Thursday, February 28, 2019

Flight From Montenegro to Rome


Oh my gosh.  I thought Deb and I were gonners when we were being driven to the Podgorica Airport about 2.5 -3 hours from Herceg Novi.  
Hairpin turns.  Barely no guard rails or fence or even trees between us and a sheer cliff into the sea.
Our driver got us to the airport in 2 hours!!!!
It took almost 2 hours for my blood pressure to come down.
I was so scared.
BUT.....we are ok.
Wonderful flight from Montenegro to Rome with Alitalia.
Gorgeous photos and scenery from the window seat.
Just sayin'



Crossing the Adriatic Sea....unbelievably gorgeous from the air.




Coming in to Rome from the east...so very green it looks like Ireland.  It's February.
Lovely landing.....
We are now relaxing at The Beehive, our favourite hostel in Rome, after a yummy lunch at the Termini Mercato Centrale Roma.

Tonight we learn how to make homemade tagliatelle (pasta) and two different kinds of sauces.
From the co-owner, Steve, at The Beehive.
I'll take photos......


Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Randoms of the Walled City of Kotor



Kotor was visited by us three times while we were in Montenegro.  On one of our last visits there we took some simple, random photos of an enjoyable day having lunch and cappuccinos.
On this trip our bus took the ferry again.


Met two Canadians while we were there.
Mr. & Mrs. Mallard.


Sharing the love of mimosa flowers.


Outside the walled Old Town.....a quiet place.




This bell tower started to ring when we were directly underneath.  Scared the poop out of us both.


A wee shop, in Kotor, way, way down some winding streets.  The lady was so lovely and we found great prices and lots to chose from.  You can't get lost....left, right, straight......


No words.  Just delicious caps.


This fellow below with the goatee, was visiting Kotor also...but I am wondering if he might be famous?  Everyone was fussing over him.  Shaking his hands.  Appeared to be random strangers.
Looks familiar....but I got nothin'.



One way to captain your boat.


The incredible wall...of Kotor....magnificent.




And of course those 1300 plus steps...to be done once....only once....lol.


On the bus...heading home....the incredible scenic drive around the Bay of Kotor.
This is from the bus window...of a small village...on the way.
Amazing.


We are now on our way tomorrow for Rome, Italy and then a train up to Genoa.
For a month of touring...and blogging.
Stay tuned for more of our adventures......


Perast, the "Pearl of the Venetian Baroque"


Perast, only a half hour bus ride from Herceg Novi was one of our last day trips.  The cost was less than 4 euros......the scenery BREATHTAKING!

This quaint medieval town has no shops, no big tourist attractions, and is quiet and so peaceful.
Perfect for slowing down and smelling the sea air, and seeing up close, the incredible fjords that surround it. 


These wee Black-headed gulls are one of my favourites.  We don't see them much, but definitely cute.


Two islands off the coast of Perast.
One manmade, one natural.

The island of St. George, on the left, and Our Lady of the Rocks, on the right.
No boats this time of year, except for tour groups, but in high season a must.



Below is Our Lady of the Rocks island.   The local people built a 17th century church on this very flat island.


Below is the Island of St. George up close.  
Beginning with two fishermen who saw something 'heavenly' on the reef in this spot, rocks have been dropped here.  Over two centuries of this tradition (including hundreds of ships and boats filled with rocks) this island was formed.
It is home to a monastery.  Unfortunately not open for tourism.


Mimosa in full bloom here in Perast....gorgeous.



Tiny villages built just feet from sea level across the bay.  All along the Bay of Kotor it is the same.





An interesting story on our way to getting this view of Perast from the top of the village.
So many steps....like Herceg Novi...but they end at private homes from the port.  We wandered up and down trying to find a way up to visit some of the churches we saw from below.
There are two roads in Perast.  The promenade at sea level and the road above the village that is the thorough fare to continue around the bay.



This fella just finished lunch.






