Radomiri Palazzo Hotel Kotor

... as I could only find one public entrance... Walking through the western entrance was like stepping back in time! I'm aware that most of the city has been rebuilt - but it's been rebuilt to look like time has stood still.. (not so much because of the recent conflicts, but due to an earthquake that hit the city in the 70s).

Tourism is only starting to make it way into Kotor, from what I ...

... mini floods flow through the marble streets. I have to wait 20 minutes until it subsides enough to run back to the room.

We leave for the car in a moderate rain, Chris without any rain gear. At the castle gates, I take cover and watch over the bags while Chris does a 10 minute climb to the top of the hill where the parking is located. I don't see him for 30 minutes then watch as he runs back to the castle entry to use an ATM. They don’t take credit and Chris ...

... until after dark and I had no idea of the bus schedule to Sarajevo.

The conductor from the bus I just got off was a kid about 12 years old and he spoke pretty decent English. He found a taxi driver who would drive me to Ulcinj for 20 Euros. I said oh hell no...for that kind of money he will drive me all the way to Podgorica. For an additional five Euros I was on my way in a early 1990s off white Mercedes 190 for the hour and a ...

... Kotor we continued on our way until we found a nice swimming spot. We lay our towel in the grass and then jumped in the cold water. On the drive back we took the car ferry which cut our drive time significantly. We were one of the last three cars to make it on the boat, squeezing our car in crooked to fit.

We had pasta for dinner and then headed into town for the evening; people watching, enjoying the ambiance, exploring ...

... being situated in the middle of what I considered, "nowhere." However, this was not the case. There was actually a long line and tons of people there having lunch. I could only imagine like us they were on their way to visit Ostrog. The restaurant itself was classy and I can only liken it to seeing a luxurious restaurant in the middle of the Mohave desert. While I was visiting Ostrog monastery in Montenegro, Darko introduced me to a Serbian priest asking me if I wanted confession ...

... I took it on faith that someone would take me home with them Arriving at the bus station at 8 am, I lingered around, doing my best to look a lost, homeless backpacker. Most houses have signs out advertising rooms for rent, but I didn't want to go knocking on stranger's doors before 8:30, I decided. Perhaps I was just putting off the inevitable. Fortunately, just as I was preparing my backpack to head out, a man approached, asking if I wanted a room. He wanted 15 Euros ...

... both previously experienced in other parts of the world. I was a bit disappointed in that fact as well, but the shear beauty of the Tara river made up the difference for me, I was going to have a good time. Since I had previously lived in Arizona, home of the Grand Canyon, biggest canyon in the world, the Tara River was just as great....it is the second largest canyon in the world, but much more lush and green. So, I soaked in (no pun ...

... at the time, and promptly proceeded to spill the entire contents on my shirt and shorts. It was not too hot. That was not an issue. However, soiling some of my precious few garments for the trip was a big deal, and I was filthy! It was all over my clothes. Oh well. Did I mention how much I hate cats? I headed back to the room, and cleaned my clothes by hand in the sink. We hung it all outside and hoped for the best. We headed into town, this time by bus, for another day of ...

... are partially because of poor planning, but also because the Croatian Tourist offices are unwilling to give much info about Montenegro due to harboured bitterness over the conflicts a decade ago. In Montenegro, we visited Kotor, Budva and Cetinje. The bus ride along the sea was beautiful. About half of the buildings we saw were either abandoned or half built. The Cyrillic Alphabet was in partial use, but most signs and menus and whatnot used the Roman based print and the ...