The Bay of Kotor is a glistening fjord 
off the Adriatic Sea on the southern shore of the Dalmatian Coast; in fact, it's the largest natural port in the eastern Mediterrean region. Continuing on our Silversea cruise, we entered the bay at dawn with its 100 miles of coastline.I stood quietly with 
several passengers above the bow of the ship for the serene entry into the mountain-rimmed passage that once stood as a defensive military position in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The bay's amazing beauty comes from the blue sea, stony 
shore, pine-covered mountains and rocky bulwarks crossed by conquerors and traders.
Kotor, Montenegro today is a throwback to ancient eastern Europe. Once part of Yugoslavia, the nation of Montenegro is only 14,000 square kilometers in size,
with remarkable geographical contrasts -- glacial lakes, rocky cliffs and the second deepest canyon after the Grand Canyon. 
Kotor has had many historical identies and today it remains caught between east and west -- a Balkan nation that was once in union with Serbia, that was part of the Venetian empire, that uses the euro but is not part of the European Union,
that communicates in both Cyrillic and Roman alphabets.
Because of its important location linking eastern and western Europe, 
Kotor has always been a city of traders and sailors. Much of what we visit today in the walled city was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Nearly destroyed several times over the centuries by earthquakes, it remains one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. It's protected by rivers and mountains and three city gates. About 20 fortifications 
stand along the serpentine fortress walls, which climb up 260 meters above sea level, and the more adventurous tourists still 
make the 1300-step trek. In fact, the climb is so treacherous that churches were constructed on the on hillside walls so that soliders would not have to go all the way down the mountain to worship.
Originating in the 3rd century BC, Kotor reflects its rich cultural heritage -- including Byzantine, baroque, Venetian and multi-ethnic Balkan influences. And today it's a popular summer destination with a lively club scene and festivals. I highly recommend the guided tour, with engaging and novel stories about a varied history, its churches and museums and the pirates 
who once ruled the coasts. At one time there were 30 churches along these narrow passageways and small squares. Still remaining are such edifices as St. Luke's, built in the 13th century and, the latest, an Orthodox cathedral constructed just after the turn of the 20th century.
Kotor is a remote treasure enriched by unsurpassable rugged beauty, a destination that is locked in firmly as a jewel of this cruise.
