Day 11 (July 22, 2017): Pod-gor-WHAT-za?!

We were a bit sad to leave the Bay of Kotor today. But alas, we needed to head to the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica (pronounced POD-GOR-EETZ-A.) to start our journey home.

Another lovely breakfast on the hotel patio overlooking the square, which was alive particularly early today - Saturday is market day outside the city gate, so the crowds arrive earlier than usual and in great numbers. We had planned to climb those 1350 steps up the mountain wall as a last Kotor activity, but the heat was excruciating. We opted instead for a last stroll around the old town.

At 10:30AM, we got a taxi to the bus station. Our driver told us he was from Podgorica. When I asked him, "What can one see or do there?" He replied, "Nothing." And from what we saw today in the 40C heat, he was quite right!

Our bus left at 11AM and stopped on nearby Tivat, Budva, and one other city I cannot recall. Essentially the route was along the coast then up into the hair-raisingly steep mountains, where a cliff-side highway winds its way towards the capital city.

We arrived in Podgorica at 1:30PM. I asked a taxi driver to take us to our Ramada hotel, but he said, "It's just around the corner -- you can walk." (That happened in Kotor, too.) Well, "just around the corner" turned into a kilometer-long walk in searing heat, with 60kgs of luggage. We basically collapsed at the Ramada front desk.

We took awhile to rest up and to see if the temperature would fall. It didn't. So at 5:30PM, we set out anyway, using taxis to scoot between the few sights we could find.

We did some shopping in the mall attached to the hotel, had a cappucino and pastry at a coffee shop, and dinner in the top floor of the Ramada as the sun set.

Saturday morning guards on the Sea Gate at Kotor.

Cultural performers as we were leaving town

We sauntered through the Saturday market -- WOW, the produce they grow here! Look at all these varieties of olives!

Now THAT's a well-used candle-holder! As seen in a cafe window on our last walk around Old Town Kotor.

We passed through Budva again today enroute to Podgorica, and got a nice view of the Old Town in the distance.

You would not believe the crazy heights of the highway from Budva to Podgorica. It's waaaaay up there in the stratosphere! Hairpin turns, switchbacks... NOT a pleasant ride in a bus.

A tunnel through the rock waaaaaay up there in the mountains, enroute to Podgorica.

A castle on the mountain heights

The Millennium Bridge in Podgorica

Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ

Interior of the cathedral. We both agreed it was the most amazing interior we've seen on this trip.

Tiny St. George's Church. Sometimes small can be a good thing. Beautiful spot!

In 40C heat, people will swim anywhere just to cool off! This is the river that runs through the city. Not the cleanest water...

Ruins of the Old Town Podgorica.

Montenegrin Parliament. One cannot assume that all countries possess an architecturally impressive parliament building on a hill with great lawns -- as we do! Montenegro's parliament is a tad plain.