During my trip that was originally planned only to Bosnia, i also travelled by car with my brother to Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Kotor (Montenegro).
Balkanic Roads
Roads in Bosnia are a must-to-experiment. Limited to 60km/h, sometimes up to 80km/h, you spend your time or going fast because you just overtook a truck, or behind a truck trying to see any opening on the opposite side of the road to overtake it. I have to admit, we got some scary moments but it was fun anyway. Much funnier than being on a motorway and bored, since we were passing by right in the canyons around Mostar, and then just next to the Adriatic Sea.
Dubrovnik
Be careful: it is DubrovniK with a K, not with a C. I made the mistake too many times already… 
Dubrovnik is a very beautiful and charming city lying on the Adriatic Sea, just at the very bottom of Croatia, less than 50km from Montenegro.
Dubrovnik, old city
If 20 years ago the war touched and/or destroyed more than two third of the constructions there, now it has become one of the most touristic place of the Adriatic Sea and of Croatia. And when you are there, you just understand why. Some walls have been built around the old city, and this old city kept his authentic side but i am probably saying this cause i went during winter, so there were really few tourists… and Georges Pernoud, the guy from Thalassa. The main street is full of shops and little bar/coffees, with an old rock color (a bit similar to Salamanca actually); whereas perpendicular streets are really narrow and go up the hill, with clothes drying on ropes hanging between the two sides on the street.
The Adriatic Sea, from the walls of Dubrovnic
Walk a bit from the entrance, and after the cathedral you end up… on the harbour. Yes. With some sailing boats. Some restaurants, a view on the hill on the other side of the « bay » and then, the horizon.
Walk a bit in the narrow streets, pass under the walls, and you end up, right on the shore. That one was pretty magic, we were not expecting this, and suddenly, only the sea is in front of us. Tables and chairs are mounted up, i suppose waiting for the summer and some more tourists… well… lucky tourists… that would have a drink right in that piece of heaven.
Because it was winter, the city had a certain charm that i guess would disappear with the crowd of tourists during summer… even though i was a tourist there, i generally don’t like being a tourist and surrounded by other tourists, so i felt a sort of peace in Dubronik.
The morning after, we went back to the old city for a last walk, and again, very beautiful, since the sky was mostly clear and still reddish.
In the narrow streets of Dubrovnic
Kotor
Now, Kotor. Kotor is a small city situated directly on the lake named after itself : Kotor’s lake. To get there, you pass the Croatia – Montenegro border (when someone tried to make us believe we had to pay 10 euros to enter the country) and you go straight on. Although from France it would be easy to imagine Montenegro as a very poor country, well once you get there you actually get the impression they don’t have so many problems to live. Obviously, i’m sure it’s just an impression, but houses are nice, villages are nice and look clean and not so poor.
Perast
Bordering the lake, one village in particular got our attention: it’s Perast. It looks like a very old yet authentic village just on the border of the lake, with his houses made of rock and his narrow street along the border. Typically something you would put on a postcard.
After a while, here comes Kotor. Kotor is a small city, whose old area is behind walls. There is also a castle up the hill, behind walls as well, from where you get a very nice view of the city and the lake. We ate very well (can’t remember the name of the restaurant) but had to leave early, since 6 hours of driving were awaiting us to go back to Sarajevo.
Kotor's walls
Other pics available on my flickr
