Kotor, Montenegro
Today we are in another one of my favorite places--I think I'm having too many favorites--Kotor, Montenegro. Situated at the end of a fiord-like bay and nestled against the mountains, this medieval fortified city is one of the jewels of the Adriatic. The city has a population of approximately 13,347 inhabitants and serves as the administrative center of Kotor Municipality. Its Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.
Since I was here in April 2015, this morning I am joining a shore excursion, "Coastal Towns--Sveti Stefan and Budva," that will take me to two other towns further south on the Adriatic coastline (Kotor is on a bay that empties into the Adriatic, but not directly on the seacoast). Will stays on board this morning, but after lunch we will both visit Kotor itself.
Because of terrible road conditions due to construction on almost the entire length of highway, the trip to the village of Sveti Stefan, located on a small isthmus at the foot of the Lovcen mountains, takes about an hour. The tour bus stops above the village to give us an opportunity for photos.
The tour buses cling to the side of the road and then take us Budva, just a few miles north.
Budva is the largest town in this part of Montenegro and its modern section has developed into a popular resort with many deluxe hotels and condos.
But we are here to visit Budva's Old Town, built behind fortified walls. Unlike Kotor, which is a UNESCO heritage site and must keeps its renovations consistent with the past, Budva's Old Town is a mix of the old and the new.
The highlights of tonight's dinner are coconut crusted prawns and mesclun and endive salad with mimosa garnish.
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