Index
Day 1 - Random encounters
Day 2 - Unplanned delays
Day 3 - Driving to Montenegro
Day 4 - Montenegro
Day 5 - Back to Albania
Day 6 - More delays
Day 7 - Return
Montenegro and Albania: July 2018
217km (135 miles) not counting the miles spent lost due to bad navigation data, plus a few slightly harrowing moments as we found that "highways" in Albania don't quite have the same meaning as they do in the Western world, not to mention they do the same thing here that I'd seen in Trinidad-- they park right in traffic lanes and don't care if they hold up traffic.
A few bits of one-lane dirt roads and one-way, one-car-width street later, plus a horrendously slow border crossing and "insurance" "green card" purchase later, the beach town of Ulcinj in Montenegro was the lunch stop. While they might be most beautiful beaches in Montenegro, it's hard to tell, as every square meter of sand was covered by umbrellas and people. Lunch on the waterfront was pretty indifferent, but it was at least semi-tasty, although the drink of milk, banana, and honey was pretty bland.
The quick walk up to the fortress got out of the crowds and into better views of the bay, including more of the old town, and weekenders enjoying the water on jetski's. Not a bad life, so long as you get used to how narrow and crowded the roads are!
Had an easier drive to Kotor, where the old town and old fortress made for a rather picturesque setting, as the walls wound up the mountainside overlooing the town. Even the cruise ship in the harbor felt right. The hike up to the top is very short but steep-- worth it for the view, especially as the sun set!