Montenegro - Gulf of Kotor

Kotor and anchorage

We headed anchored in the bay of Kotor to the right of the Marina and derelict Hotel. The holding and shelter are excellent but it's important not to get close to the marina as the super-yachts it caters to lay huge anchor chains. It is also important not to get too far out into the bay as cruise ships use it for turning.

Kotor Town Wall

We loved the old town - it's unspoiled and well preserved inside a fully functional wall. Unlike most other similar ancient cites on the Dalmation coast, it's not smothered by a huge modern city and is very much alive.

Kotor Street

Kotor Square

Kotor from high on the walls

Above the main town is a vast fortification that climbs up into the sky - an hours hard climb to the top but well worth it for the views and the challenge. Unfortunately, most of the forts on the way and at the top were used by the military in communist times and are filled with rusting, crumbling concrete installations. If you start your climb before 0800, its free and also much cooler and less crowded.

Mausoleum of Petar 2nd on Lovgen

While we were in Kotor, we hired a car and drove up to Lovgen - one of the mountains surrounding Kotor. It's a wonderful old Austrian mountain road that switches back and forth for miles till you get very close to the peak where you leave the car and walk up through a long tunnel to the Mausoleum of Petar II Petrovic-Njegos - the second prince bishop of Montenegro. The mausoleum is very impressive - although it was built by the communist regime against the express wishes of the King.

Climbing to the tunnel

The Philosopher / Poet / King

On the way down, we picked up a lovely pair of Swedish Hitchhikers - and it was just as well as the gearbox packed up and I was only able to get into 3rd, 4th and 5th. No low gears or reverse! We had planned somemore sight-seeing but cut it a bit short in case the clutch burned out too or we had to stop on an uphill slope. Even so, L and our friends had to push a couple of times.

Old Mill water gardens

The Restaurant itself.

We spent a night in Morinj which is a tiny village at the head of one of the lakes. The village itself is not very special but the restaurant "Catovica Mlini" (which I think means "Old Mill". We were recommended to try it by a Serbian Professor we got talking to in Kotor. It's not cheap (it cost us €100 including tip and wine) for one of the best meals we have had anywhere. Superb surroundings (Even has its own helipad), great food and excellent service.

After Morinj, passed the very picturesque island monastery and church of St George and the small town of Perast and then anchored off the tiny uninhabited island of Krtole near Tivat. A peaceful little spot. From there we went across to the gas refill station who happily filled our Greek gas bottle and very old Camping gas one. Poor L got shouted a by a policeman while she minded Rosa while anchored rather close to the end of the airport flight path and had to pull up the anchor and move PDQ. Definitely not a good idea - anchoring by the Island and then using the Dinghy works fine though.

Our final stop in the Gulf was Herceg Novi. We used the very reasonable marina as we wanted to fill up with water and fuel. Its a charming little town set on the side of a mountain although slightly marred by the very loud beach bar at the end of the harbour. We were running out of time so we didn't have time to explore the impressive fortifications.