A Day Around the Bay -- Camp Full Monte, Montenegro

Giuseppe and I took Wednesday off to explore the area around Kotor Bay.

We boarded the minibus near Camp Full Monte at 6:25 (much to the Italian's dismay) and set off down the bumpy, zigzag road to Herceg Novi and then to Kotor.

Quick facts on Kotor:

•  Just over 13,000 people (but just over a gazillion on each monstrous cruise ship) 
• Never purchase anything (ANYTHING) in Kotor. You will pay five times as much. Giuseppe tried to buy six figs and was charged five euros. He put the figs back and asked if the vendor was having a go at him. 
• Was built during the Venetian time period and was part of the Roman Province of Dalmatia (which is probably why it didn't look spectacularly different from any of the other Dalmatian cities I've visited).
• It costs three euros to hike to the old fort. Not to go inside the old fort -- just for the privilege of walking up the old road to the old fort. 
• Getting trampled to death by pasty people in white hats and comfortable walking shoes is a real danger.  Be afraid. You could die Mufasa style.

Giuseppe drank a coffee (and I used the loo -- this is one of the many benefits to traveling with an Italian. You get to use the loo whenever they need an espresso) and then we went hunting for the trail to the fortress.

We were told that the trail cost three euros, so we indignantly spun on our heels and decided to look for a secret way in (Denise had told us a secret entrance does exist, but wasn't sure as to the exact location. Which contributes to the whole "secret entrance" thing, I suppose).

Spinning on heels must have a seriously negative impact on one's health. Giuseppe immediately fell quite ill and we spent the rest of the afternoon napping and picnicking in the park.

The secret entrance will remain a mystery.

It started to drizzle, thunder crashed and storm clouds fomented on the horizon. Giuseppe and I dusted off our picnic crumbs and decided to stumble off in the general direction of the bus bound for Herceg Novi.

Quick Facts on Herceg Novi:

• At the entrance of the Kotor Bay and at the base of Mount Orjen. Herceg Novi appears to be an outdoorsy sort of place, with loads of biking, mountaineering and boating activities. 
• No sandy beaches. Don't visit Herceg Novi if you want to spend the day sunbathing, but if you're into mudbathing and health spas, go for it. 
• Has Venice's fingers all over it. 
• Has a higher Serbian population than Montenegrin population. 
• Significantly cheaper than Kotor. Buy your figs in Herceg Novi.

Steve picked us up at the main bus stop a few minutes after eight. Denise had prepared a gorgeous curry dinner for the family of workawayers and guests, and I was able to grill the two Americans for their stories while we sweated our way through the spicy meal.

As expected, they were excellent stories. Tales of trekking through Morocco and Albania and Ethiopia. Tales that inspire me to keep moving.