Posts
Two more stops before ending in Venice and we must say we enjoyed the stop at Kotor in Montenegro the most. Montenegro is a small Balkan country with rugged mountains, medieval villages and a narrow strip of beach along its Adriatic coastline. The Bay of Kotor, resembling a fjord, was highly defended as a strategic, deep-water port with a history of pirates maurading the coast. Getting up at 6 am to stand on the deck, we watched our entry through the narrow straight for 1 1/2 hours. Looking like we were at a "dead-end", our ship dwarfed the pier in the small town of Kotor. We walk the maze of lane past a church on every corner, tiny shops, cafes and hundreds of cats-the descendants of seafaring felines-lolling in marble laneways.
From Bembo Bastion in town, the Gurdic Bastion ramparts zig-zag high up on the St. John Mountain that backs the city. The ramparts were never breeched and served to protect the harbor.
We decided to accend the 1355 steps that climbed a 900 elevation. Halfway, the tiny Church of Our Lady of Remedy from 1518, provided a brief resting point and our first geocache in Montenegro!
On top of the mountain are the ruins of the San Giovanni castel at a 280-meter height which dominates the eastern bay, the fortification system and the city. This had the most amazing view and we felt very relieved and proud to have accomplished this feat!!
Karen & her two new "muggle (non geocachers) friends" just had to find the elusive geocache at the top. Following the ramparts, the secret window led down to yet another tiny ruins of a chapel and we found the geocache container. These are always fun when they are in such remote and hard-to-reach areas.
Heading back down the mountain to the town, we followed the ancient "Ladder of Kotor" with more than 70 switchbacks which was originally was the only route the mules and people used to cross over the mountain. Thankfully we were going down!
What a delightful surprise our stop in Kotor was. We treated ourself with a Montenegro beer and cheese burek (like a calzone).
 |
| entering the bay |
 |
 |
| Our Lady of the Rocks built on a "manmade" island |
 |
| Kotor, tucked in at the end of the bay |
From Bembo Bastion in town, the Gurdic Bastion ramparts zig-zag high up on the St. John Mountain that backs the city. The ramparts were never breeched and served to protect the harbor.
We decided to accend the 1355 steps that climbed a 900 elevation. Halfway, the tiny Church of Our Lady of Remedy from 1518, provided a brief resting point and our first geocache in Montenegro!
 |
| just the half-way point.... |
 |
| our first geocache in Montenegro-and well worth the climb |
 |
| this was a Catholic chapel up on the mountain |
On top of the mountain are the ruins of the San Giovanni castel at a 280-meter height which dominates the eastern bay, the fortification system and the city. This had the most amazing view and we felt very relieved and proud to have accomplished this feat!!
 |
| the flag at the top |
Karen & her two new "muggle (non geocachers) friends" just had to find the elusive geocache at the top. Following the ramparts, the secret window led down to yet another tiny ruins of a chapel and we found the geocache container. These are always fun when they are in such remote and hard-to-reach areas.
 |
| the window to climb down through |
 |
| scrambling down to the find the cache |
 |
| I tried to call for the "Uber" but I guess he was on a break |
What a delightful surprise our stop in Kotor was. We treated ourself with a Montenegro beer and cheese burek (like a calzone).
No comments:
Post a Comment