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Trip Notes # 8 - Kotor To Malta

Kotor, Montenegro

Our first view of Montenegro was startling in terms of beauty, its serene feeling and the small villages doting the high mountainous terrain.

It made no difference whether our 6:00 AM arrival to the Kotor was via a fjord or as some people call it, a collapsed river valley. It's still a magnificent sight!

20 Minute Loading Zone

People Gawked As They Passed By Our Ship Docked Along Main Street

200 Year Old Clock - Maintained By Same Family

Typical Door Design

Just when you think you've seen every type of church, along comes one that is unique, pretty, etc.

Kotor is quite a contrast to Dubrovnik: Small, historically interesting, few tourists and - quiet.

Often, small towns have unique celebrations. Kotor is no different. Sailors are honored each year. Men and women dress in traditional clothes, religious leaders gather for services and everyone reflects on their heritage.

Traditional Dress

"Cannons To The Left, Cannons To The Right...Volleyed And Thundered"

We had the town museum all to our selves.

Divers found ancient wine container

Many ship models gave us an idea of the maritime heritage of this area

Very Old Anchor

Time To Say "Good-Bye" To Kotor

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Corfu

Corfu (Northern part of Greece) is close to Albania. We skipped the all-day tour and joined the ship's chef in buying food at the local market. It was easy, interesting and fun. The return drive to the ship took us through the older part of town. There is a lot to see - perhaps another time.

We tasted as the chef purchased food for the ship

Bee hive: Notice the bee with a red dot. That's the queen bee

Another Seabourn surprise - Greek dancing. We were told that Seabourn brought in Greece's best Bouzouki musician. Yes, they played and danced to "Never On Sunday" and "Zorba."

Getting Dressed For Dinner Is Always Fun

Malta

This is our second trip to Malta. There is a lot to see on this island ranging from visiting pre-historic (underground) burial sites, above ground temples and the lively main street in the center of town.

Hal Saflieni: Hypogeum

Probably 60-100 Feet Underground

Many People Buried In Rooms - Continuing To Carve Out More Chambers

This may have been the hi-lite of the trip - truly magical!

Art work 4000-5000 BC

Hagar Qim Temples

Much like Stonehenge, these ancient people were well acquainted with movement of sun, moon, planets, etc.The below model shows how once a year, the sun will shine through an opening in one of the temple walls.

Moving Large and Heavy Stone Blocks Took Engineering Know How

Timing was perfect to see cannons being shot at noon and...

...to take a tour of the British WWII command center - very interesting for war buffs.

Underground Tunnels

Fascinating Tour: Guide Took Us Back To 1942

Exhaustion set in from continual getting in and out of a van and climbing up and down many steep steps. It was also rather hot. Before crashing for a late afternoon and deserved rest, we returned to the ship in time to watch the end of a military parade in honor of the Ovation's inaugural voyage.