Foto: The beautiful bay of Kotor (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Montenegro - After walking for about 45 minutes, I spot a restaurant and realize I’ve already reached Krstac. I must have missed a turn, resulting in a small detour. It’s frustrating that the initial paths were so poorly marked. I decide to be more attentive in order to find the correct path to Kotor. This descent is supposed to be spectacular. Just outside Krstac, I see a red-and-white trail marker on a rock. The path begins with a steep drop. This time, there’s no way to go wrong. The trail consists of many small loose rocks, so I have to be careful not to slip. The descent starts at 1,000 meters altitude, but I quickly drop lower. I already catch my first stunning view of Kotor Bay—what a remarkable sight. I continue descending into the valley. After an hour, I can see the old town of Kotor and the fortress. The mountainside here is extremely steep. In the past, soldiers constructed a zigzagging path for supply transport. The trail clings closely to the mountainside. I follow it from left to right, and it feels like the descent is endless, with Kotor getting only slightly closer. I do notice it's getting warmer and the view more beautiful. As I near the fortress, I leave the zigzag path and walk to the old city wall near the fort, which lies about 300 meters above the city. Through a small opening in the wall, I enter the fortress itself. I see many tourists climbing the stairs toward the upper fort. They’ve already had quite a climb. I, too, climb about 100 steps to reach the top. The fortress is heavily deteriorated, but the view over the bay and Kotor is stunning. Only now do I realize how hot it is here. No wonder there are several vendors selling cold water. I descend together with all the other tourists, down 1,300 steps to the old town of Kotor. I’ve descended about a thousand meters. I collapse onto a terrace and order a beer. In the afternoon, I wander through the narrow, charming streets, visit several churches, and walk along the city walls.
Biogradska Gora National Park
Montenegro - I set off toward Biogradska Gora National Park. On the way, I drive through the Tara Gorge. At 1,300 meters deep, the Tara Gorge is the deepest gorge in Europe. At an arched bridge over the gorge, I stop briefly. From a terrace, I have a beautiful view ...
Durmitor National Park
Montenegro - Gašo, the owner of the campsite, drives me to the starting point. Paco, a local boy, is my guide for the day. He leads me through Durmitor National Park. Durmitor is a unique natural area with mountain peaks, deep gorges, and vast meadows. The park is ...
The Njego Mausoleum in Loven National Park
Montenegro - Above Cetinje, dark clouds hang and thunder sounds in the distance. It’s not a question of if it will rain, but when. To be safe, I look for a simple poncho in the shops. If that fails, I’ll settle for a sturdy umbrella. Then Vlado drives me to the ...
The old medieval town of Budva
Montenegro - As we approach the coast, Vlado points out the beaches. Many beaches are private property belonging to hotels and resorts. Around Budva, this is no exception. I see numerous tourists walking toward the beach and the old town. Vlado parks close to the ...
The Upper Monastery of Ostrog
Montenegro - After a two-hour drive, I arrive at the Ostrog Monastery. This Serbian Orthodox monastery, dating back to the 12th century, is built into a cliff face. Before visiting the monastery, I order a sandwich on a terrace—I’ve hardly eaten today. Then I ...