KOTOR, MONTENAGRO (day113)

Listed as a World Heritage site, KOTOR is a small atmospheric, unique, romantic old town. The people are Orthodox Christian & its ties are to Serbia. In the middle ages KOTOR was SERBIA'S chief port. Later it spent time controlled by Venice, Austria, & France.  Since 1916 KOTOR has had 8 names. At one time it was a part of Yugoslavia then in 2002 it became Serbia & Montenegro  and finally Montenegro regained its sovereignty in 2006. Montenegro's Currency is the EURO, even though it does not belong to the European Union yet. Montenegro's GDP is about $15,000.00 per annum & it has a way to go before it can enter the EU, however, the Euro gives the country stability.  It is fast becoming a celebrities destination, tourism is the hope for the countries future.

SUNRISE SAILING INTO KOTOR AT 6:00 THIS MORNING

KOTOR IS KNOWN AS THE MEDITERRANEAN FJIORD

THE HARBOR IN KOTOR

WE ARE APART OF THE AUSTRALIAN CONTINGENT  WHO SET OFF THIS MORNING TO WALK 5 MILES UP A SERIES OF SERPENTINES  TO THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN OVERLOOKING KOTOR AND THEN LUNCH & 5 MILES BACK DOWN  

DAPHNE TREES IN FULL BLOOM EVERYWHERE

THE AIR WAS FILLED WITH THE SCENT

The best way that I can describe it is that it smelled like Honeysuckle

THE BEGINNING OF THE COBBLED PATH

WOODY TRAVERSING UP THE MOUNTAIN

Notice the serpentine paths behind him.

We had to walk single file.

A BULL WHO LOOKED AT US QUESTIONINGLY AS WE WENT BY

 A COW & A DONKEY ALONG THE WAY

 A DOG THAT BARKED AT US AS WE WALKED BY

WE ALSO PASSED A HERD OF MOUNTAIN GOATS ALONG THE WAY

ST JOHN'S FORTRESS ON THE HILL BEHIND KOTOR 853 FT. ABOVE SEA LEVEL
The Fortress is about 1/4 of the way up the mountain

LUNCH AT THE TOP

WE MADE IT

THE MAIN TOWN GATE

ALSO KNOWN AS THE SEA GATE BECAUSE OF ITS POSITION ON THE COAST WHICH ACCESSES THE OLD TOWN

THE CLOCK TOWER

BUILT IN THE 17 th CENTURY AND CONSIDERED A SYMBOL OF KOTOR

STANDS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE THE MAIN GATE

THE TOWN SQUARE

LOCATED JUST INSIDE THE MAIN GATE

A LATGE BUSY PLACE WITH LOTS OF SHOPS AND OPEN AIR CAFES

Throughout history KOTOR has been in the path many strong earthquakes. They did a very expensive rebuild of the town in 1979 & its looks perfect in every way, beautiful. Interesting is that once the town was reestablished the RUSSIANS & the BRITS bought up70% of the real estate. Will they ever recoup their investment?

KOTOR has many charms it is small and you can see the town in about 1/2 day...