A few nights in Budva, Montenegro

Never in my life had I thought to visit Montenegro.  I’d met a few people from this country many years back and it always sounded like an exotic land, but it was not really on my radar.  Nonetheless, as life had recently put me in Central Europe, I found myself backpacking through the Balkans and landed in the heart of Budva.  Or shall we call it Party Central, as the moment I stepped off the bus and took the twenty minute walk to the Old Town, I became part of a pumping party-animal scene, complete with flashing beams of coloured light, loud music and glitzy dresses.  It was around midnight when I reached my hostel, tucked inside the old city walls down a narrow alleyway.  Whilst joining the nightlife was tempting, I opted for some much-needed sleep.

It was hot in Budva – the middle of a heatwave.  So, naturally, I took a walk outside the city walls the next morning, around the cliffs to the beach.  The water was a perfect cool blue, thrill-seekers paraglided above the water and music started to beat its tunes.  Tourists feasted on fresh watermelon and sipped on coffee while the dancing statue balanced on the rocks in the sweltering sun.

Later in the day, I took a walk back inside the Old Town, through the castle and around the stone walls that encircled this magical place.  It felt like my hidden paradise, with the best views over the water.  The rooftops were covered in kiwi fruit vines, providing much-needed shade to the inhabitants below.  I enjoy being an observer, watching the crowds walking past, and gazing out into the never-ending, peaceful sea.

After an early dinner of cuttlefish risotto, stained black with ink, I joined the backpackers in the hostel for some beers and we ended up on a pub crawl that took us to several bars, each with their own unique charm, though I must say, my memories of the evening became rather hazy later on.  All I can say is that Budva knows how to have a good time!

Have you been to Budva?  What did you do?  Where would you recommend?