Budva - Kotor 🇲🇪

Wow! Wow! Wow!

I woke to sunshine and calm seas and had my brekky on the hostel balcony with old town views. 

Then packed and walked to the bus station. 

Caught the local bus to Kotor and again the only tourist on board.  Amazing views of the coast as the road climbs a big hill before descending down the other side.  The entry to Kotor is breathtaking with sheer mountains all around with a harbour and marina.  A short walk from the bus station to the old town where my hostel is located.  

I dumped my backpack at reception as too early to checkin, and went straight out to do a hike that had been suggested.  

"The Ladder of Kotor" is a steep hike with 70 switchbacks up to Krstac Pass. It is a historic mule track, which was built in the 19th century by the Austrians, in order to connect Kotor with Njeguši and Cetinje, Montenegro's former royal capital.  The views are breathtaking and at each switchback turn I didn't think it could get any better, but it did! 

The path runs near the old fortress which looks over the town, but you end up looking down on it from above.

I saw a few other hikers on the route.  I didn't make it over the other side to a village as I was conscious of the early sunset and wanted to descend in daylight.  I met an Aussie couple from Noosa at the top and we walked and talked our way down. It took 3hrs to walk up and 2hrs to come down. All up 16kms, 25,000 steps walked today.

I checked into my beautiful hostel with marina views from the window. 

So far I've met a friendly Korean guy on his first overseas adventure and an American girl travelling for 5 months now.  

Lovely Mediterranean dinner at a backstreet restaurant.

Fabulous day and hoping for more sunshine tomorrow 😊

Budva 🇲🇪

Morning thunderstorms and rough seas made for an inside morning chatting with others at the hostel. 
I braved the weather at lunchtime and the coastal walk i did yesterday would not have been possible today due to the raging seas crashing over the path.  The boats in the marina bobbing up and down.

After lunch I spent time wandering the little alleys of the Old Town, originally built in the 9th century but suffered a lot of damage in an earthquake and was repaired in 17th century. 

I visited the Citadel (castle) perched at the entrance to the harbour.  The views to the headland and islands beautiful, even in the rough weather.  The castle walls.closed today for safety due to the strength of the wind.

Saw some Roman ruins from 1st century BC.  They just have a simple.sign and a few cats watching over them.  I went inside the tiny Holy Trinity church with painted frescoes with gold leaf!

I sat on the castle wall and watched the sunset, storm clouds and crashing seas 😊. Then paid a visit to my pasta making friend for round 2 of hand rolled pasta 😊

A chilled evening on the lounge sharing travel tips and stories with Canadian, Serbian, Russian and Croatian travellers.  I have managed to score an 8 bed room to myself tonight!