Kotor
Describing the scenery of Kotor – a UNESCO-listed medieval city – as stunning is an understatement. The approach into the bay as the sun starts to rise is one of those unforgettable moments. The water is like glass and the reflection of the towering mountains makes for a scene that defies reality. The country of Montenegro was on my list of places to visit and I was excited to be able to return to this part of the world during the summer.
Once on land the first excursion was back on a boat, this time a craft described as a submarine boat. Essentially it has a lower deck beneath water that allows you to view the seabed. It’s a bit of a novelty and despite the excellent weather conditions, the bay is murky and you couldn’t see much, but it was still fun to do. I was very excited to be allowed to take control of the boat and steer for a bit! It was also great to see a sailing ship come in complete with five masts!
I like to be aware of connections and I’m not one for coincidence. At the time of visiting I had been reading Murakami’s 1Q84 trilogy. Trying not to give out plot spoilers, at one point a town of cats is featured. I was intrigued to discover that cats are a symbol of the town of Kotor and they roam freely. This is not what inspired Murakami, but it was cool to realise the connection. (Note there are details online with all the information you would need about how Murakami puts together his novels, so if interested in reading further I will leave you to look this up).
Staying with the cats, Kotor has a cat museum, there is a cats of Kotor city calendar to help raise funds, and they also act as a hub for food donations to ensure the cats are well-fed and looked after.
Time again was against me here. I walked a little of the wall around the town, but it goes on for four and a half kilometres up into the mountains and in thirty degree heat it’s challenging. The town is a maze of buildings, with a highlight for me being the St. Tryphon Cathedral dating from 1166. I managed to spend a little time in the museum upstairs inside the cathedral where there are a great many historical and religious artefacts on display.
I’m always keen to try something local, and a dessert known as Kotorska Krempita was delicious. Three layers of flaky pastry and vanilla cream. Needless to say the small shops selling these were queued well into the narrow cobblestone streets. If medieval towns are your thing, then Kotor easily fits the bill.