Everything Is Prettier In Montenegro (Especially With Friends!)
What a difference from one border to the next! The natural beauty of Montenegro is stunning. We first anchored off a busy beach in Bar after checking in with customs and immigration. I was excited to find a well-stocked grocery store and a small outdoor vegetable market before we headed off to the even more beautiful bay of Budva.
Budva is so cool. A walled city, beautifully preserved but with all the modern restaurants and a castle on the water where I decided Russ and I will one day renew our vows. The coastline here and through Croatia is dotted with caves, rocky outcroppings and white sand beaches. We loved exploring the clear turquoise water.
Porto Montenegro is a luxury marina in Tivat with megayachts, fashion shows, a fabulous (albeit expensive) pool club and delicious European restaurants. The people-watching was some of the best anywhere with sexy women in sparkly mesh evening gowns next to glamorous ladies in hijabs. As we were in port for over a week getting work done on the boat, we had plenty of time to explore the town, shop and even hike high up into the hills…so high and hot we had to hitchhike home.
Rosie was beyond excited to go to a club party with Russ and I, and then another evening we got ourselves on the marina guest list for a fashion show where she was invited to the after-party and got a pretty awesome swag bag. In a former life, I learned what it takes to put on a fashion show and this one was incredible, taking place on one of the marina docks with all sorts of special effects. It was a mother-daughter night to remember.
Just around the corner into the bay of Kotor we met up with our good friends Hanne and Trey who flew in to spend a week with us. We ate incredible meals, enjoyed a few date nights, explored beautiful little towns, walked thousands of steps up to the old castle of Kotor, and swam in caves. Our last night in Montenegro was a brief overnight near a monastery on its own island; we swam, I got kicked off the island by a priest because bathing suits are NOT allowed, and Hanne captured some glowing sunset photos of her latest products for Instagram (shameless plug here!) The next morning we checked out and sailed north to Dubrovnik, Croatia.
On our last evening together, we celebrated my birthday dinner with a cable car ride up to a restaurant overlooking Dubrovnik with breathtaking views, yummy food and creative cocktails. Not bad for 44! It was a wonderful week, blessed with sunny weather, calm seas, spectacular scenery and lots of laughter. Thank you for visiting! We love you!
