Perast: Pearl of Montenegro

May 12, 2024May 12, 2024 / mikeosbornphoto / 6 Comments

The winter in Manchester was dragging on so I sought escape to sunnier climes.

Spain seemed an obvious place for a relaxing break. But just one image in a web search turned this into… Montenegro.

I picked a small historical town for a week’s holiday. So is it worth ditching the usual hot spots? FIND OUT MORE BELOW

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Montenegro is a small country which sits between Croatia and Albania on the Adriatic Sea, with a modest population of 617,000.

It has been welcoming tourists since the days of Yugoslavia from the 1970s and this has been a mainstay of the country’s economy since independence in 2006.

I flew direct from Manchester to Tivat, a town on the Bay of Kotor which is an arm of the Adriatic that snakes inland and is surrounded by steep mountains. Think a Norwegian fjord.

The image of Perast which spurred me to booking my trip was of the Hotel Heritage Grand, an exquisite five star property at the heart of the town, consisting of smart modern buildings, a restored palace and even an old church.

I had a vast, comfortable room to myself, feasted on the sumptuous breakfast buffet and took relaxing dips in the indoor spa pool and rested on the sun loungers by the water’s edge.

The view of Kotor Bay from the viewpoint above Perast in Montenegro.

Clamber Perast’s stairs and you’ll enjoy views like this

The hotel staff offered a consummate and friendly level of service, with even the manager stopping to chat on her rounds.

If that isn’t for you, there are more modest accommodation options available in Perast, should you decide to make this town your base.

In short, it’s beautiful with its bayside setting and mountains in all directions. Honey-coloured stone from its Venetian heyday still stands, including the lofty St Nicholas belltower. Stairs lead up to an elevated view of Kotor Bay.

Even in early April, day trippers visit Perast making the waterfront quite busy. But after they melted away, I enjoyed relaxed dinners in the many waterside restaurants while watching some colourful sunsets.

Forget Spain?

If you’re looking for lively nightlife, Perast might disappoint you. It’s a peaceful spot and lends itself to relaxed, early nights or sitting outside nursing a coffee.

If you stay in Perast, you’re very close to a famous Kotor Bay attraction. A tiny island topped with a blue-domed church – Our Lady of the Rocks – is just a short and cheap boat ride away from the shore.

The island also boasts its own little lighthouse and can get very busy, so it’s worth taking the trip just after breakfast.

Is it a good move to swap a Spanish getaway for this Montenegrin town? True, you won’t get acres of golden sand here or raucous nightlife. But it boasts a majestic waterside setting and has a timeless elegance.

If, like me, you enjoy exploring and finding plenty to photograph, then Montenegro offers more. I’ll tell you about that in upcoming posts.

Greek islands: Syros

June 18, 2023June 14, 2023 / mikeosbornphoto / Leave a comment

The first stop on my Greek island trip took me to rugged Tinos with its numerous churches and pretty dovecotes.

Syros, just 30 minutes away on the ferry, was the next port of call for a brief but bountiful two-night stay. An island of two halves? READ MORE BELOW

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My base in Syros was the quiet seaside village of Finikas with its little marina and a good few restaurants to choose from.

I stayed at the Brazzera Hotel, a comfortable place with very friendly and helpful staff, situated a few strides from a golden stretch of beach and clear Aegean waters. Finikas turned out to be a relaxing place to wander around and enjoy some downtime.

With the island’s showpiece capital some miles distant, I treated myself to a tour with a guide, driver and comfortable car which was worth every penny. I’d arranged this in advance from the UK with great ease.

This was a chance to see some more of the island and get to grips with the city of Ermoupoli and its hilltop neighbour of Ano Syros, rich in resplendent buildings, winding little streets and some fantastic views. There was even an El Greco painting tucked away in a church.

Having a knowledgeable and skilled guide all to myself definitely added to the experience, which was better than wandering the streets alone.

Syros may be the nominal capital of the Cyclades islands, but has an understated charm and wasn’t heaving with visitors ahead of the peak summer season.

The pure blue skies you always expect in Greece were at times elusive, but added to the atmosphere and made photography a little more challenging.

If you like history and architecture coupled with the chance to chill on a secluded beach, Syros should be added to your island-hopping wishlist.

It was a short stay before the final island on this journey. Stayed tuned for the third little Greek gem.

Greek islands: Tinos

June 4, 2023June 4, 2023 / mikeosbornphoto / 2 Comments

My very first taste of Greece was in 2018 with a trip to glamorous Santorini.

But it’s one of the most popular Aegean island destinations and was packed with visitors seeking sunset selfies.

I wanted to discover the quieter side of Greek island life, so chose a trip taking in three lesser known spots in the Cyclades. First stop: Tinos READ MORE BELOW

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I had a very brief layover in Athens before the four-hour ferry crossing to Tinos.

The main town was all that I wished for, with little whitewashed streets and tucked away tavernas serving delicious food.

A main attraction is the Evangelistria church, a place so holy that a carpeted stretch of street allows pilgrims to get there on their knees.

The coast within hiking distance of Tinos town offers sparkling clear azure waters and quiet stretches of beach which may well fill up in the height of summer.

Car or scooter hire isn’t an option for me, so I booked myself a tour of Tinos with an elderly driver-guide who knew the island like the back of his weathered hand.

This rugged place is dotted with villages and ornate Tinian dovecotes. Pyrgos, built on the riches of marble extraction and Volax, which sits on a scattering of volcanic rocks, are worthy stops.

Tinos comes with a note of caution, however. A fearsome wind capable of sweeping you off your feet can whip across the island and it felt so chilly that I invested in an emergency overcoat.

Hold on to your hats until the next island stop – Tinos was the interesting and far less crowded start I’d hoped for.

A bite of Belgium

August 30, 2015July 30, 2019 / mikeosbornphoto / 16 Comments

This was a midsummer jaunt across the North Sea to our continental neighbour Belgium. What should have been a sun-blistered long weekend was dogged by inclement weather, and mostly spent dodging sharp showers and regretting the decision not to pack more appropriate attire.

These photographs were gathered from two cloudy day trips, exploring the capital Brussels and visiting the coastal city of Oostende, where the promise of cycling along the seaside boardwalk was replaced with umbrellas. While blue skies were a rare sight, the wet weather provided rich reflections, dramatically leaden skies and a wealth of detail. Bravo Belgium.

Warm thanks to Bart Vandenberghe for his hospitality, humour and enthusiasm.