Sailing into Kotor, Montenegro, through the Bay of Kotor is wonderful. It is reminiscent of the Fjords of Norway. The day was overcast and gloomy with threats of rain. The light cast a dramatic tone; color pictures that appear to be black and white.
Here are a few more.
Our day in Kotor began with a trip to the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks. Legend has it that the small island where the church is located was created when fishermen returning from sea dropped rocks into the bay as a sign of good luck and fortune and in thanks for a safe return. The church is small and our tour was large, really too large for the location. First a couple of shots from the outside.
The church is tiny. It is adorned with memorabilia respecting the sea and those who labor upon it. It was very crowded inside but I was still able to look up and get these photos.
There is also a small museum on the second floor of the church. Once again, it was very crowded (too many people for the venue) and JoAnn and I were sort of rushed through because we were at the end of the group. I still managed to get a couple of shots.
This next photo is of an embroidery made by a woman waiting for her husband to return from the sea. She started it as a young person but by the time she finished she was using her own hair for grey thread and had lost her sight. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful work of art.
Opposite the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks is another small island where a monastery was constructed.
I realize that my blog often features photos and commentary about churches and their artwork. As a general rule, I find them interesting and worth the effort. It’s important to note, however, that most tours, especially in European countries with strong ties to the church, take us to churches which are featured components of the activity. I do try to mix my blog with other things as well and hope you find everything (or at least most of what I present) interesting. Now, back to Kotor.
We sailed by the monastery as we returned to the historic city of Kotor. Kotor is one of the best preserved medieval city in the Adriatic. It is relatively small and easily walked. As we approached we were met by the Venetian Fortifications which are certainly intimidating.
Within the walls is a collection of well preserved buildings. Before our afternoon tour, however, we decided not to return to the ship but to have lunch at one of Kotor’s many restaurants. We chose Quadri Caffe, just off the Square of Arms. We chose Quadri because it prepared traditional food. We enjoyed grilled calamari stuffed with ham and cheese and it was really good. I highly recommend the dish. No pictures, I don’t take photos of food; pictures of wine, however, is a different story.
After lunch we met our local guide for a tour through the old town. We entered through the Maritime Gate in the city wall. As in many of the places we visited on this trip, walking through the city gate was like going back in time a couple of centuries. Here are a few shots of inside the city walls. Remember, click on a photo in a montage to start a slide show of the photos in the collection.
We visited the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon which is a famous landmark of the old town.
I thought this cruicifix to be extremely moving.
We also visited the Serbian Orthodox St. Lucas Church which was built in 1195.
The interior was striking and beautiful in its simplicity.
And then, we were back on Le Lyrial, sailing for Hvar.