Dubrovnik to Kotor, MonteNegro, - the Land of the Cats

Sunday May 27

It was an early start this morning to drive to the border with Montenegro and on to Kotor. The Sea to Sky has serious competition!! The drive was stunning. The road took us high up along the coast of the teal Adriatic waters. Islands popped out of the shining glass ocean. Limestone cliffs sheared straight out of the water, and beside us on the other side of the road a wall of limestone rock. Two lanes of cars drove sedately along. As we drove into Montenegro, we entered what appeared to be a valley filled with lush green bushes and lined with mountains that rose craggily up into the sky losing their greenery on the way. Small communities merged out of the mass of green; off white stone or concrete houses with the now accustomed terra cotta rooves.

We drove all round the bay down to Kotor where we unloaded and walked the last few hundred metres into the old town, across the square, and up one of the narrow lanes to the Hotel Marinja. The hotel is much older than in Dubrovnik, and although filled with atmosphere is not quite as functional, for example, no usb charging sockets, lights that don’t work, and what appears to be a towel for a top sheet. I later found out there was supposed to be a sheet as well!!

Peter our tour leader took us on a 30 minute introductory walk around the old town of narrow lane-ways filled with shops selling tourist souvenirs, what looked like designer clothing, delicious cakes and ice-creams, jewelery, and anything else that tourists might like. The character in the old town lay in the ancient restored buildings, and the cats. Yes, we even went to the cat museum!! Robin, you would have loved it. A collection of cards, paintings, shows, and caricatures of cats over the ages. Quite amazing. And, complete with the resident cat, lying on the counter, sound, sound, asleep!!

After lunching in one of the squares we decided to take off early (around 4:00) on the climb up to the Fortress. It was still pretty hot, but cooled off on the way up. The climb, about 1500 stairs, gave its reward: spell-binding views over the countryside and the bay. On the way up we stopped for a thousand photos, played with the cats, oogled at the views, and admired the pretty wildflowers.

The way down was easy, and of course more pictures!!

There was time to clean up, change, and off for dinner, following our guide along the waterside to the restaurant, and a dinner of delicious mussels!!!! And wine!! The wine in this region is really very good!