Montenegro

From Dubrovnik, we took a day tour to Montenegro. I had heard that this is the best time to visit Montenegro as it isn't very touristy yet but is developing rapidly following its independence from Serbia. Plus it is getting more popular since part of The James Bond movie, Casino Royale, was filmed here, and the exclusive Sveti Stefan islet (see below) was just reconverted into a resort by Aman hotels. According to our tour guide, the town of Budva, with a local population of 22,000, is now home to 500 millionaires!!! Many foreigners were interested in investing in the area in recent years, and paid large sums to local landowners, catapulting them to millionaire status.

Our first stop was the town of Kotor, at the mouth of the Bay of Kotor. The bright blue water in contrast with the lush mountains (Montenegro literally means black mountains) was quite a sight. We walked around their old town, surrounded by the palace walls that extend far up the mountain (over 1300 steps to the top). I felt like I travelled back to the Medieval era.

Bay of Kotor behind us

The largely untouched Old Town buildings

Roman Catholic church in a predominantly Eastern Orthodox country

Oldest water pump in Old Town, used to be a place to come gossip about town news

Entrance to the old city

Castle at the top of the mountain

"Green Market" just outside the city walls

Olives galore

Fresh produce

Selection of fresh cheeses

Cured beef leg

Seafood selection (they are known for farming mussels & oysters)

Below we are standing in front of Sveti Stefan, an exclusive island where celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Orson Welles used to vacation. The resort disintegrated when Montenegro separated from Serbia. It was bought out by Aman Resorts in 2007 and was re-opened in 2009. It is now a completely private hotel, where all guests must be announced, and rooms start at 900 Euros during the summer season! 

Harbor in the town of Budva

Another fun fact: The old town of dubrovnik has an estimated local population of merely 300 people. The apartments in the area are now either owned by foreigners or rented out to tourists. This is a shame as it has changed the daily life of many local families, as more and more people are moving up into the mountains and leaving the old town as a tourist destination instead of a hub of daily life.