Day 41 & 42 Montenegro - thunderstorms, a ruined village and the walls of Kotor

Day 41 & 42

After my foray up the hills to find the abandoned church I hit bullseye when I found there was a whole abandonned village only 5 km north of  us sitting an 800ft climb above the bay.


For most day of our days in Kotor the weather has flipped from hot sun to torrential rain and thunderstorms. This day was no exception - we just got to the start of the path up to the village when the rapidly darkening skies opened; early drinks and food in a bar saved us from a drenching. We started up the 2 km path; again a work of engineering art of cut stone and steps, polished as glass due to the wear and pretty lethal post rain - this was the main donkey trail route to Gronji Stoliv village.

Amongst the decaying houses and the their overgrown gardens and paths there is evidence that 2 or 3 houses are still inhabited, possibly during the summer only. You can readily see why the advent of cars, the absence of a road and the whole business of having to go up and down to the valley floor for everything couldn't hold on to the next generation.

The church gates are locked but it doesn't stop us climbing over for a good look around. The village is very peaceful and quiet except for the sound of bells from some cows.

Kotor - the walls lit up by night

We head back down and cycle back into Kotor to test Charlie's legs again by a walk up the walls. They are hugely impressive built and added to from the 9th to as recently as the 19th C...4 km long, up to 20 m high and up to 16m thick they have been built not just around the town but up the 800 ft high cliff behind the town.

You can really see why it is magnet for the cruise ships - its pretty much got everything with the bay scenery, a fortified town and a dockside only metres from the town walls. We have tea in town  - all restaurants are equipped with a 'World Cup' TV temporarily mounted outside and so we watch the Dutch beat the Aussies 3-2 in a good game before cycling the 5km home in the dark looking at the fantastic lights of the bay.

Kotor from the walls above

Tomorrow  we are back in the Van and off to Croatia - a couple of nights only before we meet my mum and dad for a week in a villa......never knew camping was so easy