Sweaty Stefan

Sveti Stefan turned out to be the place where we were dripping with sweat! Another bus journey without aircon! Ek dog die auntie gaan vrek. The whole little island has a walkway to the mainland, and the monastery that it was before, moved up the mountain. Now, the island is a luxurious resort for all the glamorous people, that are not on their private yachts.

Montenegro (black mountain) is so picturesque, and around every corner is a little jewel. The auntie is now beyond 'steeks donkie'. She just sees a potential staircase and then she says: Punt Nommer Een! Sy gaan nie verder nie! From the steep slope we look at the most iconic view of the Adriatic. It is a wow moment! We saw a lot from an elevated perspective!

Sy wou by die see wees my maat, sy was by die see, met 'n voet in die water, sê pa!

I cannot begin to describe the heat...We don't need a sauna, on the tip of my nose is a permanent drop of water. The locals say the best time to be here is September. Too hot or too cold otherwise. I ask: why black mountain, the mountain is white? The locals say: in winter it's dark and black!

We took another bus to Perast, and here the auntie did descend the stairs to the little town, the bus leaves you at the top of the hill and you have to climb hundreds of steps to get there! Very good idea for tourists, you get them fit and thin! At the bottom is always a square and a church. In front of us are two little islands, one a monastery and one a church. The smaller St. George's island rises from a natural reef and houses a Benedictine monastery shaded by cypresses. The big sister, Our Lady of the Rock, was artificially created in the 15th century. Every year on the 22 July the locals row over with stones to continue the task. The magnificent church was erected in 1630. It is peculiarly picturesque and so beautiful, a miniature version of Venice.

On our way walking back to the bus, we find a restaurant with a lamb on the spit and also with a lamb cooked under a bell! (the traditional way, the bell is like a heavy cast iron lid). We sit down and order both! Delish! Mom says: this tastes like home.

We are so exhausted we take a taxi home, we make sure the taxi has aircon! We are lazing in front of our abode, looking at all the yachts go by, and listening to the Big Ben Bell that rings every hour. The whole of Kotor and the ancient walls get lit up at night and the reflection of the lights forms a heart shape on the water.

The prices in Kotor match the luxury yacht crowd with their linen suits and designer sun glasses. It ain't cheap, and it's time for us get out of here, before we melt away. Everywhere massive hotels are under construction. And luxury goods are advertised on billboards. We see many Luxury cars too on narrow little roads, with number plates from California to Monaco!

My dad is on his buying mission again, this time it's not a camper but a lovely old stone house on the waterfront. Mom is seriously not impressed...