Montenegro, Romania and Macedania
After a day slacking around, researching how to get out of this place. I decided that I did want to go to North Macedania, as it is impossible to get a bus ticket to Albania.
I went in a day tour to Montenegro, the name means black mountain. As Monte means mountain and negro means black. It wasn't a bad day, but it was pretty boring. We stopped in Perast and there was a 10 euro tboat trip to The lady of the rocks chapel on a small island, the inside was okay, but it was another 2 euros to see it.
We travelled onto Budva and that is where we had lunch. That was actually the highlight of the day. As I picked a lovely restaurant that jutted out to the sea and shared a table with a nice young American lass. We chatted and ate for a couple of hours. It was actually really good. There is an old town in Budva, but we did not get time to see it as we ate instead. I am not sorry. I enjoyed the lunch. This tour was a bit boring overall.
I left Dubrovnik on the 31st at 11pm by bus. The European bus drivers are a law unto themselves. I asked the driver if the bus was going to Skopje as the ticket and the information board said the bus would leave from gate 4 and this bus was in gate 3. But as there were no signs of another bus, I thought it was worth asking. It was so I told him I only want to go to Struga, even though my ticket was to Skopje. He was fine with that. I put my case in the luggage compartment and went to find a seat. Well that was a feat in itself. All of the passengers travelling alone sat on the outside seat, to ensure noone could sit with them, except one young girl who was asleep, so she won the jackpot. The driver then comes up to me and starts yabbering about something, I have no idea. I just looked at him blankly. The lady across the aisle told me he wanted to know if I had luggage below. As he had seen me put it there, I was a tad unimpressed, I had to go back out and show him my case. Maybe this was to deter anyone else from taking it, I am not sure. He seemed happy after that. We had two drivers for the journey and the first one has a mistaken affection for middle east music and songs, which he played loudly, regardless of the late hour. He only turned it down when he was yelling into his phone, which he did regularly for the first 30 minutes of the hourney. He then turned the bus around and travelled back to a garage and picked someone up, this could be a long journey... I put ear plugs in as the music and the yelling was getting to me. I was hoping to catch some zzzs, but it looked unlikely as it was a very uncomfortable bus.
Once we got to the boarder of Croatia and Montenegro we had to get off the bus to show our passportss. The lass beside me woke up and she also had some english so she kept me informed on what was going on. She was really sweet. That was when they found out I was Australian and I think I was a bit of a nnovelty not sure why as we Aussies travel a lot, but maybe not on this bus. The Croatian borders are a little odd. When I arrived by plane there was no customs in sight, but everytime I leave on a tour or this time for good, they make you stand in line and stamp your passport, it is weird. But they just exchange pleasantries with me, no questions, I don't think it is the same for everyone as sometimes there is raised voices and arm waving... We Aussies are very lucky as we can visit 140 countries without a visa, so that makes life a lot simpler at borders. Always check were you are going though. To be sure it is one of the 140.
The Montenegrians don't care at all about who comes and goes, they barely acknowledge you. Though I did get a stamp on the way in this time, doesn't happen everytime, as my tour to there showed. There was no stamp on the way out, as the border was not manned, they were obviously sleeping. I did get one going into Albania though, so that was good.
The trip was long and really boring, very little sleep, but then it was only about $80 AUD. I was told I couldn't take a bus to Albania, only Macedonia, and this bloody bus I was on stopped in Albania and heaps of people got off. So how they brought their ticket is a mystery to me. One of the gents on the bus said Struga to me and when I nodded he pointed to himself and said Struga again, so I nodded, smiled and gave him a thumbs up. He would tell me when to get off. As the bus was travelling I realised that the word Australia was being bandied around, well a close proximity anyway. I looked at the girl beside me and she told me I was the only passenger for Struga. I told her about the other guy and she nodded and said "Yes he is saying that now". So all is good.. I got off the bus at the next stop and the bus driver got my luggage out, got back on the bus and then got down again and gave me a huge smile and a big wave. I think he likes Australians... The bus stop in Sturga was pretty well no existant and I wasn't sure what I would do when a bloke came up and said taxi. I asked how much to Ohrid and he said 10 Euros, done..
For the first time ever I was in a taxi that got pulled over by the police, it was surreal. They checked his papers and then wanted mine. They didn't say anything to me, the driver had to tell me what they wanted, and then they waddled off for a few minutes then returned our papers and off we went. It was odd.
I am glad I got a taxi the accommodation is in the old town and the steps are ridiculous to get here from the town below. I love the room though, Maria moved me to a ground floor room instead of the original one up a flight of stairs, so I have a lovely garden and an excellent view. Maria is lovely, she can't do enough for you.
I spent yesterday and this morning down in the town and now I am trying to see if I can get a day tour to Albania as I loved the views of the place I saw from the bus. This area of the Balkans is truly lovely.
The first time I walked down to the old town the steps were unbelievable I should have paid more attention to my suroundings as I got thoroughly lost on the way back up and only found the place by accident. I was chatting to Maria and told her I struggled to find the house when she said I could get a taxi in future for about 3 euros. It actually cost about 6 euros, but I don't care, I have used them twice now. I'm saving my knees, so don't judge...
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