Montenegro 2023

This collage sums up the holiday. Overall, it was more mountainous than we expected. Despite the rugged limestone cliffs and mountains, there were lots of trees.

For every evening meal we ate with some great people from Wales, Suffolk and Cornwall shown in the photo. They were a very nice group and we much enjoyed their company and humour. 

The very last day involved an early start with a packed breakfast/lunch to get us back to the airport at Tivat from Holasin.  We went on a new motorway some of the way. This was financed with Chinese money. The journey to the airport was uneventful. The airport was very busy with nowhere to sit at first. The plan arrived on time but was delayed taking off by air traffic control. We were home at teatime in a Saga taxi shared with a couple from Ware. Overall, a good holiday, but too many steps! We both think Saga/Titan should mention this in their brochures.

This morning we visited Biogradska Gora which is a National Park.  A couple were celebrating a birthday, so we shared the small cake and sang happy birthday! This afternoon we walked around Holasin and grabbed lunch. Two toasted sandwiches with chips, 0.33l beer and a lime and lemon total for just 8.7 euros total.  In the evening before dinner we attended a concert given by local people in national costumes. It was a mix of song and dance. Copyright issues prevent me publishing photos.

This reminded me of Yosemite in the USA with its towering sides. It's supposed to be the deepest canyon in Europe and the second longest in the world after the Grand Canyon in the USA.  We had lunch (best lamb I have ever eaten) at the highest place in the Balkans.  The bridge, high over the canyon, was built in the early 1940s.

On Friday we moved from the coast of Montenegro to the mountains to stay 3 nights at Hotel Bianca in Kolasin. We travelled via Lake Skadar having lunch on an island in the lake. The photo shows water chestnuts. 

This was a quiet day. We spent some of the morning writing postcards and people watching in Budva old town.  We had lunch overlooking the harbour. Much of the afternoon was spent reading on our hotel balcony. It was less hot. 

After a good breakfast, this morning was in Porto Montenegro (Tivat) and then up a torturous mountain road with 25 hairpin bends and some spectacular views. Simple lunch of local ham and cheese at rural restaurant. Afterwards we went to Cetinje, which was the ancient capital city. The modern capital is Podgorica.

This afternoon after a rest we went for a walk in the old town in Budva. This dog that was too hot. 

We flew from Gatwick almost on time.  Hotel Avala is amazing with good views and a private balcony. 

Our Saga taxi arrived on time and we are staying at the Premier Inn Gatwick North. We had the meal deal. 

We are packing awaiting the SAGA taxi due at 1.40pm. Our flight is due to leave at 7am Monday September 11th 2023, so we are staying a night at the Premier Inn at Gatwick North.