OUR STORY


Budva

A charming, ancient seacoast city about midway along Montenegro's Adriatic Coast. Budva dates to the pre-Christian area, about 2500 years, making it one of the oldest cities on the Adriatic Coast, and is now the center of Montenegro's tourism. The Budva Riviera is a series of beautiful and accessible sand beaches with the city located more or less in the center. Originally founded by the Greeks in the 4th Century B.C. it has been ruled by several different entities  including the Serbs, Byzantine Romans, Venetians, Austro-Hungarians, Yugoslavs and now is part of the independent democratic state of Montenegro that may soon be admitted into the European Union.

Within the city lies a walled fortress that has been restored in recent years from damage sustained during the earthquake of April 15, 1979. Inside the fortress are numerous businesses catering to the tourist trade. We have visited Budva several times and tried cafes and restaurants without ever having a poor experience. It's all good as the saying goes. These folks know how to prepare the Mediterranian classics and the service has always been friendly and attentive. For detailed information look here:

Budva

Kotor

Further up the coast lies the city of Kotor located in what some call the southernmost fijord of Europe but actually the Bay of Kotor is a submerged river canyon that provides a spectacular backdrop for the city and its surrounding villages. Here is a link that provides further detail on the city, the history and the points of interest:

 Kotor

When we first visited this place we hired the services of a local boatman who along with our guide, Vesna, took us on a day cruise from Kotor to the end of the bay where the estuary joins the Adriatic sea. Along the way we saw numerous relics from the Cold War including several derelict warships of the Yugoslavian Navy and submarine pens where only the entrance gate was visibile. But it wasn't just all old military trash. The land along the estuary is dotted with quaint seaside villages separated by forests and a rocky coastline with numerous inlets. The water is of high clarity and appears unpoluted. Eventually we came to the end of the estuary where there is a isolated village reachable only by boat or 4x4 vehicles. We didn't get a name for this place but it appeared to be like a pirates hideaway with a rustic beachside bar, several beached boats in various conditions of decay and a shaky looking dock where we tied up. The denizens of this outpost were quite friendly and soon we were toasting each other for any reason thought up at the moment. Later we enjoyed some excellent grilled fish with various side dishes made from potatoes and onions. The prices were embarrassingly cheap. On a table near the bar I noticed a Soviet era field telephone that apparently was still functional. We had no bars on our cell phones so this old relic was probably the only connection to the outside world.

Stari Bar

Stari in the Slavic languages means "old". Stari Bar is then "Old Bar" and that is exactly the correct description for this place. The new Bar is located nearby closer to the coast and south of Budva along the Montenegrian coastal highway. We visted Stari Bar and took several photos that appear in our album of Montenegro. Stari Bar dates to the early middle ages and was originally part of the Byzantine Empire under a Serbian king. The Ottomans who invaded Montenegro in 1571 made it a Muslim city and controled it until they were defeated and expelled by Maso Verbica, a Montenegrian duke in 1877. During the ensuing conflict the town was severely damaged by artillery bombardment. Its aquaduct was destroyed by explosives which forced the ruler, Ibrahim Bey to surrender on 9 January 1878. The town was abandoned and has only recently begun to be reoccupied with the repair of the aquaduct after the earthquake of 1979. We saw the town perhaps in the first stages of its rebirth. There is a museum and electricity and water services appear to have been restored. Many of the town sites are being protected as part of Montenegro's historical heritage. But this town may live again. It has a beautiful location with views of the coast and mountains and charming cobbled streets and many old structures that if properly restored could turn this place into a serious place of interest for Montenegro:
Stari Bar

Utjeha

This little seaside village lies just off the coastal highway that connects Montenegro's many oceanside villages, cities and towns. Located 10 kms south of Bar it is a pleasant place to stop and take a dip in the beautiful Adriatic Sea or grab a bite to eat from the many beachside kiosks that serve the town beach. For those who want more substantial fare there is the Paradiso Restaurant This little village has many creature comforts including a bakery and a convenience store along the main highway and within a few minutes drive one can dine at a fish restaurant second to none, but to do that you must make friends with a local and ask just how to get there. Better yet invite them to dinner and they will show you. That's what we did. We suggest you contact our friend in Utjeha, Eckhard Schmidt. He knows the name and location of this superb restaurant and will be glad to explain it all to you. For more detailed information contact Eckhard Schmidt online at:  Eckhard Or better call him at 011 38 269 99 0380 if dialing from the US. He is the owner/host for the Villa Katharina vacation apartments in Utjeha. Here is a link to his apartment rental:

Villa Katharina

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