Balkan Style a la Gangnam Style is an endearing term for how the locals live (with less satire). This is apparent in all aspects of their culture: from day-to-day interaction, arts, and of course their driving. From what I’ve been told its what they’re famous for! It definitely makes for entertaining bus rides to say the least.

On our way to Zabljak our bus was delayed by an hour for reasons we could only guess at. We eventually arrived to much chillier temperatures, but that allowed me to sympathize with friends and family back home :). We hit the trail early to crush a 20km-ish hike (I want to double check that when I get back) up to some ice caves, Ladena Paciné — I think — in Durmitor National Park. It took us the whole day and the views were spectacular. I think I burned off a little of the bread and meat I’ve been stuffing my big face with for the past month.

Yesterday, we did a much easier hike in the same park. Okay it was more like a mountainous stroll. Fine. It was a gentle and serene walk around the Black Lake. It wasn’t very black, but it was lakey.

Then began the journey to Kotor so Natalie could make her flight this morning back to France. This was supposed to be a purdy 3.5 hour busride back. NOPE. 5.5 hours of pure personality-destroying, life-changing turmoil. It wasn’t that bad but to try and keep this blog somewhat more interesting than a game of bash your head with rocks, I will indulge in some creativity a little.

AIR CONDITIONING. The words stood out to me like an ancient artifact to Dr. Jones. This bus would be a cozy and comfortable ride back to Kotor. We step on, the friendly bus attendants smile and point to the back of the bus, their gaze fall on my Canadian flag patch.

“I wonder how well the Canadians handle heat in this country,” I’m sure they thought to themselves. Their smiles hide the naivety that will soon be exposed. We take our seats and notice no cold air coming from the vents. No biggie, maybe once they start driving? Fifteen minutes into the ride and that was answered with a stuffy and musty ‘no’. Okay this bus isn’t too bad, I’m warm but I ain’t no baby (actually I am and I fear the humid heat like a cockroach fears light). Then we arrive at some city, Podgoricha I think. It should be named City Where Everyone Wants to Get on This Bus-icha. All of Montenegro was at this bus stop battling their way to get a standing spot. Then she boarded. She would be the ruler of any fresh air arriving on this bus, and tonight her thumb would point down.

It started to cook, I was getting a nice medium-rare look about me. Some girls opposite us opened their window. Moments later,
“You dare allow cool and fresh air on this bus!? Close that at once before I close… Your life,” I’m sure she said in Montenegran. She hated all things good and nice

The bus attendants could see fear and the hopelessness in our eyes, so they cracked a window. The Ruler of the Air had no authority over them thankfully. Only an hour to go. The odd breeze would keep us alive and awake. 30 minutes to go. Mouth is parched. I start wringing my shirt into my mouth to absorb my lost water. The Ruler of the Air glared at me as I was trying to save my life.
“I win,” I mouthed to her.

We arrive in Kotor. Dozens of Montenegran hunnies greet me and a few hunks welcome Natalie back. We did it.

As we later found out, the reason for the delay to Zabljak was due to a fatal accident. A girl my age tried to overtake a vehicle and ended up colliding headfirst into a truck hauling firewood. Her young sister didn’t make it. Although I may be at the will of the bus drivers over here, please take care on the roads back home, friends.

Edit: I now realize how quickly that post degraded into sadness. Know that my plot twists aren’t always shiny.

Skader Lake, biggest lake in the Balkans

I was told that apparently Montenegro has just received the bragging rights for tallest nation in the world (recorded), stealing the title from the Netherlands. So naturally I fit right in.

You can tell the season is coming to a close, although there still are the hoards of cruise shippers (floaters), but places like Budva — a Miami-esque town in Montenegro and a hotspot for Russian tourists, are shutting down. Nat and I did manage to get a couple parties in, one led us to a club in Kotor that looked like a greek temple. It was actually filled up with locals which was a change, all to see a British DJ. She wanted a glowstick which I enthusiastically and most tenderly delivered accidentally to the face. That’s why you always keep your eye on the ball kids!

Because of my phone being a little unfriendly, I have to do a bit of a photo dump for the next posts. PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR MEDIOCRITY

Lunchtime view

Lake that I forget the name of, the lakebed is below sealevel at points

Went on a tour around Montenegro with Natalie and saw some pretty varied sights! Geographically its such a buffet, down on the coast it looks similar to south-central British Columbia while up north near the mountains almost gives off a Nordic vibe. Although their mountains aren’t as tall as the Rockies, size isn’t everything. They are pretty different looking with vast passes and meadows in between.

Learned more about the history of the country including a monastery built into a cliff, a mausoleum on top of a mountain that made me nerd tweak a bit since I felt I was in the middle of Skyrim and some spirited driving on some less-wide roads.

I’m in Zabljak with Natalie right now and wish I could stay another night. Its such a prime spot for outdoor activities and hiking, loving it. Although its only 2000 people its classified as a city. The hostel owners here couldn’t keep a straight face wondering how Austria has 20000 person villages but Montenegro has 2000 person cities. Especially when cows just were walking down the front street.

From atop a mountain near a mausoleum

Went on a day trip to the nearby town of Perast. The main attraction aside from the old town is this church, Lady of the Rock built on a man-made island. It took them 100 years to build it up from the sea floor 20 meters down. They used rocks, old or captured ships, tourists, anything, to build the foundation. Its pretty impressive to see and very purdy. Being a sunday, buses run every 2 hours and finding any sort of timetable was a pipedream but we managed to get a ride back to Kotor from a passerby. Felt weird to be in a car after a month of buses and trains. I felt like that there Paris Hilton all fancy like.

There’s a few cruise ships that come in, and although its not as many as Dubrovnik, Kotor still fills up and gets all bloated with their kind. Juuust kidding.

Off to Budva tomorrow!

Perast