Montenegro > Across the Albanian border

After breakfast, we leave the Bay of Kotor. We drive up to the Cetinje plateau via hairpin bends. Along the way, I enjoy a beautiful view over the bay. We gain altitude quickly. At the top, we have a cappuccino with a view. We have now risen to about 1,000 meters. From here, we drive into Lovcen National Park. A narrow asphalt road leads us to the second-highest mountain in Montenegro. Through hairpin bends, we climb higher and higher. At the top lies the Njegoš Mausoleum.

Montenegro - The mausoleum of princebishop Petar II Petrovic Njegos

In the mausoleum rests the poet and prince-bishop Petar II Petrovic Njegos. His book about the centuries-long struggle of the Montenegrin people against Turkish domination has been translated into many languages. To reach the mausoleum, we must climb the last stretch via a staircase. The 461-step stairway runs through the mountain. It is not so much the mausoleum itself that is remarkable, but mainly the view over the wide surroundings. I can see the route we drove yesterday and the Bay of Kotor. We descend back to Cetinje. From there, we head toward the coast. Along the way, there is considerable roadwork. Several times, we have to wait for oncoming traffic. Cars behind us move forward by driving into the other lane. A truck driver gets fed up and blocks the entire roadway. Due in part to cars cutting in, traffic frequently comes to a complete standstill. When we finally return to the coast, we decide not to drive to Budva for lunch. We don’t have time for that. Instead, we have lunch at a small restaurant with a view of Sveti Stefan.

Montenegro - Camping on the shore of Lake Shkoder in Albania

This private islet off the coast is one of Montenegro’s most photographed spots. Afterwards, we drive on to Bar. At first, the center of Bar is somewhat disappointing, but it turns out that the old town is not by the sea, but nestled against the mountains. We visit the remnants of the fort, the aqueduct, and some church ruins. It’s enjoyable to wander among the remains of this fort. For the final stage of the day, we drive to the border with Albania and onward to Shkodër. When we arrive at the border, there is a line of about fifteen cars. Progress is slow. The customs staff probably think the same. They open an extra booth, and the line splits. Around half past five, we enter Albania with a new stamp in our passport. We drive to a campsite on Lake Shkodër, a few kilometers above the city of Shkodër. Driving through the city, we immediately notice the difference in driving style. Traffic from the left or the right, everyone seems to have the right of way. Fortunately, Brutus commands enough respect, and we can often move forward. At the campsite, we set up the tent. The tent is still a bit damp from the previous night, but thankfully the mats have stayed dry. By the shore of Lake Shkodër, it is a perfect spot for our first night in Albania.