Indy? - Boka Bay, Kotor

Interesting and busy day today - trying to cram a lot into a little. 

Woke up early to grab a small breakfast before 930am walking tour. The hostel is a bit of a new experience but I slept pretty well and there was plenty of hot water. 

Coffee and some bread and sweets - Nutella mixed with white cream chocolate! Biggest shock of the morning was it was a tad chilly. The tour was only an hour and was a good primer to getting to know the city with another political history review. He did make a good point - as a visitor come with an open mind, listen to everyone's point of view and come to your own informed conclusions. (Funny he is a Tito fan - but maybe not quite old enough to really recall)

After the tour, there are two sets of defensive walls to walk. Those near the sea and this that go up the mountainside. It's wasn't too hot and the path to the old church was only 15 minutes. It was worth it as the views of the entire bay really help to tell the story of the area. The old town is really tiny. And while UNESCO protected. There is a lot going on. 

I really wanted some lunch after the walk and before the bay tour. Funny how your mind works and you wind up in the polar opposite of what you wanted. Right on one of the main squares. I tried to recreate the amazing stuffed squid from Dubrovnik but they paled in comparison. I thought the shrimp stuffing might be a nice change. But I know know where are those bait shrimp that get stripped from our hooks go. (On my way back to the hostel I passed a cute wine shop serving pizza. It probably would have been perfect)

The wine shop I am in for pre dinner cocktail has just started a violinist -so I guess that is a Kotor thing. 

Up next was the boat trip. 7 people, all Muslim except me and the skipper. A smallish center console. I am wearing swim trunks but I'm guessing there won't be much swimming by the ladies anyway. 

We make three stops in our three hour tour. They are rather disjointed but it is nice to be on the water. 

The first is Our Lady of the Rocks, which a man-made island with a church. It is packed with people and it doesn't appear that we can go inside. On a separate island is a monastery that is closed to the public. 

After a lengthy cruise through the bay we pop out in the open Adriatic and enter one of the very popular Blue Caves. A million years ago, I did this in Capri. A partially submerged cave that reflects light up from the floor and fills the space with a pale blue aura. It's pretty cool but I cannot believe how many boats they allow inside at once. 

(Ps: Blue and Green caves have been everywhere there has been water thus far)

The couple seated next to me are a young Turkish couple on their honeymoon. She is quite covered up and doesn't shake my hand but they are both furiously taking pictures and ousting to instagram. 

(I try to be helpful to our captain and pull in a bumper and make sure the towel is on the seat as people exit. The newlyweds first think I am crew. And after we chat a bit maybe US special forces. I think it is the cargo pants and the wrap sunglasses. I smash's think I have been someplace long enough when someone asks me directions. This is close)

The final stop, which I was disappointed to miss in Vis, was a submarine cave. The Yugoslav army built caves in the limestone to hide and service their subs. It's very Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indy actually rides a sub to a cave base where they eventually open the ark. I don't think it's Yugoslavia as they depart Egypt, but it could be. 

The entrance looks like what you would expect except there is iron netting and faux rocks that create a camo effect. Inside, it is just a long tube with walkways. Apparently the caves were also connected to each other by tunnel. 

All in all, it was a good day and I am hungry for something a little different. Since Kotor was established by the Venetians , I'm thinking pasta might be in order. 

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