July 2025. I have a concert ticket in my hand, but… a direct flight is too boring: thats a good chance to visit a new country 😀
The itinerary will be: Catania ✈️ Roma ✈️ Dubrovnik 🚍 Kotor 🚍 Budva 🚍 Tirana ✈️ Bologna 🚍 Imola ⚡
Dubrovnik 🇭🇷
I have already been to Croatia (https://noborders.altervista.org/europe/croatia/)but never to southern part. It was the easiest way to reach Montenegro, because it’s very near to the border. The old town inside the walls is beautifull despite I hate (too many) stairs 😁
This place is called “the walk of shame” (the real name is King’s landing) for a famous Game of Throne scene. But honestly, I am not a big fan… 🙈
I spent some hours walking in the old town, and then I started walking to reach the bus station. It was a really hard job, because I needed to reach the top of the old town (I repeat: I hate stairs!): It took more than 45 minutes walking. Anyway, I had the chance to satisfy my biggest passion: borders crossing.
Kotor 🇲🇪
I spent more time than normal on the bus to reach my destination, for borders controls and traffic. So it’s quite late when i arrive in Kotor, but i met a cute guide that welcomes me to Montenegro.
It’s clear since the first moment the main feature in Kotor: it’s the city of cats. Thousands of cats around the city. What I didn’t notice immediately in the darkness was the amazing landscape of Kotor Bay. When i had breakfast the next day on my balcony the view was stunning!
Despite i hate organized tours, i booked a boat trip to fully enjoy Kotor Bay, watching the waterfront landscape stuck in the mountains
Our Lady of the Rocks is a little island in the middle of the bay, with a tiny church with the same name.
And on the other side of the sea, a little town called Perast
I spent the rest of the time in Kotor Old Town
As i wrote before, Kotor is city of cats. When you walk on the street, you meet a lot of cats, when you eat at restaurant some cat joins for lunch, when you sit on a bench some cat jumps looking for cuddles. Around the city there are automatic food machines, veterinary centers, cat shops and even a cat museum. So i made a photo gallery for all the cat lovers like me 😀
Budva 🇲🇪
The next stop is Budva, just 30-40 minutes from Kotor. The old town is similar to Kotor, inside the ancient walls
The most famous monument is the Ballerina. The story talks about a dancer girl, forever frozen in a graceful pose, waiting for her beloved sailor, but she will never see him again.
Too much walking, so it’s time to lay at the beach
Budva and Kotor have something else in common: Cats…
In fact, when i sat for dinner, an uninvited friend came to my table, and later she also invited other 2 friends: we were 4 at the same table…
Tirana 🇦🇱
My Balcan tour continues to Albania. The journey was not so easy, because the bus was 3 hours delayed and the driver had too many stops. At least i had the chance to pass the border walking (video in the following link)
https://youtube.com/shorts/41bK8w8y0ww
I had already been in Tirana, so i will not post more pictures about it (have a look at the following link: https://noborders.altervista.org/europe/albania/ ). I will only show the Pyramid because it was under construction in my 1st visit
After this big journey i was ready for my flight to Bologna, and then straigh to the concert. And finally it’s time for Rock’n Roll: ACDC time! ⚡
