I had seen and read about the amazing Ostrog Monastery online when I was researching Montenegro, and I was intrigued. Not sure why I wanted to see this so badly, nor did I realize just how difficult it would be to get there. I can’t say I would have done it had I known, but I’m glad I did. The views of the Montenegran countryside were worth it - I would not have seen any of this had I chosen to stick with the standard places people visit. So after many hours on multiple buses, a few mishaps due to my lack of knowledge of the Serbian language, and friendly helpful people who didn’t speak English, but were so eager to help me (and mildly amused), this is what I found.

The monestary is literally built into the side of the mountain.

View from the winding road, heading back down the mountain.

Montenegro is mostly untouched by tourism, making it a little rough around the edges. If you need any luxury when you travel, this place probably isn’t for you yet, but if you want to see a country with lots of natural beauty, you should check it out. If I thought the wall around Dubrovnik’s old town was impressive, that was nothing compared to the wall around Kotor. Montenegro’s terrain is covered with mountains, and the city of Kotor, on the deepest end of the Bay of Kotor, is built at the base of one such steep climb. The wall and fortress wind up the mountain, zigzagging up for more than 1500 steps! Good thing I’m in good shape, I would not have wanted to miss the views of the bay. And neither should you!

Yes, I climbed this wall, all the way up!

View of the Bay from the top of the fort.

Today I took a quick ferry over to nearby Lokrum Island, land of peacocks. They were everywhere! But there’s much more on this tiny reprieve from the thousands of cruise ship refugees who flooded Dubrovnik’s Old Town this morning. I found cool rocky beaches (more fun for climbing than sun bathing, I think), a great fort at the high point of the island, and a nice hiking trail around the perimeter of the island. Perfect weather today too! As for the peacocks, there were mamas, papas and babies, and the single dude shaking his fancy feathers for the ladies. Again, here are just a few pics to make you all jealous.

Me on the rocky beach, with Croatia’s mainland in the background. (Mom - this one’s for you, since you get sick of all the scenery pics!)

View of Old Town, Dubrovnik from the top of the fort on Lokrum Island

˝The ladies love my fancy duds!˝

After walking in 4 countries and taking 3 flights over the course of 16 hours, I arrived in Dubrovnik last night, just before sunset. The bus from the airport to the Pile Gate of Old Town ran along the coast for a taste of the amazing views I’d find. So today, I got up bright and early to walk the city walls that surround the Old Town. On the coastal side I found stunning views of the Adriatic Sea, and from the inland side of the wall, I could see the rooftops of the entire area once protected by these walls. Luckily I finished my tour before the thousands of tourists from the cruise ship and day trippers from numerous buses from nearby towns invaded the walls. Here are just a couple pictures from my journey around this gorgeous city on the Dalmatian Coast.

View of Old Town from the old wall.

View from the other side of the wall.