Welcome to Montenegro

 

It was a fairly quick trip to Kotor Bay, Montenegro from Dubrovnik.  We had chosen to stay two nights at Porto Montenegro, a fairly high priced marina in Kotor Bay.  But the one advantage is that they assist with checking in to the country.  Montenegro is somewhat bureaucratic and they are not familiar with US licensing.  In Europe, officials want you to have an ICC (international certificate of competence) but that certificate is not recognized in the US.  Michael has his US Captains License which allows him to deliver boats for a fee or take people out on boats for a fee.  It is the legal operating license that you must have in the US for commercial activity.  Private yacht skippers do not have to be licensed but should have at least taken some sailing courses.  However, without a Captains license commercial activity is forbidden. 

Verige Strait

Well, of course, the lady checking us into the country had never seen a US captains license before so she was skeptical.  The fellow helping out from the marina patiently explained to her that his licensing was more than acceptable.  So then she asked Michael if he knew how to navigate!  He told her he managed to find his way across the Atlantic Ocean - from the US to Europe and beyond.  And as such he felt fairly confident that he could manage his way around Kotor Bay.  She apparently agree because she let us enter the country - yay!

 

Kotor Bay

 So the high priced marina had already paid off.  After check in we went to our slip and then went searching for a Montenegro SIM card.  Walking around it was clear that we had landed right smack dab in the middle of "Richville".  Luxury shops, multi million dollar yachts and many folks dressed to the nines.  Virtually all the yachts had paid "crew" as their owners never dirty their hands.  Clearly, not the best place for us.  Not only does Michael have only me for "crew" but he also has no maintenance department or boat washers.  Not to mention the absence of a Chef!  We must cook, clean, fix, navigate and sail the boat!  Exhausting😊!

Old Church

 So we decided one night would be enough at Porto Montenegro and we would go explore the bay the next day.  We wanted one more day in a marina to get some laundry done, fill the water tanks and wash the boat.  So we found a nice little place on the other side of the bay near Kotor town.  Much more reasonably priced and not so hoity-toity.  

Old Church up in the hills

 Our friend Tiago says its always a bit breezy in the bay so we are looking forward to just sailing around some and visiting the area.  Our plan is to spend about three weeks before heading on down the coast.  As we were coming down the coast to Kotor Bay some sailor hailed us on the VHF.  He asked where we were headed and we told him Tivat in Kotor Bay.  He said "we just left there and if I were you I would skip Tivat altogether".  Well, of course, that is not possible as you must check in at Tivat.  But he was correct in his assessment of Tivat, there are nicer places to be.  That being said Kotor Bay is beautiful and not a bad place to hang out for awhile.