Drug mule at the border

We had a wonderful reunion aboard Sunday with our guests from Australia, Tilly and Sam, although the weather wasn’t so good for much of the time.

Their first night was spent in Lazure Marina near Herceg Novi in Montenegro where we were booked to winter over and where we picked them up because the weather was forecast to be windy and rainy.

Despite the weather predictions, we decided to set off the next day to show Tilly and Sam around the Bay of Kotor. They were only staying a few days so we didn’t want to waste a minute!

We decided to head first for Risan Bay, to show Tilly and Sam the Roman mosaics that we had visited just the week before.

While we were in the museum it started to rain but it stopped quickly and we were able to explore the small village a little more – stumbling on more Roman remains, a lovely river with what looked like a Roman stone bridge spanning its width, and some ancient laneways.

We ended up in the grounds of a small church where we were befriended by a local dog who led us up to the graveyard and then introduced us to the tiniest little kitten I’ve ever seen away from its mother.

While we were in Risan Tilly and Sam very bravely went for a swim off the boat – both of them jumping in from the bow. We are very spoilt and normally won’t dive in unless the weather is extremely hot but we were pleased it was still warm enough for these two brave people to enjoy a swim.

The following day we had planned to go to the wonderful medieval town of Kotor but on the way there a terrific storm blew in.

The wind steadily became stronger and stronger and the water became choppier and choppier. Fortunately our new crew members literally “sailed”through the experience even though waves were breaking over the bow and the wind was gusting at 40 knots.

We turned into a little bay called Uvala Ljuta where thankfully the wind and sea were a little calmer. Once anchored we realised there would be no getting off the boat that day as we would have all been soaked if we had tried to take the dinghy to shore.

So we had a fun day aboard playing board and card games, chatting, making home made pizzas and enjoying a fine selection of Montenegrin wines.

The weather had cleared up by the following day and we had a great time wandering round Kotor.

Although we had been there twice before we saw quite a number of things we hadn’t encountered before – one being the preliminary climb before the famed trek up the extremely steep walking trail (reconstructed in 1760) to the fortress on the hill behind Kotor.

Even that short distance was steep and slippery so we decided lunch was a better option.

On their last day we took Tilly and Sam to the fabulous restaurant – Ćatovića Mlini – set in gorgeous gardens that we had discovered in Sutvara Bay and which I raved about in https://saltytalesfrombalihai.com/2023/10/30/montenegros-answer-to-monets-garden/

They also really loved the atmosphere there not to mention the delicious food and very good wine!

In no time at all it was the end of Tilly and Sam’s stay aboard Sunday in the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro.

As their flight to the Netherlands (where they were heading to visit our daughter and son-in-law) wasn’t due to the afternoon, we decided to leave early in the morning by hire a car to take a look at Dubrovnik in Croatia before their onward journey from Dubrovnik airport.

Fortunately, the border between Montenegro and Croatia is (very conveniently) less than half an hour away from Lazure Marina where we have booked to winter over. Another twenty minutes and you’re in the ancient walled city of Dubrovnik.

An unusual thing happened to us at the border on the way to Dubrovnik – a donkey crossed over in front of us as we waited to be processed and then stuck his head in the window! Sam wondered if he was a drug mule (ha ha!).

Although it is magnificent, it is true to say that Dubrovnik is insanely crowded. However, we did manage to find some quieter spots by turning down alleyways away from the crowds and following our noses.

All too soon it was time to farewell our guests – it’s always sad to say goodbye but we didn’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves as our next arrivals were due in just ten days time!