Our magical day in Montenegro began early in the morning, as Sea Cloud entered the picturesque Kotorfjord. As we disembarked in Kotor, the bright sunlight filtering through morning mist formed a stunning backdrop for the ship’s golden eagle figurehead. We first set out for the small bayside town of Perast. Taking a local tender, we visited the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks, built on a small manmade island in the center of the bay. Built to house a sacred icon found floating in the bay in the 15th century, this church boasts numerous votive offerings as well as a stunning coffered ceiling painted by Montenegrin artist Tripo Kokolja.
Returning to Kotor, a short walking tour oriented us with the highlights of this walled city, famed for its Venetian architecture and imposing city walls. Our tour included a visit to the city’s Roman Catholic cathedral, dedicated to St. Tryphon; originally built in the 12th century, the cathedral has been reconstructed on multiple occasions due to the frequency of earthquakes in this region. After a few hours free time in Kotor, our tour resumed with a bus journey up a series of 25 switchbacks to the mountain village of Njegusi. Here we experienced another face of Montenegro; high in the mountains, the village is known for its cured hams, which we had the opportunity to sample alongside local wines and cheeses. The return trip down the mountain offered breathtaking views of the rugged cliffs that plunged to the bay below, where Sea Cloud awaited our return.
