Montenegro and Croatia

Saturday29th – Wednesday 3rd July

We left Albania and headed along the main road to the border crossing with Montenegro, choosing the crossing on the north east near Shtuf. The road leading to the border was a small narrow road and relatively quiet, passing through small villages. We crossed over with ease and headed west towards the coast, we had been advised this would be better than going north around the main city of Podgorica as this is a long and windy road up and over the hills. We took the advice and found the roads small but an easy drive to the coast, then it was north along the beach side tourist towns that line the narrow coastal area of the small country.   To one side the sea and rocky beaches, to the other steep mountains and the roads busy with the holiday traffic. It was a pleasant enough drive and other than stopping for lunch and then a shopping expedition we move along easily. Arriving at a ferry crossing we stopped and lined up, with no idea of what to do, we watched the other commuters rushing to a booth to buy their tickets, so Ewout got out and did the same so that we would be ready when our turn came.  Sitting in the camper we were amused to watch the antics of the others and the official in charge blowing his whistle while trying to direct 6 lines of waiting vehicles and giving each their fair turn. The ferries were constantly back and forth and it wasn’t long before our turn to drive onboard. While waiting in the van during the crossing we were approached by a couple, Goran and Danka who spoke English, and asked if we were “really from Australia”, they went to explain that they were from Sydney, but had originally come from Bosnia. They wished us a good trip and we went our separate ways off the ferry. It was then a short drive to the border crossing into Croatia.

While stopped for our turn we were again approached by Goran and asked if we had time for a coffee after the formalities and if we wait for them and follow, they would lead us to a place they knew. We agreed and after the easiest border crossing we followed them along the main road towards Dubrovnik.  Getting close to the campsite we had chosen we wondered when they would stop. Just as we were wondering if they would stop soon they pulled up at a Cafe within only 50 metres from the campsite. We pulled in and we had  coffee a nice time chatting to them. They seemed amazed at our travels and had to take a photo of the camper to send to their daughters in Sydney.  They graciously offered to pay for our coffees and then offered us the opportunity to meet them at their house in Croatia, a convenient stopover on our way north. With contact details exchanged we parted and crossed the road to Camping Kate. We had stopped here on our last Croatian adventure and thought it would be a convenient overnight stop.

Sunday.

Leaving the camping our next destination was a small village camping ground on the Pelješac peninsular at Trapanj. We had such a lovely time there 4 years ago and we wanted some time by the beach to swim and enjoy the seaside. It was an easy mornings drive and as we wound our way along the small roads past the limestone hills dotted with grapevines and olive trees we could feel the magic of the place settle around us. Driving into the village it was as we remembered, though this time it was evident that we were in the European holiday season, there were lots of cars and people around. Not that this mattered, we found a nice spot in the shade only about 50 metres from the water’s edge and settled in for a beachside break. With the water clear and sparkling and the weather warm and sunny this is a perfect spot to unwind.