days 7 and 8 . . .

we were supposed to stop in durres, albania but something about the tides . . . the ship size . . . lack of safety . . . on to kotor, montenegro.  so we spent two days in kotor.  they could have left me there and i would have been a happy camper.  o.m.g.  beautiful.  to give you some idea of the age, the chapel was built in 1572.  but better, the town was founded in 168 b.c.  can you get your brains wrapped around that????  want even more?  they call montenegro the fiords of the south.  seventeen miles of pass running through the mountains to get to the bay of kotor.  YES!!!!!  the old town is surrounded by a wall which goes all the way up into the mountain and down the other side.  we're talking 1350 steps to the top. i.m.a.g.i.n.e.

sorry, but i am again going to slop these shots all together starting as we left the bay of kotor.  there are two small islands further down the bay, one is a benedictine monastery and the nuns agreed to include the ship in one of their traditions.  the ships horn honked three times and the bells of the chapel replied three times:

 the square of arms in the center of kotor.  everything was cobblestone:

 a view from the half way up the steps:

 

the whimsical dragon in the moat.  where else would you expect to see a dragon?

 the church of our lady of health:

 leaving the bay at sunset:

 the bay again from half way up the stairs:

 these were all over montenegro and dubrovnik.  i want one:

 further down the bay as the sun was just starting down:

the cobblestone stairs and path.  you need to be part goat.  i made it part way before my part goat . . .  aka kidlet . . . took off with my camera for higher shots.

another shot from above.  couldn't you just look at it all day long?

 one of the switchbacks goat child navigated.

 more goat goodness:

and yes, i made it just so far and sat down and waited for kidlet to scamper to the top and return.  then i found a wine store in the village. the end.