Montenegro is a Balkan country (former Yugoslavia) with rugged mountains, medieval villages and a narrow strip of beaches along its Adriatic coastline. The Bay of Kotor, resembling a fjord, is dotted with coastal churches and fortified towns such as Kotor and Herceg Novi. Durmitor National Park, home to bears and wolves, encompasses limestone peaks, glacial lakes and 1,300m-deep Tara River Canyon.
Flag looks quite Serbianish?
Kotor is situated in a most secluded tip of Boka Kotorska bay, in the northern part of the Montenegro coast on the Adriatic Sea. Kotor has developed around Stari Grad (local language for "old town"), the city's old town and best known landmark, which is listed with UNESCO World heritage sites. Kotor Bay is the deepest natural fjord-like bay in the Mediterranean Sea, and the scenery around it (including the steep mountains which come almost straight down to the waters edge) is spectacular.
OUR LADY OF THE ROCKS
It is currently not known when Kotor was exactly founded, but archaeologists do know it was before the time of Homer and that the city was Greek (IV-VII century BCE) and was home to them as well as the Illyrains and the Romans. It was destroyed by the Visigoths in V century CE, but following that it was ruled by many foreigners. First in 476 CE by the Byzantines, Boka (the other Boca) in the VII century, Slovenians in the X and XI centuries, then by the Serbians in 1185 to 1371, the Venetians from 1420 to 1797, Austrians in 1797, Russians in 1806, France in 1808 to 1813 then Austria again. In the beginning of the 20th century they became part of Yugoslavia and then Serbia, but they finally became independent in 2006
Dubrovnik is everyone's top stop in Croatia. While it's a great city, if you've come this far, make a point to venture into Montenegro — just a quick drive or bus ride south. Europe's youngest nation awaits with a refreshing rough-around-the-edges appeal, the excitement of a giddy new independence.
Bird's eye view of the old town....
MEET COUSIN Dushan
My oh so fabulous "cousin" Dushan and his darling daughter Milena, DROVE 12 HOURS on small winding roads from Kolut, Serbia (northwest corner of the country) for a short but heartfelt visit. We take a stroll through Kotor's old city.
They love Bubba aka Dushan 2.
A coffee and Schweppes encourage family catching up.
Montenegro is generally Orthodox, and shares a strong cultural affinity with Serbia. But while landlocked Serbia can feel businesslike, Montenegro boasts an easygoing seaside spice. With its laid-back Mediterranean orientation, sparkling coastline, and more than its share of Catholic churches (left behind by past Venetian and Austrian rulers), Montenegro also has a lot in common with Croatia.
St. Nicholas Cathedral- a Serbian Orthodox Church- a must see and pray. Bubs suggest that Boca take her time with the praying...
I wonder if they sell icons in there?
A beautiful iconostasis.
We cross and kiss the icons in "our" church.
No Boca, we do not need a brass replica of this church....
Jumbo icons of Saints John, Matthew, Mark and Luke from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior ( in Moscow and one of Boca's fav churches) were painted in 1998 were donated to this church as " a token of gratitude and for the purpose of strengthening the amicable relations between our fraternal orthodox churches".
No Boca, just a tad bit too big for the hacienda.
and another Orthodox Church....
Boca did a little Icon looking but my cousin said the prices were ridiculous- too high don't buy!
Music to Bubba's ears.
And Pleep always enjoy chatting it up with a nun or 10...
The old city is another Unesco site and well worth a visit. Not as big as Dubrovnick but very nice.
Pleep so enjoys a violin tune now and again.
Local version of the kitty pound....
Ok Boca, we are ready to see your ship.
Boca points out that this is something Bub should try...
Don't take the bait Pop!!
Hey, what did you say honey???
We enjoy our lunch and visit with Dushan and Milena and bid a tearful good buy.
Where is Pleep, the ship's getting ready to sail out?
There he is....
Now I can see why he is all about the hot tub.
Attractive tattoo?
Hazy sky but a neat view of a church on the hill....
The Bubba-Boca vacay photo.
Time for some happy hour with the entertainers and yes they are very talented and a lot of fun.
Bubs tried to get one of the gals fixed up with son Nicholas...yeah, here's his info- Facebook the boy! Haven't ya seen his mother's jewelry?
Might as well strike a pose for Nick...
We did end up going to the Magic Show-fell asleep. Anything to do with the Martini's and wine?
And dear Dushan heard about Boca's hooves....so he brought 2 kinds of homemade whiskey for her ailments. One to drink and the other to put on her feet. My feet? YUP.
Not sure if it worked but the homemade brew sure helped the healing process.
