MONTENEGRO
All kinds of excursions are sold on the way to Lapad beach. We walked around a bit, looked around, asked for interest how much excursions cost for Russian speakers, we already know from the experience of other countries that they are always more expensive. In one travel agency, they bargained for 230 kunas per person, I don’t remember the name of the travel agency, but on the receipt there is LEA TRAVEL Vukovarska 22. The tour was conducted in English, but everything was accessible, understandable, a couple of times we didn’t completely understood, but the son translated to us more precisely.
Small minibus with a very pleasant guide and driver. The tourists were English-speaking, and we were put on the very first row as “not quite so”, the guide often turned to us and asked if we understood everything?
At first, the road went along the seashore with breathtaking views, then it went deep into the mainland. I was glad that we didn’t go by car, firstly, it was possible to relax and not follow the road, secondly, there were enough stops to take photos, otherwise it’s very problematic with my men, because stops are made either by necessity gas station, or under the threat that I myself will sit behind the wheel.
We traveled, probably, the entire coast of the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), and here the nature is of unique beauty... Not a big stop in the city of Kotor, the old city with medieval walls of the 12th century, of course, is impressive. We entered the old city, of course, through the main entrance - the Sea Gate. We walked a little inside the walls, there is also a lot done for tourists: cafes, souvenir shops, boutiques... We went into the old Cathedral of St. Tryphon, which was built back in the 11th century, then it was rebuilt after the earthquake... yes , such old buildings here, of course, that everything is under the protection of UNESCO. And the city walls stretch up into the mountains, where they are already dilapidated, but what is interesting, how were they built there? Back in those distant times, in the absence of technology, on very steep mountains? There is a fortress of St. Ivan at the top, but for lack of time, of course, we did not go up there. I can imagine the views from there. . . Here, in the old town, there is a port with many different yachts, and just there was a cruise liner, so huge. If you look at him a little from afar, it seems that he is driving along the road along with the cars. The tour of the city is over and then we are heading to Budva.
I didn’t like the road at all, a lot of abandoned land, overgrown with weeds, sometimes with heaps of garbage, destroyed, unfinished houses, miserable houses, unfinished hotels... they are not just unfinished, there are empty boxes, construction is not ongoing, frozen, and you can see that is not a year old. Every fifth sign or sign in Russian reminded me of Poland in some way.
Of course, we passed all this and arrived at a magnificent observation deck, which overlooks the unique island-hotel of St. Stephen, in which the “beautiful and famous” of this world rested and rest. Stop-photoshoot and further to Budva.
Budva, as such, we actually didn’t see, we didn’t even get a sightseeing tour of the city. Of course, I would like to see the historical center, fortifications, medieval towers... but, alas! We were brought to the beach, I don’t know what it’s called, and they gave us some free time, 2-2.5 hours.
We did not like the beach at all, at first there were some boats, we went further, then there was something like sand, you can swim without slippers. The sea is cloudy-cold and as calm as water in a reservoir. Did not like. And everywhere there is "loud" Russian speech, sometimes with obscenities. . . I don't like that! If I come to some country, I want people around me to speak in a language that I do not understand, I must feel that I am in another country. I never shy away from Russian-speakers, if they turn to me, I’m always ready to help, if I myself know something, but to relax where every second speaks Russian... this is no longer the atmosphere of a foreign state. In Croatia, they also met “ours”, sometimes they exchanged impressions about the country, but this was not often and somehow not intrusive, sometimes children played on the beach... adults spoke in an undertone to each other... but somehow this did not bother .
Then we went to a restaurant for lunch, and there every now and then shouts were heard: waiter, bring us garlic and bread! The restaurant itself is not bad, but expensive, lunch cost us 75.00 euros. If we compare it with an exemplary restaurant and ordered dishes in Germany, then we will be 2 times cheaper.
Our small group gathered and we drove back. Now we did not go around the Bay of Kotor, we crossed it by ferry, in the Veriga Strait and thus shortened the path. The tour is over, the impressions are twofold: I liked the landscape of Montenegro, but there is some disorder, unkemptness, I think that we will not return there soon.
