Tiny Montenegro tends to be overshadowed by its much larger neighbour Croatia but its rugged mountains, medieval villages and long strip of beaches make it stand out. In particular, the Gulf of Kotor, Europe’s most southerly fjord, is sprinkled with coastal churches and fortified towns such as Kotor, with forests clinging to the mountains above. I first came to Montenegro on a cruise ship anchoring in the bay, and vowed to return.
This time I fly into Dubrovnik, as there are more flight options, and drive into the country. I’m slightly surprised by passport checks on both sides of the border, but of course, Montenegro is not yet in the EU, although it uses the Euro as currency. Surprisingly, after the collapse of Yugoslavia, it used the German Mark, so they’re flexible about money matters here.