We had a long bus trip to Hercegnovi, Montenegro, then switched busses to Bar. Arrived Bar, no one spoke English or German. Locals very kindly lent us cell phone. Called hostel. They came to get us to take us to an obscure, but homey apartment within walking distance of a pebbly beach. Only had 5 euros left to our name, couldn't find a BankoMat (ATM), so survived on 3 euros worth of bread, 2.8% shelf milk and cooking our own onion, string beans (white with purple coloring - absolutely delicious), long sweet green chili pepper (equally delicious), green apple juice - - and had a GREAT time. Our view out of our apartment was stunning. Montenegro is gorgeous. Our host driver says the Russians are buying up everything regardless of price, which makes him uneasy because "with the Russians, you know, it's not just the Russians, it's the Russian mafia."
From 1443 to 1571 this region of Bar was under the rule of Venice, and Bar (called Antivari in venetian language, spoken there until the eighteenth century) was part of the Albania Veneta. During the Middle Ages, Bar was the centre of the South Adriatic coast, a city–state which had a coat of arms, flag, statute and minted its own coins. The Ottomans captured Bar in 1571 and it remained in their hands until 1878. The Italian scientist and one of the pioneers in wireless telegraphy, Guglielmo Marconi made a radio connection between Bar and Bari on August 30, in 1904, and in 1908 the first railroad in this part of the Balkans was put into operation in 1913. The Port of Bar is the most recognizable feature of the city. With 3,100m of seacoast, land area of 800 ha and aquatorium of 200ha, the port is capable of reloading 5 million tons of different goods annually. The port made Bar an entry point for large amount of goods imported into Montenegro, and thus manu merchant companies and small-scale traders are based in Bar.
From 1443 to 1571 this region of Bar was under the rule of Venice, and Bar (called Antivari in venetian language, spoken there until the eighteenth century) was part of the Albania Veneta. During the Middle Ages, Bar was the centre of the South Adriatic coast, a city–state which had a coat of arms, flag, statute and minted its own coins. The Ottomans captured Bar in 1571 and it remained in their hands until 1878. The Italian scientist and one of the pioneers in wireless telegraphy, Guglielmo Marconi made a radio connection between Bar and Bari on August 30, in 1904, and in 1908 the first railroad in this part of the Balkans was put into operation in 1913. The Port of Bar is the most recognizable feature of the city. With 3,100m of seacoast, land area of 800 ha and aquatorium of 200ha, the port is capable of reloading 5 million tons of different goods annually. The port made Bar an entry point for large amount of goods imported into Montenegro, and thus manu merchant companies and small-scale traders are based in Bar.
In 1976, the Belgrade - Bar railway was opened, and thus made Adriatic sea easily accesable for tourists, and also provided new markets for the Port of Bar. Bar produces olive oil and is well known for pomegranate juice. Bar and its surroundings are also a major tourist destination. Although there are some nice cobble beaches in Bar itself, many tourists choose destinations in other small towns in Bar municipality, notably Sutomore, with its beautiful long sandy beach.
Last wistful look back onto Dubrovnik's old twon as we depart down the Dalmation Coast.
View from our apartment balcony in Bar.
Again, sorry for sideways shot, but family down below us having dinner in Bar.
OK HouseMaster inspectors, what kind of construction is this? All re-bar and concrete! No framing.
Panoramic view out our apartment in Bar. . . .
Emily - - boiling string beans, potatoes, onion and adding Montenegran libations left around this apartment to her tea (with her mother's approval of course).
Wikipedia shot of aqueduct at Bar.
Emily at Bar trains station . . . this is how we found the train station after arriving at the nearby bus station. We found this train!
Enroute next day through mountains of Montenegro to Belgrade, Serbia.
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