Deb and I walked from the entrance of Perast right to the very end.  I would guess it was less than 2 kilometers long.



Orange cake after a delicious lunch.  I had pork knuckle...yummy.  Deb has salmon.  



From here it is a great view of the two islands, St. George and Our Lady of the Rocks.


A wonderful place to visit.....highly recommended.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Game Of Thrones In Dubrovnik's Old City (Spoiler Alert)

Dubrovnik and the Old City have been some of the locations for filming Game Of Thrones TV show which I love.  For example, King's Landing and Daenerys Targaryen's adventures in Essos, Qarth to Slaver's Bay, to name a few.


Pile Gate (above) and just inside the entrance (below) has been featured many times in Game of Thrones.
One example was when King Joffrey is attacked by the mobs and he orders, "Kill them, Kill them all." 
He was such a mean spirited young man.







The Red Keep below and Lovrijenac Fortress above.


To diehard fans of GOT's the Lovrijenac Fortress is instantly recognized as the Red Keep.  It appears in many seasons of the series.


Below is Fort Bokar which has been the backdrop for GOT's.  In an episode that Tyrion and Lord Varys are talking from the city walls in King's Landing with Fort Bokar seen behind them.
(This is also an excellent photo of the Old City of Dubrovnik)

The walls themselves have been in numerous scene in GOT's, with the characters walking through King's Landing, filmed on the walls.


A whole bevy of goods to purchase in this store!!!



The Minceta Tower where Daenerys' dragons were locked up.  She searches for a way in to rescue her dragons.  Filmed at the top of the Minceta Tower.


I can't find a way in either to rescue the dragons?


She did, but then she was also caught...spoil alert...you know who saves her.


The Minceta Tower also was used and filmed as the 'House of the Undying in Qarth.'


The Island of Lokrum, (over my shoulder below) is the site of the City of Qarth.



The Rector's Palace below was the site of a visit between Daenerys and the Spice King's in his mansion, when she asked for ships to cross the Narrow Seas.  She was refused.



"Shame.....shame....shame...."
The steps below the Jesuit Church is the location of where Cersei begins a walk of shame, through the streets, until she reaches the Red Keep.


As well, King Tommen, stood at the bottom of these steps with his guards demanding the release of his Mother, wife and brother-in-law.
One scene I didn't know about, filmed here, was the crowds paying their respects to Tywin Lannister when he was killed by you know who.


Her walk of shame was filmed in four different locations in the Old City, another of which was the Ploce Gate at the Port side of Dubrovnik.  It is at the end of her walk when she arrives at the Red Keep.


It was here on the steps of the Dominican Monastery where a protester was delivering a speech against the Lannisters.



Below, the buildings, are the setting for the scenes where the Gold Cloaks searched and killed all the (bastard) children of Robert Baratheon as ordered by King Joffrey.







The site of the Blackwater Bay battle between Stannis and Joffrey loyalists, was filmed here in this peaceful cove outside the Old City of Dubrovnik.
Also it is where Cersei says good-bye to her daughter when she is sent to Dorne.



Sansa and Shae watch the ships from this dock.  Located just outside the Old City.


The same dock where Sansa Stark was manipulated by the evil Little Finger, Petyr Baelish.


King Joffrey's Name Day was filmed in the Lovrijenac Fortress.  As well as many scenes with Cersei walking in King's Landing causing havoc with her guards.  
Below are some of the locations in the Fortress of scenes.


Cersei walked through this alley way with her posse of guards threatening Little Finger.....


The market scenes, some battle scenes...the whole place looks and feels like King's Landing.
Love it.


Blackwater Bay battle preparations were filmed on the top of the Fortress. 





Oh my gosh this was so much fun.  Loved it.
Thirteen years ago we were here and of course no GOT's then.
Star Wars:  The Last Jedi was also filmed here.
Popular place for serious diehard fans of either....or in my case....both.