9 May 2023 - Portonovi

Outside this swanky marina complex is a different world, probably much more the normal Montenegro. It is a bit untidy, but there are a few signs that the locals are getting the beaches ready for holiday makers. For us, the coastal road made for a pleasant bike ride. Passing a school reminded us of how normal life is going on.

One of the smaller cruise ships heading out, note the Pilot Boat going to collect the Pilot

It is interesting to us that we feel we are being tracked more than anywhere else that we have been in Europe. You have to pay a tourist tax here, similarly to in Croatia. It is a tax on each day you spend in the country. The difference here is that you cannot just say how many days you will be in the country, you have to buy it for the days that you spend in each municipality you visit. The ladies in the marina office tell us that this is so the authorities know where you are. It was strange too, that today we paid for the boat, not as individuals. It is just a new system, that we have to navigate around. Whilst ignorance of the law of any country is no excuse, sometimes it takes a while to understand how it works. It’s not at all worrying for us, but it does feel a little bit as if someone is watching over our shoulder.

On a lighter note: you can tell how posh it is by the fact that Steve put his Italian loafers on to make our evening promenade!

Miles today           0

Miles in 2023     436

Tricia (& Steve)

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