Montenegro
Our decision to go Montenegro was based on some pics that I saw in Google images and it has been love at first sight. If you scroll down this post you'll probably get why this love has just grown while we we're exploring Montenegro.
Durmitor National Park is one of the places I fell in love with in Montenegro. We based in Zabljak in the lovely Hostel Hikers Den where Alex and Gina gave us all the info we needed to experience Durmitor at its best. If you arrive in Zabljak after a 3-hours bus drive you'll find a swim in the Crno Jezero (Black Lake) extremely refreshing and relaxing.
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| Crno Jezero, Durmitor National Park |
You can easily walk around the lake and enjoy the surrounding mountains or have a drink in one of the bars on the shore. Although we visited this park in August is not as busy as we expected so if you don't love being squeezed on a crowded beach during high season this is the perfect place to visit.
The following day we decided to climb one of the highest peaks of Durmitor and reach the Ice Cave (Ledena Pecina path) located at 2164 mt of altitude. The path is well marked but you'll have to pass some landslide of rocks so do wear hiking shoes and bring a lot of water!
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Ledena Pecina path.
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This hike takes roughly 8 hours in total (considering breaks for taking pics and having snacks) and there are some steep climbs to do especially in the last part but as long as you are eager to keep walking mesmerised by the beauty of the mountains around you, you can do this hike even if you're not an expert hiker. The view from the top is absolutely rewarding!!
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| View from the Ice cave. |
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| View from the top of the Ledena Pecina hike. |
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| A glimpse on the old town. |
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| The view on the bay from one of the main squares of the old town. |
We have been advised to visit Lovcen area as well so we rented a car since there are no buses to get there and a few minutes drive from Kotor this was the stunning panorama.
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| View on Kotor from the road to Lovcen. |
The road to the Lovcen Park is quite narrow and very curvy but it's definitely worth driving along it. The entrance to the park is just 2 € and when you get on top of the stairs of the Mausoleum you'll be rewarded with a 360 view over the mountains.
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| View from the Mausoleum in Lovcen National Park. |
After a few pics we took the car and drove to Cetinje, probably one of the most important cities in the history of Montenegro. I learnt its history visiting it so I won't start telling about the Turkish, Venetians invasions etc because you really need to go there to get the feeling of what could have happened hundreds of years ago. I will just show you a glimpse of the city and after a tour in the monastery and the museum treat yourself in one the authentic Pekara that you'll find in the city. PS try the most hidden ones, those are the best :)
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| Glimpse of Cetinje. |
Kotor was the most touristic town we visited and when the cruise ships arrive it can be quite busy, nevertheless it always preserves its ancient charm, facing a beautiful bay and surrounded by the fortified walls. The best way to visit it is just to get lost because it's an intricate maze of narrow streets indeed!! If you don't like not authentic, really expensive touristic restaurants I would highly recommend Tanjga http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g295381-d6848872-Reviews-Tanjga-Kotor_Kotor_Municipality.html. You can eat 300-400g of really good meat/chicken each with a big portion of salad and veggie for 9-10€.
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| Overview of Kotor. |
We stayed in Podgorica the first and last night of our trip which, despite the almost unbearable hot temperature, is not as awful as some people describe it. Montenegro is still developing so apart from few flawless small towns on the coast you can't expect to find nice buildings everywhere. Having said that, Podgorica does have some unexpected and pleasant spots that I personally appreciated so I wouldn't recommend to spend an entire week here but I'm sure that you will also enjoy your brief stay if you're willing to go beyond the not-so-perfect appearance.
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| Podgorica at dusk, Italian gelato and a look into one of the pub in the main street. |
For a sweet treat in Podgorica you'll have to pay a visit to Sicilia http://www.pekarasicilia.me and for a delicious Italian gelato (the fruity flavours are milk-free!!!) go to Fabrika cafe https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fabrika-Podgorica/1583668388538759.
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| Delicious Montenegrin food and Italian gelato. |
This is just a quick summary of a travel that I really loved, and I can't wait to explore more of the Balkans with my backpack. Bye :)
Southern Turkey
Walking around aimlessly is the best way to explore a city and the markets always reflect the real soul of the place. Take a look at these pics and tell me if you recognize these places in Turkey or your experience in this beautiful Country.
And after a visit around the town we couldn't miss a delicious Turkish dish in a lovely restaurant.
Croatia, exploring Dalmatia
In the latest decades Croatia, especially the North and Dubrovnik, has faced a growing tourist invasion but there are still wild places and beaches to be discovered, you just need to be willing to find them ;) The second time we went camping in Croatia we started our holiday from Zadar, then we visited Split and later we drove all along the southern coast to Dubrovnik. I would definitely recommend Dalmatia as one of my favourite counties in Croatia for the richness in unspoiled natural beauty and less touristic destinations where you can actually enjoy the authenticity of the local traditions and of the people.
If you like adventurous hikes and you're not daunted by a 3 hour up and downs on gigantic rocks, I would definitely recommend the 8-hour circular walk through the canyon in Paklenica National park http://www.summitpost.org/mala-paklenica-route/156720. I found this walk quite hard and I'm used to climbing and hiking but if you don't have a proper training and equipment you'll find this path extremely exhausting especially because you'll need the energy to do a steep climb up at the end of the canyon. The panorama at the top is definitely worth the effort though!
Moreover, if you like rock-climbing don't forget to bring the rope and harness!! Not far from the main entrance of the park there are beautiful rock faces with several routes..you'll be spoilt for choice no matter at what climbing level you are.
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Paklenica National park- Canyon walk
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| Paklenica climbing routes map |
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| Plitvice Lakes National park |
Southern Dalmatian coast is a guarantee for awesome beaches. If you like the adventure of discovering hidden coves this is one of the best places where to find them. Often difficult to reach, these bays are simply quite natural oasis that will guarantee a relaxing swim without the tourist crowds, also in high-peak season. An example of these paradises is showed in these pics.
Enjoy Croatia!!!
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