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The best summers are when I can invite my best friend or my sister. 2004 was the year for my best friend, Alice Sheehan, to come for two weeks.
Budva is one of the walled cities, like Dubrovnik but much smaller. The walls were to keep out pirates and other marauders. Left is a view of the walls from the beach. Right is a typical narrow street inside the walls.
Dubrovnik is actually in Croatia but is so close to Montenegro that it would be a shame not to visit it. Left is a view of Dubrovnik from above. Right is the Franciscan Monastery.
Kotor is another walled city in Montenegro. It is famous for its location on a bay that reminds people of fjords. The city has very large walls, like Dubrovnik and Budva, to protect from pirates. Then there are small walls sheltering the paths that lead up the mountain; they were used by the guards who protected Kotor from marauders coming from that direction. Left and center show the view from above. Right shows a small part of the small wall.
These are Blazo's friends Arso, his wife Ljiljana, and daughter Sonja. I have forgotten the name of their mountain retreat. I didn't get a picture that also included Sonja's children
Gospa od Skrpjela is like Dubrovnik, a required stop on the tourist route. The church is on a manmade island created by sailors. When they returned home from a voyage they would drop rocks at a specific location to thank the Virgin for a safe journey. There is still an annual celebration where folks go out in boats and drop rocks into the sea.
Cetinje was the capital of Montenegro until the First World War. The two left pictures show the monastery in Cetinje. Center right is the statue of Ivo Crnojevic, who founded Cetinje. Rightmost shows Blazo and Alice at the Belveder (Belveder, or in English, Belvedere, means beautiful view; the food is great as well as the view), a restaurant above Cetinje.
The most important Montenegrin from the 19th century is Njegos, so of course we visited Njegos' Mausoleum on top of Lovcen Mountain. Leftmost picture is the front of the Mausoleum. Second left is the statue of Njegos. Second right is the view of Njegos' birthplace from Lovcen. Rightmost is the building in which Njegos was born, now a museum. They let Blazo sit in one of the chairs since his great-uncle was Njegos' bodyguard.
Stari Bar (old Bar) has many ruins which are gradually being restored.
Blazo's house is in Petrovac. Leftmost is a view from above Petrovac. Center is Hotel As (Ace) still under renovation --- it is walking distance from Petrovac. Rightmost is Alice at the small beach.
Family and friends occasionally come for a meal or to stay awhile. Leftmost is Blazo's fish dinner including Alice, nephew Djidja, and sister Vjera. Center shows Alice and Mary in front of the house Rightmost is the favorite spot in the house, the terrace, with Blazo's sister Vjera and of course Alice.
