Montenegro - Seas Every Opportunity
It's Wednesday my dudes. Also time for a brief update on what's been going on, if you're still curious. I've spent the last week in the ever so gorgeous Montenegro.
My bus rides have been pretty spectacular but I have to say this one from Sarajevo to Kotor has definitely made its way to the top. Once we were in Montenegro I was truly amazed at how beautiful it was. Yeah it had the nice Mediterranean Sea coast line but next to that were huge mountains towering over the sea. Jacob said, besides Iceland, Montenegro was the most beautiful places he went to. I can see its appeal.
My time in Montenegro was most definitely not as wholesome and cultural as Bosnia. What really made my trip here were the hostels. I had booked three nights and old town hostel and they just so conveniently had a policy that you get two extra free nights stay. Well ok if you insist. It was located right in the old town that looked exactly how your ideal European cute town would look (Kinda like Ljubljana but more snuggly). Kotor is full of narrow alleyways with cobblestone streets and cats and some super cheesy Celine dion flute playing. It's quite cute. Day one I was really feeling it so I hiked to the top of the fort with my pal Etienne through the back way aka the cheap way because you don't have to pay 8 euros. We were rewarded with some stunning views over Kotor bay. This was also where I met my tulip farmer Jaap, Québécois Louie, and my favorite Parisiens Louisa and Agathe. Honestly the days were pretty chill here. After spending so much time reading and thinking about the Bosnian war and history, I was ready to take it easy. The second night at Kotor we all went up to the top of an abandoned building to watch the sunset. The views are absolutely insane. It was a complete 360 of mountains along with the Kotor bay and some great house tunes from dj Milos. I was also acquainted with 3 legendary brothers (and friend but it's just easier to say brothers), Jack, Hugo, and Rupert. Montenegro was more about the people than the place for me, but having said that I did do a rafting trip with Jaap, Louisa, and Agathe the next day which took us up to the Bosnian border. I think my trip thus far has been focused on beautiful bodies of water. The Tara river is unlike any blue I've seen. We were all a bit nervous for the rafting because they said class 5 which sounds a bit scary. The guides always make it worthwhile although our guide didn't quite fully appreciate my raft guide jokes. I blame it on my horrible Bosnian. At one point a group of rafters had stopped on the Bosnian side of the river and our guide asked for a beer. They threw it but I got sucked up in the rapids. BUT I kid you not about 5 minutes later we're meandering down the river when a beautiful Nicksicko pops up right next to us. Victory! Overall solid day with solid people. I can now check rafting in Montenegro off the list. My last few days in Kotor were spent hanging with all the lovely people at the hostel which includes but was not limited to: learning two step from Calgary ranch man. Sean, playing my prom playlist to my girls Sophie and Jules, and listening to some Jimi with my love Noel. It was until one of the last nights when I was wandering back home that I got lost (cobblestone streets get me every time). I was looking for pizza but found something even better. Six sisters and bartenders had just closed their restaurant for the night and invited me in to drink with them. A couple of beers later and we're all singing songs in Montenegran. I thought I had to return to see the bos the next morning who treated us to a killer veggie omelet and also gave me a pink sunhat. Kotor was finished off with a boat cruise around the bay with all the gems that have been mentioned here as well as My fave Stephan and Harriet and all the other cool people that worked there.
My plan was to head to Budva after Kotor but I heard so many amazing things about his new hostel that had opened up in a town called Bar closer to Albania. I managed to do a day trip to Budva and thought "yeah I got the jist" and decided to go to Bar instead. This was definitely one of the best choices I've made on this trip, maybe even ever. My friend Hayden told me about this hostel in Split, but it wasn't until Rupert also mentioned it that I was like well might as well give it a go. It was quite.a journey getting there as my maps took me down what seemed like a goat herd track of some sort through the mountains. I also got chased by a dog (not in the fun sense). It was so worth it though. It was that night when I was sitting down to a cous cous salad with soy meat listening to Dire Straits that I felt like I was at home. I'm sure many of you know about the infamous Wangdangdoodle which is truly a part of our neighborhood's identity and for me a place where I've made some of my fondest memories. The Grove (the hostel) felt like a wangdangdoodle. The people there were of course amazing as well. I had either the nicest, funniest, or most ineteresting encounter with every person there. There were so many people from different walks of life. I also was reunited with Jack, Hugo, and Rupert. Luckily there was a cancellation on Saturday night so I was convinced to stay an extra night for the opening party (although sadly I missed my reunion with Hayden in Tirana). All the music acts were incredible. @Jay Whetzel we need to get these people to come to the farm. It just baffles me that I could find this little slice of home in a restored olive mill in the mountains of Montenegro. I can always use a little piece of home.
