Of course I should have known I would fall in love with an island named after a nymph; beautiful women don’t lend out their name to any old land-mass - it must be a place that bears their essence. Although my own name means “peaceful island,” I’ve yet to have any such location named after me - then again, I was only properly wed to a mortal, not brazenly abducted by the god of the sea. The island is most commonly reached by a ferry crossing from Orebic on the mainland to to the walled town of Korcula. Its largest claim to fame is that it was the birthplace of the illustrious explorer, Marco Polo. The historical legitimacy is disputed, but I’ve no problem buying into possible hype if it adds to my experience. I quite enjoyed hearing what Luke and Serenna learned of his adventures while standing outside the gate to his home, then after inspecting spy glasses and sextants in a dark shop that bore the same name, the air scented with a musky incense. ...
Montenegro, where mountains meet sea. We went because we were told we must. We stayed because we couldn't bear leaving. Along the coast of this minuscule country lies the Bay of Kotor, and along the Bay of Kotor lies small village after small village, with one exception - Kotor itself. Kotor is a fortified city, and one that belies belief. Its walls run up the side of the mountain spasmodically; they cling to crags and mount small valleys, utilizing the landscape if ever under attack. And today it is under attack, by throngs of tourists disembarking their cruise ships before its very gates. They are there to plunder the shops of their wares and the bay of its fruits. I can't blame them one bit, really, for I was one of them. I took the advice of a local, however, and did not order fish from any of the area restaurants. During the warmer months, the demand is great, and more often than not you are served fish s...