off the top. We had a great time laying out and cooling off in the water.
Sveti Stefan Beach
Initially I thought about going here to lay out, but Becici seemed like a more fun option at the time and I wasn't sure if the beach was public or private. Sveti Stefan is most known for connecting with a tiny fortress like island. Between the 1960s-80s the island was home to the most luxurious resort on the Adriatic and, after some turbulent years, is back to being an elite and expensive vacation spot.
The beach to the north of the island is more elite, where one must pay 75 euro for 2 sun beds and an umbrella. The beach to the south is pubic, but has pebbles instead of soft sand. Chairs and umbrellas can be rented for a cheaper price in this area.
Lovćen National Park
The Lovćen National Park is located in the Dinara Alps and steeply rises from the Budva Region. The "Black Mountain" is 1749 meters [5738.19 ft] high while the park is composed of 6220 acres. Within the park is the mausoleum of Peter II Petrovic Njegos, the former Montenegrin ruler and poet. The mausoleum is atop 461 stairs, which is quite exhausting, and lends itself to beautiful views over the region.
In order to get to this mausoleum, one must drive along an incredibly narrow, winding road to a small parking area. Lovćen road, described by some as one of the world's most dangerous drives, is well worth the hairpin turns and narrow spaces. In most areas the road is wide enough for a single car, however it is a two way street. Moving to let people pass becomes almost a game of "who has less of a chance to fall off the mountain." It got really interesting when a tour bus was coming in the opposite direction!
The road has about 25 bends as it rises from the Bay of Kotor and there are only a few areas with safety barriers. Along the steep incline there are views of the bay, across Boka Kotorska, the Lustica peninsula and over the Adriatic sea.
Until next time…
We enjoyed driving through Montenegro and watching the landscape vary between beautiful mountains, sapphire beaches to elegant towns. We crossed the border at Vraćenovići Border Crossing and drove straight to the Bay of Kotor. I would advise getting gas before crossing because there is practically nothing for a decent amount of time after that check point.
 |
| The open road |
 |
| Kotor Bay from above |
 |
| Kotor Bay from above |
 |
| Our Lady of the Rocks |
Kotor City
Kotor is set between dramatic mountains and the bay. The city was built between the 12th and 14th centuries and it is filled with medieval architecture, narrow streets and squares, and a beautiful waterfront. One of the most prominent features of the city are the ancient walls which cascade down the mountain to the lower area. The walls almost blend into the surroundings while still standing strong where they once protected the Kotor from invading armies. The walls are more than 4 km long [2.5 miles] and 360 meters [850 ft] high. Visitors can climb along the walls for stunning views of the bay and the city.
Kotor is also where PJ first fell in love with Ajvar, a spicy spread of fried red peppers and eggplant, seasoned with garlic, salt, vinegar and oil.
Old City
 |
| Watch out for the shark! |
Waterfront
 |
| Amazing light during sunset |
Budva Riviera
While reading about the beaches of Montenegro I came across a website which stated that prior to the war, Montenegro was quite the destination for Hollywood stars such as Sophia Lorena, Kirk Douglass and Sylvester Stallone.
Becici beach is located in the Budva area along the Adriatic and is only a thirty minute drive from Kotor. Most of the beach is sandy, while a few areas are filled with colorful pebbles. It is not for the beach-goer looking for solitude, but it is a great beach. PJ let out his inner child when he saw the inflated slides and swam out to jump off the top. We had a great time laying out and cooling off in the water.
Sveti Stefan Beach
Initially I thought about going here to lay out, but Becici seemed like a more fun option at the time and I wasn't sure if the beach was public or private. Sveti Stefan is most known for connecting with a tiny fortress like island. Between the 1960s-80s the island was home to the most luxurious resort on the Adriatic and, after some turbulent years, is back to being an elite and expensive vacation spot.
The beach to the north of the island is more elite, where one must pay 75 euro for 2 sun beds and an umbrella. The beach to the south is pubic, but has pebbles instead of soft sand. Chairs and umbrellas can be rented for a cheaper price in this area.
Lovćen National Park
The Lovćen National Park is located in the Dinara Alps and steeply rises from the Budva Region. The "Black Mountain" is 1749 meters [5738.19 ft] high while the park is composed of 6220 acres. Within the park is the mausoleum of Peter II Petrovic Njegos, the former Montenegrin ruler and poet. The mausoleum is atop 461 stairs, which is quite exhausting, and lends itself to beautiful views over the region.
In order to get to this mausoleum, one must drive along an incredibly narrow, winding road to a small parking area. Lovćen road, described by some as one of the world's most dangerous drives, is well worth the hairpin turns and narrow spaces. In most areas the road is wide enough for a single car, however it is a two way street. Moving to let people pass becomes almost a game of "who has less of a chance to fall off the mountain." It got really interesting when a tour bus was coming in the opposite direction!
The road has about 25 bends as it rises from the Bay of Kotor and there are only a few areas with safety barriers. Along the steep incline there are views of the bay, across Boka Kotorska, the Lustica peninsula and over the Adriatic sea.
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