Herceg Novi, Montenegro

After all our worries about clearing into Montenegro, our agent met us at the dock, collected our passports, and was back in ten minutes with the stamped & signed paperwork. Ten minutes after that I had a Montenegro SIM card for internet access (1 TB data for only 30 €!). We headed west, two nautical miles to Herceg Novi, dropped the anchor, napped, and waited for George to arrive.

Our first dinner was at a great, locals restaurant called Tri Lipe. Lots of meat, lots of roasted veggies, lots of beer, great service, (and a little mediocre wine).

Church of St. Michaels in the upper square of the old town

We wandered up the steps to the old town, which was not very busy (this is the end of the season), but beautifully lit up at night.

One of the gates into the upper old town
Cappuccino art that was almost too good to drink

Unfortunately we wasted most of the next day motoring down to Porto Novi. The port of Zelenika could issue our crew list and cruising vignette (permit), but had no one to collect the tourist tax. By the time we moved, anchored, waited for the anchor to set, and then find the correct office, she had left for the day. So it was back to Herceg Novi and a wait for Monday (government offices closed on Sunday).

Water polo practice

Sunday morning we took a stroll down the promenade to Oliga. We passed a group of teenagers playing water polo (they have a water polo stadium down the road), and just enjoyed seeing all the locals out for a Sunday at the beach. Many people were lying in the sun covered in mud, enjoying the spa treatment.

Not a bad place for a drink and/or a bite


The Kanli Kula Fortress

George met us back in town, and we hiked up through the old town to the Kanli Kula, the Bloody Fortress.

Built in the 16th century as part of the Ottoman Empire, it served as a fortress, a prison, and (nowadays) an open air theatre.

A street in the old town of Herceg Novi

We explored the fortress, stopped for lunch in the square, then in was back to the boat to rest a bit. George had invited us over for movie night, I offered to make dinner, and it was another peaceful night in Herceg Novi.

Creative plant hangers