“are your bags, have your passports also. Welcome to Montenegro!”, from Switzerland travelled Chauffeur and tour guide Edi Rohde, originally Montenegrins calls. Some of the passengers don’t know whether to laugh. You are here for the first Time. However, in the following days you will get used to it, that the Humor in the Balkans is black. As black as the approaching night, the Bus crosses the border between Croatia and Montenegro. The border official is very surprised when she enters the Bus. “Not bad.” Quiet the model Deluxe rocking armchairs with leather, power sockets, coffee maker, map display on the screens along the Velebit mountain in the direction of Herceg Novi. Passengers, baggage and passports are safe on the way to the first Hotel.

The next day we set sail, in front of us on the Peninsula Lustica. On the way we cross the path of another boat. The sailor grins and made enough for a bottle of liquor – “domaca”, house. He should be on the small habit of the little swallow “domaca” in between. Our companion – in the meantime, the local tour guide Miljan Marsenic is increased.

you do not need to drink Montenegro. The glass impressed clear water in front of Herceg Novi, astonished the travelers sit in the Blue grotto through the railing. Everything seems to be in turquoise immersed in water, the stones on the sea floor, as through a magnifying glass increases. A first magical Moment.

The Adriatic sea is our faithful companion on the journey along the four bays around Kotor. On the other side of the bus, “Crne Gore”, the black mountains. You plunge almost vertically into the deep Blue. In the middle of the “Jadranska Magistrala”, the Adria Magistrale. This coastal road is curvy, narrow, and scraping Branches in the window panes. The liquor is not wrong for sure. The breath it takes a still – when you Stop at the sea close in front of Perast. In front of us an Arena of Rock, behind it the mountains rising blue from the haze, gently, vastly. It again a shot.

the Mediterranean Palästeals tourist magnet

the bays were flourished before Kotor a lot of value, trade and seafaring. Illyrians, Romans, Venetians, and later the Austrians, the troops of Napoleon, Orthodox, Muslims, Catholics – in the area around Kotor and Perast did a lot of holding. Captains and Sailors of that time returned often back to Perast, island Gospa od Skrpjela (Our lady of the rocks), to thank for their rescue and safe return. They brought hand-painted pictures of their ships, lanterns, and ropes. To see you in the rooms of the art fully painted chapel from the 17th century. Century.

thanks to the cruise shipping is experiencing a boom. Fortunately, the Swiss coach will not learn the Kotor in the summer peak season. In the low season you can stroll undisturbed through the paving stones and admire the magnificent palaces and balconies. A traditional lunch in the Pescaria Dekaderon is recommended. The hearty snack with a lot of meat, you need to climb to the fortress above Kotor. From here, you look over the mosaic-tiled roofs and the Bay of Kotor. All of them are under the protection of Unesco.

Its very own charm, shows us the next day Cetinje in the high country, in the midst of a landscape of inhospitable rocks. Today, a bit sleepy, was Cetinje monarch up to the First world war, the country’s capital and seat of major Mona. The Palace of Nikola I can imagine how sumptuous and war it is then submitted to must be. Of gorgeous vestments and massive saber-witnesses. One of Cetinjes bishops, Petar II Petrovic Prince-Njegos, is dedicated to the Mausoleum on mount Lovcen. Njegos is revered until today. He is the author of the national epic “The mountain wreath” (“Gorski Vijenac”). The Croatian sculptor legend Ivan Mestrovic was commissioned personally by Tito, to design the Mausoleum should be built over the original tomb chapel of 1854,.

enlarge map

Our road to the Lovcen, a Local with a smaller vehicle, which fits differently than the Eurobus, the 180-degree-curves of the one-lane road. With a SIP of brandy it looks better to the wild landscape, to hear the we look at stories about the mountain devil. They were seen as warriors with long hair and Blowing your nose that roamed the mountains, the heads of the beheaded opponents in the Luggage. The stories about wild men soft the two women made of light-coloured stone. Stoically, the statues guarding the Mausoleum, which is swallowed by the fog.

below, in a green plain, waiting for the next attraction: Njegusi, the ham village. At best, the smoked taste, thinly sliced meat in one of the small houses made of stone, served with locally produced cheese and other specialities and a glass of brandy.

minced meat sausages between prefabricated buildings

may be as entertaining as the black Humor of the tour guide and driver, so thoughtful you are to make the travellers. They tell of the life beyond tourism – unemployment, low wages, emigration. In Montenegro, life is only partially predictable. This is also our journey: bus driver Rohde and tour guide Marsenic shows improvising with heart blood. Unplanned stops are not inserted because another didn’t work out. The boat ride on the stormy lake Scutari postponed the visit two more Orthodox monasteries, instead of just one, a offeriertes lunch with pita and Cevapi – minced meat sausages – plate buildings in the socialist city of Bar. It is these moments that make this trip more than a normal holiday with a folklore evening.

“I burn for this country and this fire would says also in another kindle”, Marsenic. Without him, and Rohde, the spark would ignite the beauty of the nature is impressive. However, with the perfect Duo of the fire for Montenegro burns much more. Whether with or without the “domaca”.

The trip was supported by Eurobus. (editor-in-Tamedia)

Created: 01.03.2019, 15:47 PM