Dating back to the Byzantine Empire, Montenegro is rich in history and culture. It is known as the country of Black Mountains. "Monte"= mountain "negro" = black Montenegro. Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia are all have their own language but they are the same language!!! The only difference is the accent. Impressive on a CV! You can say you know 4 languages.
 
Kotor is a fascinating old town in Montenegro, located in the bay of Boka, noted as one of the world's most beautiful bays. Bordered by towering limestone cliffs, the winding bay is actually Southern Europe's longest and most dramatic fjord. Well, we read everywhere that it is a fiord but apparently it is NOT (according to our tour guide).

As we were entering the harbour the fog was very thick. I couldn't see the buildings at first just the cliffs. It was a bit scary because the Captain couldn't see anything either. He was blowing the horn non-stop.
 
We left bright and early for our excursion today.  We took a bus for a scenic drive to Njegusi, up a narrow mountain road, that had hairpin bends and stunning coastal views. I'm not usually affected by scary roads or heights but I had a few moments where I held my breath. Thee are 25 "serpentine" or windy snakelike curves on this road. Every serpentine has a number that is painted onto the barriers. The charming village of Njegusi was the birthplace of Peter Petrovic-Njegos, considered the most important leader in Montenegrin history. There are only 10 families still living in this village - all older people who don't want to abandon their property. All the young people have moved away. It is completely cut off from the rest of the world during the winter. So if someone gets very sick they likely die as no help can get to the. We stopped at a local restaurant, 1,000 metres above sea level, where we sampled delicious regional specialties including smoked ham, cheese, and our choice of either wine or beer. It was 8:45 am. Breakfast of champions? 

Then it was off to the old capital of Montenegro, Cetinje. (Now the capital of Montenegro is Podgorica.) On the single lane highway we encountered an excavator across the highway and we were delayed due to blasting. They are making the road wider. Good thing as it's a single lane highway. We were on our way again after 15 minutes. Cetinje, founded in 1482, is located at the base of the spectacular Lovcen mountains, and found itself under siege during the Ottoman Empire.  We walked through the National Museum, which is housed in the "palatial" home (built in 1867) of King Nikola Petrovic I, who ruled Montenegro from 1860 to 1918. We got to see the amazing state apartments, and view the collection of royal costumes, furnishings, and documents. The museum is also home to the 'Oktoih Prvoglasnik', a revered manuscript that dates back to the late 15th century. We thought we would be seeing a castle but it was just a large home. When it was occupied it was in the middle of nowhere so it was considered a palace. At that time the only way you get there was by footpaths through the mountains. There was a billiard table in the "palace" that was carried up the mountain by 20 young men. It normally took 5 long days to walk up and 3 to go down. They would stay in caves overnight. King Nikola is so revered by Montenegrins that 1/2 of all people in the country are named Nikola.

Then back on the bus for the drive back to the ship, soaking up the picturesque views of the Montenegrin coastline. We went through Budva, which is 2,500 years old. The James Bond movie Casino Royals with Daniel Craig was filmed here. It put Montenegro on the map. Many celebrities vacation here as the locals don't pay any attention to them and they are free from paparazzi. Jaz beach in Budva was named the most beautiful beach in Europe by Lonely Planet.
Descending the mountains, we had a short stop for a photographs at a mountain vantage point that offers panoramic views of Kotor and Boka Bay, Southern Europe's largest fjord before we continued to Budva, a popular seaside resort and one of the oldest settlements in the Balkans that is famed for its sandy beaches and coves.

Back in Kotor (phew - we survived the bus ride!), we toured the ornate St. Tryphon Cathedral (Sveti Tripun), which was completed in 1166, and boasts Romanesque and Byzantine architecture. The interior is decorated with a gilded altar, frescoes, and a collection of Venetian art dating back to the 14th century. St. Tryphon os the patron saint of vineyards. Montenegro has some fine wines.

We ended the excursion at the Maritime Museum, which is housed in the 17th century Grgurina Palace, and chronicles Kotor's glory days as one of the Adriatic's major naval forces. The many exhibits included nautical instruments, naval ensigns, and sea-faring artifacts. The people of Kotor are particularly proud of their seafaring tradition which has been nurtured for 12 centuries.

Kotor was ruled by the Austrians, Russians, French, Montenegrins, again the Austrians until it was freed in 1918 when it formed part of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes - the Kingdom of Yugoslavia

The tour ended just after 2:00 and we had the afternoon to meander through Kotor on our own.  Kotor is a UNESCO listed “World Natural and Historical Heritage Site”. On the Middle Ages or had some 30 churches and 7 monasteries. Now there are 10 churches.
The port itself is a medieval gem: its narrow, asymmetrical streets are lined with ancient stone houses, old palaces, and churches dating from the 12th century.  

The Church of Saint Luke (Sveti Luka) from the 13th century, Church of Saint Ana (Sveta Ana) from the 12th century, Church of Saint Mary (Sveta Marija) from the 13th century, Church of the Healing Mother of God (Gospe od Zdravlja) from the 15th century, the Prince’s Palace from the 17th century and the Napoleon’s Theatre from the 19th century are all treasures that are part of the rich heritage of Kotor. 
 
The maze of cobblestone streets, simple buildings topped with sepia-toned roofs, lovely Romanesque churches, and a well-preserved and restored medieval Old Town have earned Kotor a place on Unesco's World Heritage List.

The ship left at 4:00 today as there is a bad storm on its way and the way out is very narrow and navigating it is difficult. The Captain wants to leave before dark and more importantly before the storm hits.