Montenegro was just really fun. There's not better way to put it. Each place and country has different memories and meanings for me. If I had to pick one word that described Montenegro, it would joy.
My bus rides have been pretty spectacular but I have to say this one from Sarajevo to Kotor has definitely made its way to the top. Once we were in Montenegro I was truly amazed at how beautiful it was. Yeah it had the nice Mediterranean Sea coast line but next to that were huge mountains towering over the sea. Jacob said, besides Iceland, Montenegro was the most beautiful places he went to. I can see its appeal.
My time in Montenegro was most definitely not as wholesome and cultural as Bosnia. What really made my trip here were the hostels. I had booked three nights and old town hostel and they just so conveniently had a policy that you get two extra free nights stay. Well ok if you insist. It was located right in the old town that looked exactly how your ideal European cute town would look (Kinda like Ljubljana but more snuggly). Kotor is full of narrow alleyways with cobblestone streets and cats and some super cheesy Celine dion flute playing. It's quite cute. Day one I was really feeling it so I hiked to the top of the fort with my pal Etienne through the back way aka the cheap way because you don't have to pay 8 euros. We were rewarded with some stunning views over Kotor bay. This was also where I met my tulip farmer Jaap, Québécois Louie, and my favorite Parisiens Louisa and Agathe. Honestly the days were pretty chill here. After spending so much time reading and thinking about the Bosnian war and history, I was ready to take it easy. The second night at Kotor we all went up to the top of an abandoned building to watch the sunset. The views are absolutely insane. It was a complete 360 of mountains along with the Kotor bay and some great house tunes from dj Milos. I was also acquainted with 3 legendary brothers (and friend but it's just easier to say brothers), Jack, Hugo, and Rupert. Montenegro was more about the people than the place for me, but having said that I did do a rafting trip with Jaap, Louisa, and Agathe the next day which took us up to the Bosnian border. I think my trip thus far has been focused on beautiful bodies of water. The Tara river is unlike any blue I've seen. We were all a bit nervous for the rafting because they said class 5 which sounds a bit scary. The guides always make it worthwhile although our guide didn't quite fully appreciate my raft guide jokes. I blame it on my horrible Bosnian. At one point a group of rafters had stopped on the Bosnian side of the river and our guide asked for a beer. They threw it but I got sucked up in the rapids. BUT I kid you not about 5 minutes later we're meandering down the river when a beautiful Nicksicko pops up right next to us. Victory! Overall solid day with solid people. I can now check rafting in Montenegro off the list. My last few days in Kotor were spent hanging with all the lovely people at the hostel which includes but was not limited to: learning two step from Calgary ranch man. Sean, playing my prom playlist to my girls Sophie and Jules, and listening to some Jimi with my love Noel. It was until one of the last nights when I was wandering back home that I got lost (cobblestone streets get me every time). I was looking for pizza but found something even better. Six sisters and bartenders had just closed their restaurant for the night and invited me in to drink with them. A couple of beers later and we're all singing songs in Montenegran. I thought I had to return to see the bos the next morning who treated us to a killer veggie omelet and also gave me a pink sunhat. Kotor was finished off with a boat cruise around the bay with all the gems that have been mentioned here as well as My fave Stephan and Harriet and all the other cool people that worked there.
My plan was to head to Budva after Kotor but I heard so many amazing things about his new hostel that had opened up in a town called Bar closer to Albania. I managed to do a day trip to Budva and thought "yeah I got the jist" and decided to go to Bar instead. This was definitely one of the best choices I've made on this trip, maybe even ever. My friend Hayden told me about this hostel in Split, but it wasn't until Rupert also mentioned it that I was like well might as well give it a go. It was quite.a journey getting there as my maps took me down what seemed like a goat herd track of some sort through the mountains. I also got chased by a dog (not in the fun sense). It was so worth it though. It was that night when I was sitting down to a cous cous salad with soy meat listening to Dire Straits that I felt like I was at home. I'm sure many of you know about the infamous Wangdangdoodle which is truly a part of our neighborhood's identity and for me a place where I've made some of my fondest memories. The Grove (the hostel) felt like a wangdangdoodle. The people there were of course amazing as well. I had either the nicest, funniest, or most ineteresting encounter with every person there. There were so many people from different walks of life. I also was reunited with Jack, Hugo, and Rupert. Luckily there was a cancellation on Saturday night so I was convinced to stay an extra night for the opening party (although sadly I missed my reunion with Hayden in Tirana). All the music acts were incredible. @Jay Whetzel we need to get these people to come to the farm. It just baffles me that I could find this little slice of home in a restored olive mill in the mountains of Montenegro. I can always use a little piece of home.
Montenegro was just really fun. There's not better way to put it. Each place and country has different memories and meanings for me. If I had to pick one word that described Montenegro, it would joy.
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