09-13.08.2008 The mountains

or about the most beautiful part of Montenegro..

We reached the highest peak of the country yesterday (12.08.09) !! Bobotov Kuk, 2531 meters above the sea level. It wasn't easy, but not that difficult either. Sometimes the paths changed into rows of stones and rocks and we had to use all our limbs, but we've made it! The view was just amazing, weather fine, few tourists and an optimal dose of adrenalin - there's nothing more we need...
And today we've gone on a next peak, called Curovac, which measures 1625 meters only. A wonderful view on the blue Tara river spread from the top of the peak and the route was really nice and easy. First we had to go along an asphalt road, then through the wood and then up the rocky hill. This time we've met much more climbers, but still it was not a large number, quite bearable. And this also proves the advantage of mountains above the sea...



So, now a short time travel...
From Ulcinj we went to Albania for one day, to a city called Shkadar. And I have to admit that the area reminds me of India a lot. If there were more cows, more rubbish, slight smell of urine, more baggers and more temples, then it would be real India:) but now seriously: there are some very neglected places in the city, at every stop you can come across old damaged buildings, stands wit everything and nothing, some baggers sit on the streets here and there and chaotic heaps of rubbish lay almost everywhere. But there are pleasant places, too. A colourful alley with shops and cafés matching the European standards, beautiful mosques and the ruins of fortress from the 13th century situated on a hill, from which a breathtaking view on the city, river and mountains spreads.
Leaving Albania behind, we went towards the mountains. While we were waiting for a car in heavy rain, somewhere in Mojkovac, a man from a nearby house invited us for a beer and long stories about the mountains. He and his friend claimed it was not a good idea to climb the highest peak (Sasha - our new friend, worked once in a tourist office and said that the route to Bobotov Kuk was very difficult and demanding, he even compared it with alpinism and was convinced it must be dangerous), but that didn't discourage us. When we finally reached Żabljak, we were offered a room, as expensive (or rather cheap) as camps by the seaside. So we decided to stay a few days in a flat of a very nice family, at the end of the town. The first evening there was indeed international. Staying in Montenegro not only did we eat Italian chickpea bought in Albania and prepared on a Serbian cooker, but we also talked in English with French speaking Canadians who lived in Moscow...





And tomorrow we're already leaving the small town, which is full of tourists, but it's enough to leave it just a bit behind and go in the mountains to delight the peaceful atmosphere. So - we're leaving. And it seems we're going slowly back home, to Poland. But first we want to stop over in Visegrad, and then... well, the end... All in all it is like I wanted and we're hitch-hiking again. Well, not the whole route, but at least most of it:) So, surely we'll meet many interesting and helpful people again, getting a small insight into their lives....