Our day started early. To reach Koto, Montenegro, the Viking Star had to sail into a wonderful, deep valley surrounded by the limestone cliffs that make up the geography of his area. We wanted to watch the process from our balcony, so with coffee in hand, we watched the sun rise and took in the beauty of the trip. The photo is of Jan on the deck of our ship with the mountains of Koto in the background.
Koto was a prize of the Venetians because it offered a deep, protected harbor for their trading vessels. It was also a buffer against the Ottoman Turks who had begun to move northward seeking to conquer the Italians and other nations in the north. To protect the city, over the centuries, massive walls were built both at sea level and above the city on the mountainside. The walls still exist and are a challenge to the agile visitors. We passed.
Our guide was very knowledgeable as have been all our Viking guides. As a native of Koto, she was able to give us a clear picture of how Montenegro came to be an independent nation in 2006, as a former part of Yugoslavia.
As we traveled through the narrow streets, she pointed out the various building styles and how they reflected the wealth of the inhabitants. We visited the cathedral of St.Tryphon, martyred at 18 in Rome, whose remains are housed in the church. Finally we saw a small maritime museum, the former home of a prosperous captain whose daughter willed ti to the city to display artifacts of the sailing history of the region.
Early in the afternoon the ship left the port of Kotor as there is some distance to the next port. On the way out of the channel, our resident historian give us a running narration on the history and geography of the area.
Finally we joined our friends Leo and Jeanne for dinner in the restaurant, with more good conversation. Now we are ready for the next stop, the Greek island of Corfu. More to come.
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