Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44FOCUS - MARCH 2017 39 steeple of St. Nicholas Cathedral, tow- ers above the other buildings. One of the more popular sights in Perast is actually not in the town itself, but a short distance from the shore. Nestled amid several trees lies the Benedictine Monastery of St. George, constructed in the 12th century, on a small Island. Visitors can take a short boat cruise to explore the well pre- served architectural and historical sight. The island is also home to a graveyard for the old nobility from Perast. Probably the most notable city in Montenegro, certainly from a tourist perspective, is the seaside town of Ko- tor. The picturesque city, with a popula- tion of 13,500, has a port, frequented by cruise ships. Kotor is surrounded by fortifications, and sits on what many call Europe’s southernmost fiord. In actual fact, the body of water is a submerged canyon or ria. Strolling through the cobblestone streets, lined with medi- eval buildings of this 5th century town, makes a visit to Kotor a very enjoyable experience. Surrounding Kotor is an historical, fortification system, which consists of towers, gates, bastions and a castle. All date back to the 9th century, with addi- tions added in the fourteen hundreds. The fortifications can be visited on foot, as a stone path has been constructed for visitors to explore the sight. There are numerous steps and turns and a small outpost, where water can be pur- chased, in what was once a church. I stood on the outskirts of Kotor, staring up at the fortifications, when my guide asked me if I was interested in making the trek to the top. Having climbed Ayres Rock in Australia, the sand dunes in Namibia and Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka, I was ready for anything. The trek to the top of the fortifications around Kotor. The view atop Mount Lovćen is spectacular. ...................... Please turn to page 40 The beautiful coastal village of Budva.