Montenegro Girl x
Where is Montenegro?
As it turns out, not a lot of people know where Montenegro is. In the 13 years I have owned a property out there, only a smattering of people have known where it was.
Maybe a few adventurous types who had inter-railed there as a student. But most people have had no idea. They have looked at me blankly, trying not to let on that they haven’t a clue.
One person thought it was near Canada.
So, rest assured, you are certainly not alone if you don’t know.
Montenegro is a small country roughly the size of Wales in South Eastern Europe. It nestles between Croatia and Albania along the Adriatic coast, directly across from the east coast of Italy.
Montenegro also has land borders with Bosnia and Hercegovina and Kosovo. It was part of the former Yugoslavia before it formed a federation with Serbia after the breakup of Yugoslavia and then became a country in its own right in 2006 following an independence referendum.
What does Montenegro mean?
Montenegro’s name in Montenegrin is Crna Gora meaning “Black Mountain” and it is indeed very mountainous in the north. Its terrain is actually very diverse for a small country of just 630,000 population and it has a beautiful stretch of coastline along the Adriatic sea.
Putting Montenegro on the map
In recent years it seems things have been changing bit by bit and more people do seem to be more familiar with the name – even if they are still not quite sure where it is. It may have been James Bond that has helped bring Montenegro more under the public radar. Casino Royale was supposedly set in Montenegro but actually filmed in Czech Republic.
Or maybe it was Ryanair and Easyjet announcing new flights there direct from UK. Or perhaps Lonely Planet awarding Kotor (Montenegro’s version of a mini-Dubrovnik) as a top destination to see in 2016.
Whatever it was, this little country does certainly seem to be a rising star and is gradually getting known here in the UK. It’s being talked about more. And my own experience backs this up.
Montenegro has mountains, lakes, medieval villages and a spectacular coastline along the Adriatic. What’s not to love?
Tivat airport expanded
There’s been a noticeable increase in tourists over the last couple of years and the once sleepy Tivat Airport (one of 2 airports in Montenegro – the other one is Podgorica the capital) has now been expanded and is now bustling with arrivals.
But not too many. Yet. Montenegro still feels real and authentic. It has mountains, lakes, medieval villages and a spectacular coastline along the Adriatic. What’s not to love?
Gratefully some wise person in the government realises this too and the tourism policy appears to be set on avoiding the mistakes of mass tourism made by the former Yugoslavia in the 80s. Their vision is for something more Monte Carlo, than Benidorm.
And I salute them for it.
Montenegro Girl x
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