We all know that Croatia is beautiful and that people call it the new Italy. But I ‘ve never been to Montenegro and I must admit that it took me by surprise … Tiny and proud, Montenegro – “Black Mountain” – it has something of a fairy tale about it. The land seems to be put together by magic. A cobalt-blue fjord, fishermen’s huts in a sunny cove, a rocky path disappearing into woods, palaces, a church in a cave, an island built on the wrecks of enemy boats – all a bit disorganized, but with a logic of its own. It is a rare gem that is not yet truly discovered and developed. But it can stir up your imagination and if the sun comes out you realize that it’s like a postcard …I’m so thankful that I could be part of that living postcard…
With a population of just about 600.000, Montenegro has had a tumultuous history. Ruled by Illyrians and Romans, by infighting Slavic tribes, Huns and Goths, by battling Venetians and Ottomans, and most recently embroiled in the meltdown of Yugoslavia, Montenegro wears its war wounds as medals, rather than scars. It has rich remnants of its past occupiers and invaders. In a half hour drive along a bay-side corniche, I looked at beautiful landscape, Roman mosaics and a Venetian naval town, pretty much unblemished, before going on to admire art in a Serbian Orthodox church and a Roman Catholic chapel.
This trip through Croatia, Serbia, Bosnië-Hercegovina and Montenegro was so divers, it has lots of different vibes, impressions, different cultures, war scars, religions….the trip was fantastic and as always it is the people who make a journey unforgettable and I’m really grateful to have met them on my path. Our calm teddy bear and driver Perro, who guided us through the hills of Serbia and made us pass three frontiers, our diplomatic, chatty, knowledgeable and funny guide Bulent (with his sexy, husky Obama voice :)), our Montenegro guide Ismael, the lovely Antwerp couple Lieve and Dirk and my fantastic new friends that I will never forget – the golden girls. (Irene, Rina and Edith) I hope to still be as healthy, bubbly, cheeky and full of adventure at the age of 79!!! Thanks guys for making this another unforgettable adventure!
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