Like many people, I thought Montenegro was a glamorous country, filled with casinos and the super-rich. An Adriatic Monaco if you will. Today I found out why I had this preconception of Montenegro.

Apparently my opulent image of Montenegro stems from Ian Fleming’s 1953 James Bond novel, Casino Royale. Many of the novels Vodka Martini’s were shaken and served in the fictional casino, Casino Royale Montenegro. The twist is that this fictional casino wasn’t even supposed to be in Montenegro, but the South of France. However, in the 2006 film adaptation (you know the one where Daniel Craig slowly emerges from the sea in his speedos), the Casino was set in Montenegro. I had no idea James Bond had such an effect on my subconscious. Coincidentally, 2006 was also the year Montenegro voted to become an independent country and split from Serbia.

Anyway, as I found out in 2018 when Joe and I visited Montenegro, it’s not as opulent as I was lead to believe. However Montenegro is far more atmospheric and beautiful than I could have imagined.

Looking across the bay of Kotor, Montenegro

We crossed into Montenegro after visting some of Croatia’s quieter islands. We spent a few days just outside of Kotor, a small walled medieval town wedged between the mountains and the Bay of Kotor. It’s a wonderful tangle of small shops, restaurants, bars and the occasional museum.

The thing I enjoyed most about Montenegro though were the days hiking up in the mountains above Kotor and looking down and enjoying the fjord-like scenery. In the afternoons we depended for a swim before enjoying slow meals by the water.

Today from what I’ve read, Montenegro is at a difficult crossroads torn between embracing its European identity, or more closely aligning with eastern powers such as China and Russia. Most recently Montenegro has controversially mortgaged itself to China building an expensive highway through the mountains that it scarcely needs and almost certainly can’t afford.

Personally, I hope Montenegro chooses to integrate more closely with its European neighbours, but regardless, I certainly plan on returning one day.