Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
A beautiful place at Podgorica, Montenegro can be found between the old Osman quarter and the new modern city center. There the small river Ribnica floats into river Morača and next to it the ruins of the old fortress Ribnica can be found. It was built between 1474 and 1478 by the Ottomans ruleing by that time. Below the ruins you can see a wonderful old stone bridge crossing the river.
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If you’re exploring a typical European city you would normally start with the old town, the ancient city center. At Podgorica, Montenegro you might be a little bit disappointed with the Stara Varoš. It is the old Osman heart of the city and is today a purely residential zone with small houses and gardens. The people seem to grow wine whereever possible but the interesting places are limited to two old mosques located there.
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People do strange things when on vacation and I can’t exclude myself from that. How often have I asked myself ‘Why am I doing that?’ – while climbing up La Giralda in Sevilla, Spain; while squeezing myself through the narrow corridors of the cupola of the Basilica di San Pietro at Roma, Italy or when climbing to the top of St. Paul’s cathedral in London, United Kingdom. At Kotor, Montenegro it is especially funny: people are brought on cruise ships with all comfort directly to the old city only to climb up to a fortress high above. 1350 steps, 1.2 kilometers steadily up the hill with an elevation of 260 meters.
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The city of Kotor, Montenegro is a highlight of its own. The fantastic old and well-preserved city center with its churches, old buildings and fortified walls is a UNESCO world heritage site since 1979. That brings protection but it is also a reason why giant cruise ships anchor directly in front of the city. But even if you’re there while the city is flooded with tourists you can experience times of the day where this is a rather quite and relaxed place. And there are even some small yards set aside where you can enjoy some coffee in a nice atmosphere.
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The patron saint of Kotor, Montenegro is Tryphon – a martyr worshiped by catholic and orthodox christians who is said to have the ability to cure illnesses. Therefore the main church of the city is named after him, the Katedrala Svetog Tripuna.
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The adriatic island Sveti Stefan near Budva, Montenegro is named after the Saint Stephan and was converted in the 1950s and 1960s into an island full of hotels. It is a wonderful place connected via a dam to the mainland. On the island you can find a church also named Sveti Stefan and formerly there was also a casino giving the island the name of the adriatic Monaco.
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It is the biggest lake on the balkans: Lake Skadar, located between Montenegro and Albania. It is 48 kilometers long and 14 kilometers wide and receives its water mainly from the river Morača running through Montenegro. To the adriatic sea there is only one connection, the river Buna, which also forms the natural border between the two countries.
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If you want to escape from the city of Tirana, Albania to see the mountains and watch the city from above there is one very good option: to go to the house mountain of the city, the Dajti. It is 1613 meters high and located in the East of the city. On top you’ll find a restaurant and a rotating bar as well as a viewing platform. The mountain offers good opportunities for hiking, climbing, mountain biking and paragliding.
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The Sky Tower is my most favorite place for watching sundown and having a drink at Tirana, Albania. It is a skyscraper at the city quarter Blloku and located close to the Rinia park and the river Lana. You can easily find it as it has a rotating restaurant on top that turns 360 degrees within an hour. If you want to dine there you should reserve in advance, but there is also a reservation-free bar on the top level.
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Getting some relaxation close to the city center is pretty easy in Tirana, Albania: in the south of the city you can find a giant park on a hill, the Parku i madh i Tiranës. First plans for creating this green area date back to 1939, but the realization of this 234 hectares large park started after World War II. Part of the park is also an artificial lake created between 1958 and 1960, the Liqeni Artificial i Tiranës.
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