After Dubrovnik, for me at least, Kotor was nice for lunch and maybe a few hours. I've actually had lunch there a few times over the years. It is a sweet place, but so much more and so much more unique to see in Montenegro. For sleeping, Instead of Kotor, Hotel Conte in Perast. Perast, https://youtu.be/q2nckBnc7_M?si=CohK_4nsI6l7chEB AND Hotel Conte https://youtu.be/zYJcm2zlXA8?si=w7VstV-oLoVEQLr7
The trip to the winery was special https://www.instagram.com/winery.garnet/, so was the time down by the lake .... oh, and an olive oil tasing trip. Okay the olive oil was not a visual experience, sure got to see a fairly young orchard and a local’s house where they have set up an olive press and are making oil that has received awards all over the region. But meeting the family sitting outside at the picnic table and eating the food and having the oil explained as you try it. This was a very, very good afternoon.
The prosciutto? It is a bit of a tourist place, but the drive up is freeking amazing. Have you ever seen prosciutto hanging in the curing barn? Hundreds of hams hanging? Then you sit outside at a picnic table and eat the prosciutto, cheese, a nice local beer. Another good lunch. P1 Mountain Road https://youtu.be/QSz5hZVNxQ8?si=kAUpMBWDbSSztzt5 AND Prosciutto at Zora https://youtu.be/08il6EXog3o?si=PkQ6Rrueu6c_-U98 These experiences are still local. Hard to find the same elsewhere in Europe these days. Its why I say spend one night in each Split and Dubrovnik, maybe two, then head south.
The Ostrog Monastery built into the side of a cl## k ##iff and the restaurant at the Hotel Sokoline with some of the most spectacular views in the Balkans. Ostrog Monastery https://youtu.be/ixrJu6qv46M?si=WML9Hs2hOQCsKZwE AND Hotel & Restaurant Sokoline https://youtu.be/miNV1FVK7qI?si=iZC_lViMUEk6JGI
I think all of this can be done in a few days with a little assistance. It’s a remarkably small country with remarkably good roads some of which have beautiful views. But it’s worth getting some help planning it and arranging transportation. I have returned a number of times, but I still call for help to make the trip better. Dijana does planning and tours and transportation (as little or as much service as you want) for most of the Balkan countries. She is helping me out on a fishing trip to Bosnia in a few weeks. Also, a repeat trip, but still so much easier with someone that knows what they are doing in countries that don’t have much tourist infrastructure (which is what makes them wonderful .... of course, not talking about Croatia). She can just plan it for you or provide a complete experience. Dijana Krkotic, Doclea Travel, +39 38 9 765 5935 (phone or WhatsApp), [email protected], www.docleatravel.com
