Featured Touring Montenegro And Bosnia And Herzegowina

Part 1:
Hello dear ones!
Since the 24th of August I am now already on the road and have covered 2,200 km with my Honda and tomorrow after returning to Austria also 2,000 km with the car.
Itinerary so far:
230822: Arrive in Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina and meet my dear wife
240822-280822: Trip to Kotor in Montenegro and sightseeing in Montenegro
290822: Trip to Ogulin in Croatia and relaxation by the lake
300822-010922: Trip to Austria for administration and vehicle change; parking the bikes in the home garage
020922-040922: Trip to Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina by car
050922: Return trip to Austria

What can I tell you!? The Republic of Montenegro is one of the most incredible travel destinations I have experienced to date. It is one of the smallest countries in Europe and has a very low population density of 46 inhabitants per square kilometer. The country has not had its own currency since 1918 and has used all sorts of other currencies since then. Interestingly, the euro has been used as the currency since 2002, although the country does not meet any EU financial requirements. One has simply established a "unilateral" EU-independent use of the euro and only since 2010 has been granted EU candidate status for future admission to the EU. I find the prices in the supermarkets quite expensive, as the wage level is only about 400-800Euro/month.
The price of gasoline is 1.35 euros/liter, which is very cheap compared to the rest of Europe.
The local roads are at the same level as the road network I already used in the Balkans. Main roads are only partly dangerous because of missing or broken manhole covers, potholes the size of elephant traps, or "animal" encounters. All other roads you drive on at your own risk, because you must be prepared at any time that either the road surface, or the whole road is missing and you are immediately "offroad" on the track.. Since we were lucky with the weather and it was exclusively dry, we were able to achieve all our goals. In rainy weather, some passages would not have been passable with our tires. In Montenegro you can cover hundreds of kilometers in beautiful areas and winding roads. A real biker's paradise!!!

The return trip from Montenegro via Croatia to Austria was also wonderful. First about 300 km on winding country roads and then about 800 km on various highways. Here it became apparent that the quality of the Austrian highways is far behind that of the other countries. I find this unacceptable when I think what we as citizens have to pay tolls for years!!!

After a few administrative tasks and a family reunion we went back to Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina by car instead of the bikes. We spent more beautiful days there and saw numerous cultural highlights.
I'll be going home tomorrow and will be visiting my wife in Sarajevo again at the end of September.

In the following some of our impressions.

The bay of Kotor in Montenegro


The "traditional" animal situation on smaller streets


Kajak-Tour in the bay of Kotor


View into to largest national park in Montenegro




The largest freshwater reservoir of the Balkans


Mountain road with dozens of unlit tunnels, some of which also had tight bends.


Border bridge between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Note the road quality!

 

Part 2:
In the following some impressions of Sarajevo.

The bridge where the assassination attempt on the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand and his wife by a nationalist Serb took place on June 28, 1914.



Building of the Bosnian General Staff where, like many other buildings in the city, you can still see the bullet holes from the war


Place of the pigeons in the old town of Sarajevo










Art academy


Park at the Bosna spring


The best "fish pan" with 3 river fish for 2 people I have ever eaten at the "Toplik" restaurant.

 

@Dawsy: You are right. For me it looks like a Norwegian fjord.

 

@Dougie D: Thanks Dougie!

 

@Wessa: Thanks!

 

@Vulpes: I can really recommend Montenegro as a destination. Wonderful for biking. The people are nice and friendly. In the Bay of Kotor, however, the price level is somewhat higher than elsewhere in the country.

 

@ian650: This should be right. I heard/read the same amount of inhabitants.

 

@Sandi T: Thanks Sandi. It was another very interesting experience for us.

 

@learningtofly: Thanks! It tasted great. I have never eaten such a delightful fish meal before.

 

No, but it was really great.