2007 Montenegro, Kotor
ROHILAS IN EUROPE-VIA
September 27-October 14, 2007

October 6

This morning we left Tirana, Albania, for Dubrovnik, Croatia. We proceeded on a northwestern course, along the Adriatic coastline.

We passed by Shkoder, Albania. Situated on River Drin, Shkoder is known

for the Rozafa Castle. According to a legend, the castle is named for a young

woman of the same name, who was walled up in order that the walls of the castle do not fall down by the night. It is beleieved that the water passing through the stones at the castle’s main entrance comes out from the bossom of Rozafa, which she left out, when she was being walled up in order to feed her little baby.

We made a coffee stop at a restaurant. Flowers in its front yard made it an attractive place for a brief stop. A store attached to the restaurant displayed some ethnic costumes.

Shortly afterwards we crossed Albania-Montenegro border.

Located in southeastern Europe, Montenegro consists of a narrow coastal plain bounded by mountainous regions.

A part of the various reincarnations of Yugoslavia since 1918, Montenegro declared its independence in 2006. But consequent loss of previously guaranteed markets and suppliers led to a substantial economic downturn. The decline was accelerated by UN sanction imposed on it in 1992 due to its association with Serbia.

Things improved a few years ago, after new economic policy was initiated. The reforms included privatization of government industries and adoption of Euro as legal tender.

Our lunch stop was at Kotor, Montenegro. Kotor is located in the Gulf of

Kotor, which because of its physical features, is sometimes called the southern-most Fjord in Europe, even though it is actually a submerged river canyon.

In World War I, Kotor was the homeport for the Austrian Fifth Fleet and the area saw some of the fiercest battles between local Montenegrin Slavs, and Austria-Hungary.

The port town of Kotor has nice waterfront.

The town has been fortified since the early Middle Ages, when after expelling the Goths Emperor Justinian built a fortress in 535 AD on the top of the surrounding hills.

The old town is surrounded by an impressive city wall and gates built by the House of Nemanjic.

Between 1420 and 1797, Kotor and its surroundings were under the rule of the Republic of Venice. The Venetian influence can be seen in the town’s architecture.

The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, which was built in 1166, is one of the town’s important sights.

Its eating places, markets and people, along with its many sights make this town of about 14,000 a major tourist destination.

All these features of this well-preserved medieval old town have contributed to make it a UNESCO World Heritage.