MONTENEGRO: Kotor – Day Tripper

Rather than fight the crowds and the stifling heat back in Dubrovnik, I opted for a day trip to Montenegro. I managed to avoid the crowds, but the temperature problem was another thing altogether. However, that was pretty much my fault since I decided to climb up quickly to yet another castle on a mountain in the full sun in 100-degree heat. Join me as I manage to avoid dying prematurely of heatstroke before I complete my five-year journey.

As you can see Kotor Castle is quite a ways above the old town on the mountain above.

You can see the tiny little flag marking the high point on the right.

But first comes the walking tour inside the old city. Much to my surprise, it was pleasantly uncrowded. So far so good. The town clock was installed by the Austrians when they had a presence in the area, and they brought their own clockmaker to install and maintain the venerable timepiece. Now years later, the same family is taking care of this clock. In front of the clock is the pillar of shame. People with some sort of infraction would be chained to this thing, they would hang a sign on them indicating their crime. It was a pretty good deterrent.

Just like Dubrovnik, Montenegro suffered badly from earthquakes, and this 16th-century church is one of the few buildings not affected by a massive earthquake.

After the walking tour, I paid 3 euros to suffer by climbing the agonizing trail to Kotor Castle. Because our time was limited, I didn’t have time to dawdle in the 100-degree heat.

As you can see I made good time quickly.

Man, that little flag looks a long way away, and there’s no bloody shade.

But I am making progress, and that ship is getting smaller.

Just another two minutes supposedly, but I am gasping and have completely run out of gas. It would have taken me ten if I hadn’t died of heatstroke in the process.

Running On Empty

Time was running out, and rather than miss my bus or leave Montenegro in an ambulance, I swallowed my pride and headed back down. It was a good idea because my first 100 meters down was mighty sluggish. I was clearly done and was gratified to run into somebody selling cold drinks on the way down. That Coke Zero was glorious.

ALMOST THERE

So nice to be out of the sun.

Saying hi to an old friend swimming in the moat on the way back to the air-conditioned bus.